New Member, Need Some Help

[jmontz]

I looked on Heartfeltindustries.com for my heartfelt beads. They have heartfelt bead tubes and heartfelt bead humidifiers. Is one better than the other? Anyone have a preference?

[Mangyrat]

Both do the same thing just get the one you like.

[ashauler]

Both do the same thing just get the one you like.

And that you have room for.

[jmontz]

Okay, I bought the humidor, the heartfelt beads, and the distilled water. The Humidor came with instructions that specifically said DO NOT wipe down the humidor with a wet cloth. It said to leave my humidifier in the humidor with a cup of water for 8 hours until the humidor reached 72%. WHAT I DID- I took a tupperware container filled it with about an inch of water and then wet my heartfelt beads and put them in as well. I then left it for 10 hours and the hydrometer now reads 75%. Is this good enough for my humidor? Is it broken in now? because I'd hate to start filling it up with cigars and then watch them go bad just because I didn't break it in right.

[CptnBlues63]

Okay, I bought the humidor, the heartfelt beads, and the distilled water. The Humidor came with instructions that specifically said DO NOT wipe down the humidor with a wet cloth. It said to leave my humidifier in the humidor with a cup of water for 8 hours until the humidor reached 72%. WHAT I DID- I took a tupperware container filled it with about an inch of water and then wet my heartfelt beads and put them in as well. I then left it for 10 hours and the hydrometer now reads 75%. Is this good enough for my humidor? Is it broken in now? because I'd hate to start filling it up with cigars and then watch them go bad just because I didn't break it in right.

I'd say your humidity level may be a bit high. I know from reading here the majority of members keep their humi's in the 65-70% range.

Once your humi stablizes you're good to go. To see if it's stable, take out the cup of water and check about 6 hours later. Do the beads look dried out? Has the humidity level dropped? If yes to one or both, then it's likely the wood is still absorbing moisture. It may take a day or so for it to absorb as much as it is able and your humi to stabilize.

Should you put cigars in before your humi is stable, they'll dry out some as the humidor will suck moisture out of them as well as the beads so I would wait until it stabilizes to load cigars in. If you don't wait until it's stable, you'll end up stabilizing both the cigars and humi. Seems to me it makes more sense to get the humi stable first.

Oh, and its called a hygrometer, not "hydrometer"

[jmontz]

I'd say your humidity level may be a bit high. I know from reading here the majority of members keep their humi's in the 65-70% range.

Once your humi stablizes you're good to go. To see if it's stable, take out the cup of water and check about 6 hours later. Do the beads look dried out? Has the humidity level dropped? If yes to one or both, then it's likely the wood is still absorbing moisture. It may take a day or so for it to absorb as much as it is able and your humi to stabilize.

Should you put cigars in before your humi is stable, they'll dry out some as the humidor will suck moisture out of them as well as the beads so I would wait until it stabilizes to load cigars in. If you don't wait until it's stable, you'll end up stabilizing both the cigars and humi. Seems to me it makes more sense to get the humi stable first.

Oh, and its called a hygrometer, not "hydrometer"

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your help. Hygrometer, got it.

[Saint Germaine]

Seems you're doing all the right things, keep on going, it's not a quick process, but like all good things it just takes time.

thank you for reading the instructions! i can't tell you how many humidors i see that are ruined by people wiping down the inside with a damp cloth. DO NOT do this! the cedar absorbs the moisture too quickly which can cause it to split.

I usually recommend leaving a shot glass (clean obviously) half full with distilled water or propylene glycol solution, in the humidor for about 4days, depending on the size of the humidor, along with any beads/gels/sponges you will be using for humidification.

once it has stabilized you can check your hygrometer and adjust as appropriate.

At the end of the day it isnt rocket science, it's a wooden box - if it's too moist, open it up until it drops to the correct level, if it's too dry add more solution and keep it closed. not much else too it. when you add new stock it will adjust the level of moisture within, no need to check it everyday, but keep an eye on it every now and then and adjust as necessary.

happy smoking!