Humidor question, and one about Robustos

[Newfie]

OK, I thought I primed my new (and first) humi yesterday, but when I got up this morning the hygrometer read just under 60% and the sticks felt a little dry.

Yesterday, I wiped down the full interior several times, and let it soak in between times. I did that until it didn't seem to be soaking in any more. I also wrappen the hygrometer in a rag wet with distilled water to "set" the unit as it said in the instructions and when I unwrapped it, it read just under 100%. Obviously either my patience got the better of me, or I did something wrong.

Just now I refreshed the humidifier unit with more distilled water (it was primed with 50/50 solution) and I also put in small dessert cup with about a tablespoon of distilled water in it for extra measure. Is there anything else I should do?

Robusto question.

Last night, I smoked my forst one. I cut it the same way I cut every other cigar I've ever cut, just below the rounded edge of the cap. However, it was a very easy draw, almost too easy to the point where it was less than pleasureable. Is this maybe a trait of that cigar? It was a Hugo Cassar (Dominican). Not a top quality cigar by any means, but still had a decent flavour. Would a punch cutter be better for this type??

Thanks in advance for your help.

[cyras21]

I'm by no means an experienced cigar smoker but having quite the opposite effect of you. I just charged my first humidor and the levels are quite high. Still at 90% 2 days later. What I did was rub down all the wood with distilled water and charged the humidifier for 2 mins. I then placed a plastic bag on the bottom with a damp sponge and let it sit for a day. I took the plastic and sponge out, recharged the humidifier and let it sit for another day. This morning I'm still at 90%.

[SuperChuck]

Hehe.

Relax, guys. Humidors take time to settle out... You're basically creating an environment for your cigars, which takes time. When you wet down your humi, you'd expect it to spike. When you add cigars, you'd expect it to sink.

One thing to pay attention to is that you're measuring the amount of humidity in the air. When you wet a humidifying element, you're supplying more available water. That water will slowly evaporate into the air, raising the humidity. Dampening your humidifier isn't going to instantly pop your RH up, that takes time.

If you're running wet, open your humi for a little while. If you're running dry, dampen your humidifier.

Two things to consider:
Heartfelt Beads
Digital Hygrometer

[bigpoppapuff]

btw....strive for 62-65%....no need to go higher....

[drew_goring]

Regarding the loose draw...a dominican will amost always have a more loose draw when compared to an ISOM.

[Lopaka]

Don't Panic! It sometimes takes a little while for Humi's to stabilize. For you Hydrometer, run a Salt Test, what this test does is tells you what your Hydrometer "true" reading at 70%, even digital hydrometers a just a tad off for accuracy.

Don't forget to season you Humi. The best way to do this is, wet down your Humi with Distilled Water and then take the soaked sponge put it in the middle of the Humi on a plastic bag assuring the sponge doesn’t touch the wood. Let this sit for at least 24 hours. Leave the lid closed the entire time. The reason you do this is because with large humi’s, the cedar is trying to soak in water. If you just put the Cigars in humi without seasoning it, the wood will try to soak in the water, so will all the cigars. This means your humidification device will not be able to put out enough humidity to keep the humidifier stabilized. That’s why you season it.

After seasoning, fill the humi with smokes, at lease 75% filled. Then leave Humi filled at 75% until the it stabilizes. For some humi's this can only take a few days for some a few months. They'll spike until the Cedar has soaked in all the water it can. My first humi took 3 months to stabilize however my second only took 24 hours.

Now I believe the quality of the humi will determine this. My first humi is only a 25 count and cost about $80. My second is a Specialized Humi that is “limited” costing $400 and only few are sent to Cigar Retailers. (Mine is a RyJ built for Altadis Cigars).

Both hold 60% perfectly and I have no problems keeping the humidity at that level.

Hope this helps a little.

Lopaka