Just Got my Humi in......

[Mizicke5273]

Well my Cuban Crafters humidor came in yesterday, and its in the process of seasoning right now.

I just have a few concerns about the process. They might be pointless, but I am just nervous cuz I dont want to screw it up. Plus I kinda want to be able to put my smokes in it before I go to Boston on Monday, so it can stabilize while Im away.

1) The humidity is supposed to fluxuate while its being seasoned, correct? Its been staying around 60% for the most part, but I did see it at 65% for a bit. (this is within the 1st 4hrs)

2) I have been trying to calibrate my 2nd Hydrometer using a Humidipak calibration kit and the salt test (separately of course), but after 24hrs it is only reading 71%. It is adjustable, but before I make an adjustment I was wondering if it is normal for them to be off by soo much. I know they can be off by 1% or 2%, but is 4% normal?

3) I believe I soaked the walls down pretty good with distilled water, but I am still concerned that maybe I didnt use enough. It was slitghly wet to the touch before. I coated it several times and let it soak up the water between applications.

4) How wet is the sponge supposed to be when you put it in? Completely dripping soaked, or just very wet?

Again the concerns might be needless and I might just be worrying for nothing.


Here are some pics of it. The lighting is off due to it being midnight here, so I couldnt get a good shot of it.

[BDurrani]

Nice humidor. I bought my humidor from cuban crafters as well, but it is only a 25 count one. It is supposed to read between 68 - 75 % but 65% is what my humidor is at now and it seems fine.
The sponge, for my humi, is not soaked but wet. I have had the problem that if it compeletly soaked that it causes drips or wet marks on some of my cigars so I don't soak it too much.
As to correct the percentage problem, I suggest to place the hygrometer in a ziplock bag with salt and water in a container to correct it.
If that doesn't work then you should manually change the reading on the hygrometer using the back knob of the hygrometer to around 68 - 75%.

[Kass]

....If that doesn't work then you should manually change the reading on the hygrometer using the back knob of the hygrometer to around 68 - 75%.

Maybe it's because it is early, but I think this is wrong. If your hygrometer is reading 71% after you calibrated it, than you should increase it by 4%.

[BDurrani]

Maybe it's because it is early, but I think this is wrong. If your hygrometer is reading 71% after you calibrated it, than you should increase it by 4%.

Yeah, that does sound better.

[Mizicke5273]

Cool. Just wasnt sure if it being off by 4% was normal or not. It is a digital hydgrometer

Ive got a 4 oz. tube of beads in there as we speak.

[Kass]

Nice humi, I have one very similar but its black.

Your RH will fluctuate until it stabilizes.
If you did the salt test and calibrated it with a kit and they both read 71, I think its safe to say your hygrometer is off by 4. I'd say 4 is pretty normal, a lot of them say +/- 5%.
I wouldn't worry that you didn't soak the walls enough, it should be fine.

If you want a worry free humidor I suggest getting some RH beads. They are very reliable and hold a constant humidity, unlike a sponge.
Also, I wouldn't trust that hygrometer that came with the humi. I'd suggest getting a digital one.
Hope that helps.