To recharge or not recharge..that's the question.

[Eville]

If the majority of them are still clear, just wait. If that is not the case, do as BWA said.

[LawDog2006]

If the majority of them are still clear, just wait. If that is not the case, do as BWA said.

Well I none of them really appear clear. I assume they won't be as clear as glass but was thinking they would be opaque enough to see something in the middle or the other side.

[Eville]

I believe the ends do come off. When they are wet, they are pretty much crystal clear.

[ggiese]

The ends do come off - they are just plastic caps.

The dried beads look frosty - wet beads look fairly clear.

When it's time to recharge - spread the beads out on a paper towel, and spray them generously with distilled water (you'll hear them cracking on popping - and some may fracture). You can pick up a small sprayer at a local craft store for about a buck. Load them back up into the tube and close the end. Whallahhh!!!

[pmp]

This is one of the reasons I recommend gel to my customers who purchase desktops.

Don't get me wrong the beads work but this is one of the downsides to using them. I've been using them for years and I'm still not sure sometimes when to refill them.

Oh and to answer your question...be a patient noob and relax. Your beads have to have time to release the stored humidity. If your humi goes for several days without increasing then it might be time to recharge your beads.

[LawDog2006]

The ends do come off - they are just plastic caps.

The dried beads look frosty - wet beads look fairly clear.

When it's time to recharge - spread the beads out on a paper towel, and spray them generously with distilled water (you'll hear them cracking on popping - and some may fracture). You can pick up a small sprayer at a local craft store for about a buck. Load them back up into the tube and close the end. Whallahhh!!!

This helps. I've just been spraying the tube and turning it. Most of the water probably isn't reaching the inner beads. Thank you inner bead master.

[Eville]

How can you not be sure when to refill the beads? If your humidity is dropping and the beads are white, add water. If your humidity is too high and the beads are dry, let them air out a bit. If your humidity is where you want it, keep the beads in that condition. It really isn't that difficult. Sorry if I sound like an ass, but it isn't a difficult concept to implement once you have been given directions.

[JStrider]

When my humidity starts dropping I usually put a shot glass of water in the humidor for a few days and roll the beads around in their container a bit every day

doesn't really seem to spike the humidity... but I don't think it fully charges the beads either... but this way they don't crack and split... so I figure they will last longer doing it this way.

[pmp]

How can you not be sure when to refill the beads? If your humidity is dropping and the beads are white, add water. If your humidity is too high and the beads are dry, let them air out a bit. If your humidity is where you want it, keep the beads in that condition. It really isn't that difficult. Sorry if I sound like an ass, but it isn't a difficult concept to implement once you have been given directions.

Humidity can drop because of a poor seal, seasonal changes, additions or subtractions to the contents of the humidor.

Simply stating that its time to refill your beads when your humidity drops is idealistic and will probably work a percentage of the time but realistically, there is no clear way to measure when they are actually depleted. This is a real downside to beads.