Big differences between hygrometers

[DeeDubya]

I have a half lb of 65% beads in my large coolador but the hygro always shows 70%. Lately I've heen having some wrappers split within a few minutes of lighting up. For me, too high RH would cause wrappers to bust. Which do I believe, the hygro (70%) or the beads (65%). I think I'm going to let things dry out a little. I've got around 15 full boxes at stake in this cooler. BWA? Anyone?

[bigwhiteash]

More 65% beads?

Maybe another 1/2 lb mixed in without moistening them would help stabilize things.


I keep a full pound in each of my 48qt coolers, keeps them right at 65%. 15 full boxes is a significant investment, another $20.00 worth of beads would be a small price for the peace of mind. Though I wonder why they're splitting at 70%? that's really not that high a number.

[DeeDubya]

Am I missing something here? Cuba's annual national average RH is 78%. That mean's it would be in the 80's or 90's at times. Understand this is not happening with all the cigars in this cooler, but it seems to be occuring with more regularity.

[bigwhiteash]

I never really understood that myself

70% would seem ideal if you listen to all the "experts". Are the cracks isolated to a particuliar? I have the most trouble with Cameroon wrappers... very delicate IMHO.

[craig]

I have a half lb of 65% beads in my large coolador but the hygro always shows 70%. Lately I've heen having some wrappers split within a few minutes of lighting up. For me, too high RH would cause wrappers to bust. Which do I believe, the hygro (70%) or the beads (65%). I think I'm going to let things dry out a little. I've got around 15 full boxes at stake in this cooler. BWA? Anyone?

Wrappers split because moisture builds up in the cigar as you smoke it. This moisture expands the tobacco in the bunch, placing pressure on the binder (maybe) and the wrapper. The moisture builds up because tobacco leaves with a moisture content equivalent to roughly 65% RH or more block moisture. Thus, the binder blocks the transfer of moisture, but the wrapper is getting dry (and brittle) because the ambient RH is sucking the moisture out of the wrapper. The dry wrapper tries to constrain the expanding cigar, and sometimes gives way with quite a "pop."

Thus, the major factor affecting wrapper splitting is the difference between the storage RH/Temp and the RH/temp of the environment that you smoke in. In addition:
- some wrappers are just not as thick/strong as others, e.g., a thick sun-grown broadleaf wrapper is less likely to split compared to a thin shade-grown Connecticut.
- if there is too much reliance on the mold to shape the cigar bunch when the cigar was made, then the binder won't resist the cigar expanding as you smoke it, placing more stress on the wrapper.
- an oily wrapper or binder is going to block the release of moisture.
- all other things being equal, heavier cigars - those packed with tobacco - are going to expand more than cigars rolled with less tobacco, i.e., a premium is more likely to split than a bundle smoke.
- ligero absorbs and retains more moisture. The more ligero, the more the cigar will expand during smoking.

The old-school solution is to slobber all over the wrapper before lighting to make the wrapper more pliable. Now some folks dry-box for a couple days (cello off, and cut the cigar for faster and more even drying.)

Myself, I smoke a lot more Maduro in the winter ... and keep one humi in the low 60's RH (62%RH at the moment)

[DeeDubya]

I'm sure I need to lower the RH a little, but am still confused why the 65% beads are allowing the RH to hover at 70%. Could be that Heartfelt got some beads mixed up? I might order up a half lb of 60% and try that.

[logan37]

I'm sure I need to lower the RH a little, but am still confused why the 65% beads are allowing the RH to hover at 70%. Could be that Heartfelt got some beads mixed up? I might order up a half lb of 60% and try that.

I actually had the opposite problem with these. I first had 65% beads in my cedar humi, but the Rh hovered around 60% and my smokes were too dry. I switched to 70% beads and the Rh now is around 65-68%, smoking perfect. In my Tupperdor, I always used 65% beads and the hydro reads around 65%.

[xikar]

I've been with XIKAR over 4 years now and I can tell you that the conditions of the humidor, environment and the hygrometer all work against you to find that "perfect" humidity level you are looking for.

All this advice sounds good to me - and I might add that sometimes it takes a few weeks, not just days, to get that sweet spot that you want. HOWEVER, don't forget about your humidity level after you get the sweet spot - stay on it for a few more weeks to be sure you'll get consistency. After all, it is consistency that you really want. A few degrees here or there every week won't hurt like a 20% drop will.

Hope this helps.

- Andy (XIKAR marketing guy)