Humidity Lessons Learned

**MMAB** · 08-24-2005, 04:01 PM

I was cruising around the internet the other day and I stumbled upon a little tidbit of info that I though was amusing and usefull!

I had done a search for the Climaxx beads (sounds like a sex toy) and I came upon another board somewhere and one of the guys mentioned using Silica Gel based kitty litter as a substitute.

WELL! It turns out that there are a few brands of "expensive" kitty litter brands out there that are composed of straight silica gel!!! I was never aware of these since our cat is an outdoor cat.

From what I understand, Climaxx beads is merely "conditioned" silica gel. My main concern is controlling high humidity in the summer months. Silica gel is an adsorbent, which will take moisture out of the air. These few brands of kitty litter are merely the same stuff!

So I went out and bought a four pound bag of Ultra Pearls kitty litter. It's pure silica gel beads!!! I paid 9.99 for it. I put about three cups in my cabinet humi, in a small tray and by morning the high rh was under control! Not amazing BUT INEXPENSIVE!!!!

I also understand that you can condition this stuff yourself, making your own Climaxx beads! I'm still investigating that end of it but it seems very simple.

If you do go out and buy any of this stuff beware that many brands have additives and fragraces that YOU DO NOT want in your humidor!!

Read the label to see if it is pure silica. Again, the brand I bought is "Ultra Pearls". If you see any colored beads or crystals don't buy it. That's usually fragrance crystals. Of course upon opening the bag , if you smell anything don't use it!

No, our cat has no urge to pee in my humidor!

**hex1848** · 08-24-2005, 04:45 PM

Interesting. I would be very curious to see if you can condition these your self. It gets rather expensive buying pounds of beads at a time for cabinet humidors.

**thepyrofish** · 08-24-2005, 06:14 PM

So far all I can find on conditioning these is to mist them with water, let it absorb, then stir it around. repeat until they maintain the RH in their container at whatever you want. Does this sound right? Anybody got a link to more detailed instructions? I found this on a site about preserving art in museums.

**Hugh Jorgan** · 08-24-2005, 08:32 PM

Van55 has written extensively about this subject over at CigarWise.com.

There is a "sticky"/ pinned thread in the Cigar Education forum which has all the information:

http://www.cigarwise.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10823

It is worth registering!

**MMAB** · 08-24-2005, 08:52 PM

That's basically all the info I could find on another board.

Place the litter in a container ( 1 pound per 5 cubic feet of humidor ) with a small bowl of water and a hygro. When the rh reaches the desired rh%, maintain that for 2 weeks and the crystals are done. I guess they actually retain a memory (?).

When rh begins to drop below 65% it's time to recondition them.

Simple. Cheap. I love it!

PLUS! Thanks again Hugh! Now I'm a member of Cigar WIse!