Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: a couple of newbie q's for the experts

  1. Default a couple of newbie q's for the experts

    hello all,

    i am so happy that i found this forum. i have been smoking cigars regularly for about 3 months now and boy am i HOOKED. i just invested in a humidor and accessories for it:

    - 150 ct cubancrafters humidor
    - humiGUAGE? digital hygrometer
    - 65% heartfeltindustries humidifier (beads)

    i have a few questions that I did not find in some of the other posts.

    - When seasoning the humidor (after the wipedown when I place a wet sponge in the middle of the humidor), do I setup the heartfeltindustries humidifier during the seasoning or after?
    - Do I need to ever change the beads in the humidifier? If so, how often?
    - Do I only add more water to the beads when they turn white? On an average humidor, how often do you add water (once a week, twice a month, etc.)?

    Thanks in advance in helping me out.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Binghamton, NY
    Posts
    1,271

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gottalovecigars
    hello all,

    i am so happy that i found this forum. i have been smoking cigars regularly for about 3 months now and boy am i HOOKED. i just invested in a humidor and accessories for it:

    - 150 ct cubancrafters humidor
    - humiGUAGE? digital hygrometer
    - 65% heartfeltindustries humidifier (beads)
    Perfect..... looks like you have everything you need..... the humidor might be a little small after some time here..... so you can always buy a cooler and use the humidor on your desktop
    i have a few questions that I did not find in some of the other posts.

    - When seasoning the humidor (after the wipedown when I place a wet sponge in the middle of the humidor), do I setup the heartfeltindustries humidifier during the seasoning or after?
    I believe you do this after..... you want moisture to be absorbed by the wood, if you put the beads in they might absorb the moisture. Check out this guide which was done by our own Lopaka... http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t3814-th...a-humidor.html

    - Do I need to ever change the beads in the humidifier? If so, how often?
    No, the beads will last a long time, You're gonna have to check with Viper on how long they actually last. Even if a few of them crack from the moisture, they still work.

    - Do I only add more water to the beads when they turn white? On an average humidor, how often do you add water (once a week, twice a month, etc.)?
    Wait till you see you humididty start to drop a bit or when they turn white.


    Thanks in advance in helping me out.
    No problem bro, enjoy your stay
    I'm not big on doing reviews, tobacco doesn't taste like "cocoa" or "nutty" or "mocha" to me, it tastes like freakin' TOBACCO. I know what I like and I really don't care what other people think of other cigars. I've never read a review and said to myself "Wow, that sounds like a cigar I'd like to try!"

  3. Default

    thanks a lot for your help. i cant wait to get everything by ups next week and get going.

  4. Default

    I am finally all setup. Just one concern....

    After I did the salt test with my digital hygrometer...it read 65%

    However, after I followed Lopoka instructions on seasoning the humidor, I placed the digital hygrometer in the humidor and it read 75%.

    After I filled the humidor with cigars, placed the 65% beads in there...after about an hour it reads 74%. The temperature reads 74 degrees F.

    - What should I do?
    - Did I do the salt test wrong?
    - Is my humidor in an area where it is too hot?

    Thanks a million for your help. I really appreciate it.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,935

    Default

    Definitely keep the temp 70-60 degrees, safer towards the lower. You don't want bugs after all.

    As for RH, the beads, if you didn't wet them, will soak up any excess moisture in the air and maintain a 65% RH for you.
    "If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair." -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

  6. Default

    Give your humi and beads a couple days to "level out".

    Read your beads. When the beads are dry, they're white. When the beads are wet, they're clear. You want them somewhere in the middle (milky kinda color).

    If you find your hygrometer is still way off, get yourself a Boveda Hygrometer Calibration Kit. That will give you a definite answer.

  7. Default

    thanks a lot for the help. i am going to give it a few days without touching it and see what it levels out to.

    the beads are a milky color right now, with an RH reading of 76%.

    for it to be correct, it should be between 65%-70%...am i correct?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    682

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gottalovecigars
    thanks a lot for the help. i am going to give it a few days without touching it and see what it levels out to.

    the beads are a milky color right now, with an RH reading of 76%.

    for it to be correct, it should be between 65%-70%...am i correct?
    depends on the RH level of the beads you bought... for example, I bought 65% beats for my new Humi... the humidity was around 71% when I added cigars after the seasoning, so I didn't add much distilled water to the beads. Currently the humi is now down to 67% after a day and night, beads are absorbing some of the moisture... only add water to the beads if it drops 4-5% below its RH factor and then, only so that about 70% of the beads are moisturised.... then wait it out...

    -W.
    The Internet - All the Piracy, None of the Scurvy

  9. Default

    I think my problem is that I may have added too much water to the beads. I guess I will just have to be patient and wait for it to come down.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    682

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gottalovecigars
    I think my problem is that I may have added too much water to the beads. I guess I will just have to be patient and wait for it to come down.
    You can always give them a quick blow-dry on low heat (wave it back and forth so it doesn't concentrate on one area) to dry it out a bit.

    -W.
    The Internet - All the Piracy, None of the Scurvy

  11. Default

    good idea...thanks

  12. Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gottalovecigars
    I think my problem is that I may have added too much water to the beads. I guess I will just have to be patient and wait for it to come down.
    If you really think it's too high, put a shot glass of rice in there. It'll absorb some moisture...

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    682

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SuperChuck
    If you really think it's too high, put a shot glass of rice in there. It'll absorb some moisture...
    Not a bad trick at all.... I'll remember that one!

    -W.
    The Internet - All the Piracy, None of the Scurvy

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •