Printable View
I am currently seasoning my new humidor. It is no bigger than say 7" by 7". I wiped down the cedar with a slightly damp sponge, filled the humidifier, and placed it in the box along with the hydrometer and the sponge which is now saturated to the point of almost but not dripping on top of a plastic bag. It's been about 15 hours an the hydrometer reads 72. My question is if this is normal? Also what should the final humidity be on day day 3 before I remove the sponge?
Day 3, at approximately 13.5 hours in, the humidity should be exactly 71.3745 rh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan01
If not, you're completely screwed. Hope this helps.
Will
Welcome to the board, I hope you enjoy your stay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan01
Take the sponge out. Replace the hydrometer with a hygrometer. Leave it closed until Friday. Check the hygrometer. If it's around 70 %, give or take a couple of points, stuff it with cigars and leave it alone for a few days. Check it again, adjust as necessary, get frustrated, buy beads, throw the hygro away or give it to another overly obsessed newb, moisten beads, place them in the humi, forget it.
Thanks guys. Also I ment to say hygrometer not hydrometer.
I think Badwhale is the only member on this board that uses a hydrometer. Maybe Buzz too - they're both funny like that...Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan01
It took me about 3 years to finally lose my "fear" of running my humidor too wet/dry. Just make sure you do not let everything dry completely out and you'll be fine.
...and don't use tap water - use only distilled water. :smiley2:
Well, I mean, I have both. Hygrometer AND hydrometer. Don't you keep an eye on your cigar's specific gravity?Quote:
Originally Posted by ggiese
Everyone is so obsessed with rh. :smiley29: (squirly eyes!!!)
Hahaa yea I know, I have done my research. And thanks, that eases my worries about the humidity!Quote:
Originally Posted by ggiese
What is this "gravity" you speak of and how concerned should I be?Quote:
Originally Posted by badwhale
very, very concerned. I mean, how else can you figure out the tobacco's country of origin / blend characteristics if you don't have a hydrometer?Quote:
Originally Posted by kingbeefy
We should all be concerned that this is probably the first conversation on this board about the importance of your cigars’ specific gravity.
I am not concerned.
I am concerned about the lack of conversation about wireless hygrometers. Opening humidors to check RH is the leading cause of split wrappers. The only reasons to open a humidor are to add or remove cigars, (distilled) water, or tobacco beetle repellent.
My friend keeps 1 large cockroach in each of his humidors. He says they eat the tobacco beetles, plus you don't have to worry about tainting your cigars with any type of pesticide. Makes sense to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by craig
I only have small cockroaches in my area so I am thinking it will take 2-3 per humidor. What are your thoughts? I'll hang up and listen.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGreekTitan
Now, that would concern me. I'm not sure I want any cockroach poop diluting the distinct overtone of beetle eggs/beetle poop in my cigars. Whole new flavor wheel to deal with.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGreekTitan
As far as wireless hygrometers go, yep, if you insist on having a hygrometer, this is the way to go.
By the time the roach eats the (mature) beetle, it is too late for your cigars.
FWIW, I don't use repellent. Current generations of beetles do not hatch below 65 degrees F (really), so I just keep my coolers below that temperature - except for now, when it is hot outside.
Hmmm, good point about the poop. I hadn't thought of that. What about a dab of crazy glue on the cockroaches poop shoot. It probably would still live for a while, and when you find him on his back just eat him and get a new one.Quote:
Originally Posted by ashauler
I used a hydrometer just yesterday!
As far as super gluing the roach pujols, not a good idea unless you change roaches often. Otherwise, they will eat beetles until they explode, creating a roach-poo fountain.
I'm pretty sure you need two, just in case one of them gets full.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGreekTitan
...with or without Deet?Quote:
Originally Posted by craig
Oh, crap... There goes my hydrometer list. I now gotta add Eville to it! :smiley3:Quote:
Originally Posted by Eville
DEET from June to September. It does add a chocolate room note when smoking, but most folks don't mind.
I don't use a hydrometer, that would be crazy. I just use a sling psychrometer and an altimeter. I installed a Johnson control system and a series of sensors to monitor humidity, temperature, CO2, TVOCs, as well as small particle laser light scatter sensors and a beetle occupancy sensor. All data is sent via wireless to my multitasking iPad.
:smiley36:Quote:
Originally Posted by buzz
Damn, that's a hot setup!:smiley20:
You think that's hot, you should see me calves. :smiley16:Quote:
Originally Posted by badwhale
I got me an iPad too! Won it a few weeks ago in a raffle. Dadgummit - I want one of those! :smiley3:Quote:
Originally Posted by buzz
Could you please forward me your plans? ...or at least point me to the article in Popular Mechanics that shows us common folk how to do it? :smiley37:
Uhhh... Errr... <AKWARD> :smiley9:Quote:
Originally Posted by buzz
Thanks for that mental image. :smiley11:
PM forthcoming. :smiley37:Quote:
Originally Posted by ggiese
Oh, buzz... You're so DREAMY!!! :smiley27:Quote:
Originally Posted by buzz
He sent the pic of his calves didn't he? C'mon, you can tell me. :smiley20:Quote:
Originally Posted by ggiese
Hey guys instead of starting a new topic I'll just ask this here. Having some high humidity problems. With my humidifier inside the humidor the humidity is around 75% (cigars are inside) (yes my hygrometer is calibrated) I have been removing the humidifier for about an hour at a time to lower the humidity and when I check it after the hour the hygrometer reads 70%. Then I put the humidifier back in and 2 hours later it reads 75% again. Should I leave the humidifier out of the box all night and see what the results are in the morning? Or would that be too long? Also I smoked one today and it was perfectly fine. Draw was fine, didn't go out, and there were no signs of beetle holes anywhere on any of my cigars. Also the temp of the room the humidor is in is at about 68 to 70 degrees constantly
Invest in some heartfelt beads. Google search them, your humidity will stay perfect.
Yeah that's what I plan on doing ASAP, but would it help if I removed the humidifier tonight? Because they have been in the 75% humidity for a few days nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Cody44
Yes.
I struggled for a year worrying about my humidity, I would salt test my hygrometer 3 times a week, and I bought many foam and crystal type cigar humidification devices, and I worried every time that I smoked, that the flavour was off because of the humidity. Bought some beads, sprayed them down as little, tossed them in. Next morning I checked my hygrometer, exactly 65. Every time I look at it its perfect. I don't even think I need a hygrometer.