water or solution?

[FunkyCold5]

If you are using a sponge/floral foam, use the solution. My Humidor came with a 50/50 glycol solution and I only use it every 3-4 months. When humidity drops, I refill the sponge/floral foam with distilled water (prior to the 3rd or 4th month). Since the solution is 50/50 or 60/40, whatever, the water will evaporate and leave the glycol percentage. Therefore, you will need to balance it with distilled water.

So, don't use the "solution" but every 3-4 months (some say up to 6 mos). In between, use distilled water. Once you finish using up your solution, buy beads.

I actually still have half a bottle left of my original solution. I use it every now and then as a back-up to my beads. The beads can only hold/release a certain amount of moisture, so I have floral foam as back up........but in reality, the beads do the job right.

[primus67]

ok, my 25 partagas no. 2 coronas came in last wednesday the 21st. i stuck them in that night, removed the wet sponge and refilled the humidifier with solution. humidity was around 72. i checked 24 hours later and humidity was still around 72. i checked today, the 24th, and humidity is down to about 68. not sure as it's analog.

i ordered a box of partagas no.1 lonsdales today. they should be here on wednesday. that'll bring the total cigars in my 75 count humidor up to 66 as i have some assorted ones in there now including 10 partagas no. 10 churchills.

yes, i like partagas.

so, as i have 41 cigars in there now, should the humidity have dropped 4?

[bigwhiteash]

I wouldn't worry too much about 4 points, especially on an analog hygrometer. (you're starting to have a bit of money stored in there, you may want to invest in a digital hygro soon).

Just keep an eye on things, open it a little as possible, and you should be OK.

[primus67]

that's what drives me nuts. i don't want to open it, but i have to just to check the humidity level and in so doing, i lose some humidity. shouldn't that stupid humidifier maintain humidity at 70%?!

[primus67]

ok, i've got my humidor as stocked as it's gonna get for now. 66 cigars total in a 75 capacity madelaine humidor. the analog hygrometer that came with the humidor reads 60 and the old analog zoomed hygrometer i got at a pet store years ago reads 72. my cigars all feel just right so i have no idea which one is accurate. methinks the zoomed is actually better.

i hope to pick up a digital hygro up this weekend. can someone refresh my memory and explain the salt procedure again? thanks!

[badwhale]

http://www.cigarsmokers.com/showthre...ight=salt+test

Will

[CWVA27]

that's what drives me nuts. i don't want to open it, but i have to just to check the humidity level and in so doing, i lose some humidity. shouldn't that stupid humidifier maintain humidity at 70%?!

I don't know the brand off the top off my head but I bought a Hygrometer with a remote sensor so I don't have to open until I want a stick. I wanna say it was around $40.00 at www.centralchef.com I have never had any problems maintaning good humidity granted this time of year ther is more fluxuation but it works like a charm. The sensor it self is about 3 inches in length and 1.5 inches in diameter. It comes with a little adhesive backed metal plate so you can attach it to the lid magneticly and it's not talking up space.

[primus67]

I don't know the brand off the top off my head but I bought a Hygrometer with a remote sensor so I don't have to open until I want a stick. I wanna say it was around $40.00 at www.centralchef.com I have never had any problems maintaning good humidity granted this time of year ther is more fluxuation but it works like a charm. The sensor it self is about 3 inches in length and 1.5 inches in diameter. It comes with a little adhesive backed metal plate so you can attach it to the lid magneticly and it's not talking up space.

you gotta love the modern world!

[primus67]

hey guys, thought i'd give you an update.

i've had my cigars in there for a while now and here's what's goin on. i have the madelaine executive humidor 100 that's supposed to be good for 100 cigars. it's the foam style. i have like 64 cigars in a 75 capacity humidor. in addition to the humidor i have a small saki glass with some distilled water in there. if i take it out, my humidity drops to about 67%. plus, after about 2 weeks i have to refill the humidor because it's practically dry! it doesn't make sense for it to be so dry. i don't get it. i wonder if i just have a bad humidor. this happened to me a long time ago with a credo humidor. i replaced it and it was fine afterwards. but now i don't know if i should replace this one with the same kind or with the madelaine bead style humidor.

also, i am still using madelaine's every time solution exclusively.

btw, here is the humidor i'm thinking of getting. any thoughts on this?
http://madelaine.com/products_detail...30&category=10