Heartfelt beads and me (or is that I ?)
I purchased another Humi probably a month ago. I seasoned it by using a Tupperware container with distilled water (probably a 1/4 cup), wiped the humi down, and drenched the sponge that came with the humi. After 3 days I put the cigars in. The humidity just kept going up. My analog said it was almost raining and the digital got to about 86%. I assumed both hydrometers were off. I finally took a moment and tried the salt test to calibrate - it was a perfect 75%. I took the sponge out and ordered 2 cylindrical vials and a square magnetic bead box for the lid. A little overkill for 100 cigars, but I assumed it would compensate quicker. Anyway by the time I got them - the humidor had settled down to 75%. I put the two cylinders in the center of each side - one row up from the bottom, and stuck the square box of beads to the lid. It's been a week and it's still 75% in there. Did the cigars and the wood absorb so much moisture that the beads are having trouble stabilizing the environment? I did take the beads out though and watched it drop to 68% - I put them back in and it goes to 75%. The beads are suppose to be 65%. Has anyone had this problem or ideas for this proletariat? I was going to send a note to heartfelt, but thought I would try you guys first...
I am smoking a RP sungrown at the moment that's been in there a week. It's burning perfectly and tastes great... My ghurka centennials that have been in there since the beginning - not so much. I also have a couple of padron 64s that have been in there 2 weeks - should I smoke them both as soon as I am done with the RP?
Comments
ive also noticed that if they are too charged they will let the RH go up because there are not enough beads to compensate for it.
1. I placed a dish of distilled water in the humi
2. I placed a tube of mostly de-charged beads in the humi
3. I placed my hygrometer in the humi
Within about 6 hours, the hygrometer read "--" signifying the humidity had spiked beyond its 2-digit threshold. After that, I took out the hygrometer (to re-calibrate it) and let the humi, beads, and water sit for 4 days without opening the humidor. After this time, I opened the humidor to find that the beads were still completely opaque white. I put sticks in, and the humi ran high (72-75%) for the next week or so. The beads never absorbed any excess moisture.
I do the same thing in my desktop. I tried charging the beads first but no matter how little moisture was in the beads, after a day or two in the humi, there was always too much RH. I think my revised method works a lot better for me - - maybe not for everyone, though. I don't know.
Marty
somebody asked about the size... 6.5" x 2.5" was the measurement of my humidifier that came with my humidor - and that's one of two sizes that came from heartfelt. They had this size with 2 different thickness' and a square with 2 different thickness'
Happy smokin'
Any problem if I've already used the 50/50 for the initial charging? Okay if I used distilled water from now on, or have I potentially damaged the beads?
Also, if they get too filled, is it okay to use a hair drying to get rid of some of the water. Is there a better way, or should I not worry about it?
Sorry for all the questions. I'm new and a little obsessed. :-)
Hair dryer is a common way of drying them out a bit. No problem there, other than that it can be slow. Kuzi, I think, uses an a/c vent to dry his out.
No problem, dude. Questions are welcome around here. Make yourself at home.
I find the hair dryer even on low has a tendency to blow em away.