Newbie setting up humidor

**WOXOF** · 04-14-2006, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by highlandcontractors

I know I need to be patient and I will be, but my friends also gave me a couple boxes of cigars and I don't want them to go bad.

Any suggestions and help with these matter are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

You're way ahead of most newbies! Definately get the 65% beads and get those smokes in the humidor. The beads will speed up the process of stabilizing the humidor and so will adding the cigars. Like Monk said, they're better off in the humidor. Wish I had some friends like your's. Welcome to CS from MS.

**highlandcontractors** · 04-14-2006, 01:16 AM

Thanks to Monk and WOXOF for the replies!!

I looked at the links you supplied Monk and they were very helpful! My friends are great. But they are to big of wimps to stand up to their wives and girlfriends to have hobby. The presents were probably just as much for me as them!!!! Seems like I have done everything I can do at this point. When the last 24 hours were up the anolog read 69% and the digital read 72%. When I opened it to put my stash in the % dropped to about 60% on both. I loaded it up with about 70 cigars and have not opened it since. It has been 7 hours and the anolog is back up to 69% and the digital is reading 71 degrees F and 72% humidity. Tomorrow I plan on doing the salt test on the digital to make sure everything is up to par.

I used the solution to wipe the interior and submerge the humidifier as well. It has changed the color of the wood inside the humidor to a shade darker. However it is very even, no spots of uneven discoloring and no evidence of any warping. Will the fact that I used the solution become a problem even though it seems to be working?
Should I pickup the beads if the % has remained the same?

**WOXOF** · 04-14-2006, 03:32 AM

I wouldn't think that the solution would have any long term effects on the humidor, But I'm not positive. I still would eventually get some beads just because they require less maintainance. I would try to keep the humidor at 65% RH.

**highlandcontractors** · 04-14-2006, 05:26 PM

Thanks for the info WOXOF. I will pick up some of those beads this weekend. This morning when I checked the status of my meters the analog was at 71% and the digital was reading 78%. I have taken the digital out and started the salt test. It has been almost 5 hours and it has read 68 degrees F and 75% humidity the entire time. The anolog has not budged all day. I guess I screwed-up trying to adjust it. I planned on keeping my humidor around 68% to 70%. I like them to be on the softer and moister side. At 65% will they be moist or more on the drier side?

**Monk** · 04-15-2006, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by highlandcontractors

Thanks for the info WOXOF. I will pick up some of those beads this weekend. This morning when I checked the status of my meters the analog was at 71% and the digital was reading 78%. I have taken the digital out and started the salt test. It has been almost 5 hours and it has read 68 degrees F and 75% humidity the entire time. The anolog has not budged all day. I guess I screwed-up trying to adjust it. I planned on keeping my humidor around 68% to 70%. I like them to be on the softer and moister side. At 65% will they be moist or more on the drier side?

Well most people from what I have seen tend to keep em in the 60-70% range (I use 65% beads) be careful letting it get too high because of mold.

My understanding is that those solutions don't really go away properly and cause buildup. some of the FOGs could prolly explain more... anyhow... get the beads with distilled water and don't use the solution or anything else and you'll be right as rain

-W.

**highlandcontractors** · 04-18-2006, 01:16 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions! Monk, thanks for the input on the % of humidity and the beads info. Hope everyone had a nice easter! Since my last post my humi setup is still going. I have not had to add to the humidifier. In fact I had to leave the humi open on a couple of occaisions to get the humidity down. So far I have gone about 20 hours with the digital meter moving between 65% and 71%. It has moved up and down slow and because of this I have not messed with anything. I bought some of those beads everybody brags about, but for now I am going to wait until my % of humidity drops a great deal. Again thanks to all that has contributed!!!!!

**Monk** · 04-18-2006, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by highlandcontractors

Thanks for all the suggestions! Monk, thanks for the input on the % of humidity and the beads info. Hope everyone had a nice easter! Since my last post my humi setup is still going. I have not had to add to the humidifier. In fact I had to leave the humi open on a couple of occaisions to get the humidity down. So far I have gone about 20 hours with the digital meter moving between 65% and 71%. It has moved up and down slow and because of this I have not messed with anything. I bought some of those beads everybody brags about, but for now I am going to wait until my % of humidity drops a great deal. Again thanks to all that has contributed!!!!!

Heya,

The solution probably has something to do with that as well.

The thing about the beads is that it keeps it consistent. What I would do is wet them only a little if your humidity is high... so leave 60-70% of them white, take out the other humidifier and start using the beads. The thing about them is they will help regulate much better than fluctuating levels since they will absorb excessive moisture as well. This will help maintain a consistent RH. If it turns out that they keep ending up absorbing moisture and end up clear, keep an eye on the Humidity and if it climbs with the beads blow them under a blowdryer to dry them out, then put them back in... hope that made some sense

-W.