Bead Issues

[JRas224]

So I decided to man-up and by some 65% beads from Heartfelt. According to their site, I need .1 pounds for my humidor. I easily put that many in. The RH was pretty low before I put in the beads, so I think I may have over compensated by oversaturating the beads. However, the RH in a week and a half, has failed to climb above 59% according to my digital hygrometer. I would think if I had oversaturated the beads, it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 70%. Anybody have any idea why this could be happening? Maybe my cigars were just real dry before and are soaking up the moisture? Maybe I need to re-season my humidor? Maybe my humidor sucks? Thanks for any help.

[drew_goring]

So I decided to man-up and by some 65% beads from Heartfelt. According to their site, I need .1 pounds for my humidor. I easily put that many in. The RH was pretty low before I put in the beads, so I think I may have over compensated by oversaturating the beads. However, the RH in a week and a half, has failed to climb above 59% according to my digital hygrometer. I would think if I had oversaturated the beads, it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 70%. Anybody have any idea why this could be happening? Maybe my cigars were just real dry before and are soaking up the moisture? Maybe I need to re-season my humidor? Maybe my humidor sucks? Thanks for any help.

Have you done the salt test on your hygrometer?

I am thinking that is your problem. The beads are fairly foolproof.

[Bkcloud114]

Drew seems to have hit it right on the head.... I would do some type of test on your hygrometer... lots of people do the salt test.... the newest thing seems to be using a Boveda bag and calibrating you hygrometer.

http://www.cigarmony.com/store/produ...7061cd10fccaaf

[JRas224]

I did do the salt test when I got it about 4 months ago. I also salt tested the analog hygrometer which is mounted on the front of the humidor. They are both reading the same right now.

[drew_goring]

Hmmm...I still trust my beads over my hygrometer. I heard somewhere that they will start reading low when the batteries get low. Try changing them.

You are using distilled water with your beads, right?

[JRas224]

I am using distilled water. I guess I will salt test the hygrometers again. I'm thinking I might also need to season my humidor again. I took it easy on it the first time and I'm thinking it might not have been enough.

[godfather]

Another thing you can try that I've heard is taking a shotglass full of distilled water and leaving it in your humidor for a day. This should provide enough moisture for the humidor's wood to absorb as well as the beads.