Can not seem to get above 60%

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07-17-2012, 01:53 PM
macinnisl

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Can not seem to get above 60%

Hello, I am new to humidors and keeping cigars my wife recently got me some cuban cigars and a humidor. I had the humidor about 2 months before I found out how to season it and get the cigars ready. Now I have had the thing for a few weeks, I keep seasoning it with a wet cloth rubbed into the wood and then left in there for about 2 days, the humidity only ever gets just above 70 then when I remove the wet cloth from inside the humidor (which was sitting on plastic saran wrap) the humidity goes down to about 60% and stays there. I thought maybe the sponge wasn't working well enough so I also went out and bought a drymistat... Still 60%... I've repeated the process a few times, once leaving the wet cloth in for 5 days, same thing dropped to 60 as soon as I remove it. I have included pics of my setup, right now I have the drymystat, wet sponge and a shot glass of water in there to try to keep those nice cigars from drying out but still alas... 60%....

Anyone have any ideas?

Attachment 3061 Attachment 3062 Attachment 3063 Attachment 3064
07-17-2012, 02:13 PM
badwhale

Quote:

Originally Posted by macinnisl

Hello, I am new to humidors and keeping cigars my wife recently got me some cuban cigars and a humidor. I had the humidor about 2 months before I found out how to season it and get the cigars ready. Now I have had the thing for a few weeks, I keep seasoning it with a wet cloth rubbed into the wood and then left in there for about 2 days, the humidity only ever gets just above 70 then when I remove the wet cloth from inside the humidor (which was sitting on plastic saran wrap) the humidity goes down to about 60% and stays there. I thought maybe the sponge wasn't working well enough so I also went out and bought a drymistat... Still 60%... I've repeated the process a few times, once leaving the wet cloth in for 5 days, same thing dropped to 60 as soon as I remove it. I have included pics of my setup, right now I have the drymystat, wet sponge and a shot glass of water in there to try to keep those nice cigars from drying out but still alas... 60%....

Anyone have any ideas?

Attachment 3061 Attachment 3062 Attachment 3063 Attachment 3064

This is much easier to read...

Um, well, search will tell you to ditch the analog hyGrometer, and switch to beads. At the very least, search for a salt test on that POS analog.

Will
07-17-2012, 03:21 PM
ashauler

The humidor is upside down and all the humidity is leaking out.
07-17-2012, 03:47 PM
ggiese

Not exactly sure why, but people keep telling me you need these:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biod...mages/seal.jpg

...to keep the humidity stable in your humidor.
07-17-2012, 05:40 PM
craig

Yup, lack of seal it probably is.
07-18-2012, 02:20 PM
macinnisl

Thanks!, I'll look into the hygrometer issue, I actually did see a post about that last night and it seems mine is way off. I will look into the beads or something a little more reliable my outdoor hygrometer i put in for a test is reading above 80% in there but it's not completely accurate either.

If that ends up not being the issue though... anything I can do for seals? or am I stuck buying a new humidor?
07-18-2012, 04:30 PM
Sumatra Samurai

Try using kitty litter beads (not the usual gravel litter), pour them into a pantyhose leg and spray with distilled water, that will keep you at 65-70% easy. Of course you do need a good seal and digital hygrometer as well.
07-18-2012, 06:41 PM
ggiese

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sumatra Samurai

Try using kitty litter beads (not the usual gravel litter), pour them into a pantyhose leg and spray with distilled water, that will keep you at 65-70% easy. Of course you do need a good seal and digital hygrometer as well.

Okay - I get where you're coming from, but I caution you that you are not providing good information. You cannot just use "kitty litter beads" for maintaining humidity...

Please be careful dispensing advice on this board.

Thanks.
07-18-2012, 10:18 PM
macinnisl

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggiese

Okay - I get where you're coming from, but I caution you that you are not providing good information. You cannot just use "kitty litter beads" for maintaining humidity...

Please be careful dispensing advice on this board.

Thanks.

Yeh thanks, I am starting to think the humidor might have been at the right humidity but I just ordered a digital hydrometer online that is accurate and can be calibrated. Only time will tell I guess, all I can do now is wait for it to arrive. I took the shot glass of water out of the humidor as well as I have been terrified that it will tip over as my wife loves to move things around.

Thanks to all those who have provided advice, I will keep researching online but I think my drymistat is actually keeping a good humidity level in there and my hygrometer was way off.
07-18-2012, 10:25 PM
badwhale

Quote:

Originally Posted by macinnisl

Yeh thanks, I am starting to think the humidor might have been at the right humidity but I just ordered a digital hydrometer online that is accurate and can be calibrated. Only time will tell I guess, all I can do now is wait for it to arrive. I took the shot glass of water out of the humidor as well as I have been terrified that it will tip over as my wife loves to move things around.

Thanks to all those who have provided advice, I will keep researching online but I think my drymistat is actually keeping a good humidity level in there and my hygrometer was way off.

:smiley20:

Case closed.
07-19-2012, 06:30 AM
ashauler

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggiese

Okay - I get where you're coming from, but I caution you that you are not providing good information. You cannot just use "kitty litter beads" for maintaining humidity...

Please be careful dispensing advice on this board.

Thanks.

Yep! And all the other newblets should be very careful what advice they follow. :smiley2:

While it can be used, it isn't exactly as simple as throwing it in the humi and douching it with distilled water.
07-19-2012, 03:54 PM
Paddy

Quote:

Originally Posted by macinnisl

Yeh thanks, I am starting to think the humidor might have been at the right humidity but I just ordered a digital hydrometer online that is accurate and can be calibrated. Only time will tell I guess, all I can do now is wait for it to arrive. I took the shot glass of water out of the humidor as well as I have been terrified that it will tip over as my wife loves to move things around.

Thanks to all those who have provided advice, I will keep researching online but I think my drymistat is actually keeping a good humidity level in there and my hygrometer was way off.

Dont waste your time or money on shit (drymistat).
This is what you want to purchase - http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/default.asp.
Buy a couple empty tubes along with the beads and you will be good to go.