Accessorize a newbie
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I want to start being more serious about smoking cigars. Have some on hand rather that buy a single when I'm in the mood, keep a journal of what I've smoked, etc.
What accessories will I need? A humidor: Thinking up to 50 count in size. Do I buy one with built in analog hygrometer or a plain one and buy a digital hygrometer? Lighter: Butane I understand is best. Do I need to spend $50 or will a $10 one off ebay do the trick? Am I missing anything else? Cutter?
S.
Comments
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How do I add spaces in my post, so that it's not all one paragraph????
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For humidors all you really need to look for is a nice tight seal and make sure its lined with spanish cedar. A quality cutter is very important and unless you want to use matches, a nice butane torch lighter is necessary as well. You don't have to spend a fortune but you also don't want to be cheap about it. Xikar makes nice cutters and lighters
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type or paste <br> after each line to get a line break.TheShaun:How do I add spaces in my post, so that it's not all one paragraph????
As for what else to get, if you're thinking about a 50 ct humidor, buy a 150 ct. It will probably come with an analog hygro, don't rely on it. You can pick up a good digital for under $20. You don't need an expensive lighter, I would suggest one with a single jet/torch flame for ease of use. My free cigar.com lighter works better than my Colibri, and has a bigger tank than my Prometheus. -
I have a Xikar lighter and a Colibri, the Xikar was around $25, the Colibri was about $8, both work well. As far as cutters, the Xikar Mean Sardine is around $10 and is a very good cutter, it is all I use unless I want to use a punch for that cigar. As far as the humi, if you are thinking 50, go for a 150, seriously man. You are gonna be suprised at how fast you outgrow the humi. I also highly suggest getting a digital hygrometer, like Scrambler said, you can get a good one for around $20.
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thanks for the replies. Keep them coming.
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When you get your 150 count humi, don't forget to get some form of humidification.TheShaun:thanks for the replies. Keep them coming.
The Heartfelt beads seem to be a favorite around here. -
As everyone is saying, get one a lot larger than you think you need.
I started with a 15-20. For Father's Day, my wife got me a 100 count. I'm about to get my third!
Besides, you'll need the room once you start seeing the daily deals on ccom. -
Hey Shaun. As everyone has said get a bigger humi than you think you'll need. A tight seal and quality workmanship count for more than how it looks on the outside. Heartfelt beads are great for humidity control is almost a set it and forget it kind of deal. I just got a cutter and lighter (with a punch attached to it) from my local B&M want to say together they cost about 30 and I haven't had a problem with either yet. Another thing, If you decide to use the heartfelt beads get about twice as much as they say you need (they have a calculator based on interior dimensions) to have extra moisturizing capacity (means less filling of the beads)
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Wow. Can't believe I forgot about humidity control. Now if I can only get the line break thing to work....
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I looked up the heartfelt beads. There a three different humidity percentages. 60, 65, 70. how do I know what is optimal?
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Btw... Drymistat tubes also work pretty good and you can put them inbetween cigars to even out humidification if you have several layers.... As for me - here is MY story:
I started by thinking I do not need a humi and can just buy as I want to smoke... Ended up spending too much. Decided to buy a 20 count humi cause I wasn't gonna smoke much. Saw a deal for $45 for a glass top for 100 and jumped on it. Ended up filling this to the BRIM! Ended up quarreling with girlfriend and having to "sell" it all here
... Got on this forums and boy... was that the biggest mistake according to my wallet. I overfilled it. Got some quality beads, got a digital hygro, Xi2 cutter - good one, more butane, pillows, herf-a-dor... AND two bloody 20 count humidor boxes to let 40 cigars age on the side while my 100 count is at MAX capacity... SO my advice:
Get DOUBLE at least what you think you will need... get a very good QUALITY cutter - no matter if you spend $10 more! Its soooo important - and you dont want to end with two useless ones like me... I got the Xi2 now... get the beads and by G*d man - get a digital hygro!
Cheeers! -
Get the 70 - they will prolly not keep it exactly at seventy anyway - a little below...TheShaun:I looked up the heartfelt beads. There a three different humidity percentages. 60, 65, 70. how do I know what is optimal? -
TheShaun:I looked up the heartfelt beads. There a three different humidity percentages. 60, 65, 70. how do I know what is optimal?
I live in GA where it is typically very humid. I got the 65's and they have kept me right around 67% altogether and thats about where I like my smokes. I will probably have to add a little more DISTILLED WATER (no one has said that yet I don't think, distilled water is the only water you should be using) in the winter time. -
Shaun,
I agree with Bob here; go with the 65% rH beads. I live in Vegas and it's really dry, but the reality is that the beads are not perfect; damn good but not perfect. That being the case they are going to fluctuate a little bit from time to time. With the 65% beads it will be between 62-68 probably which is about the perfect rH for smoking a cigar. With the 70% it might be between 67-73 which isn't horrible, but too much humidity can lead to mold/or beetles and that's a problem. Good luck and enjoy it!
Rob -
Get the 65% beads. Very few burn issues and cigars taste better.(IMO) Get a Ronson Jet light from Wally world for $2.95. Like every else says, what ever size humi you think you need, triple it.
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Well, got my first accessory. The Ronson Jetlite. After seeing the above post, I googled it and found many hit linking to cigar sites/forums. Apparently it's a big hit among the cigar community.leonard:Get the 65% beads. Very few burn issues and cigars taste better.(IMO) Get a Ronson Jet light from Wally world for $2.95. Like every else says, what ever size humi you think you need, triple it.
Being from Canada, I knew it wouldn't be $3. I found it on sale at my local Canadian Tire for $10 down from $13. For you Canadians out there (not sure if there are others besides Laker and myself) it was found in their camping section in a locked case. It's also on their website (not listed on sale) so you can check if your store has stock. I got the solid gun metal grey. -
TheShaun:
Well, got my first accessory. The Ronson Jetlite. After seeing the above post, I googled it and found many hit linking to cigar sites/forums. Apparently it's a big hit among the cigar community.leonard:Get the 65% beads. Very few burn issues and cigars taste better.(IMO) Get a Ronson Jet light from Wally world for $2.95. Like every else says, what ever size humi you think you need, triple it.
Being from Canada, I knew it wouldn't be $3. I found it on sale at my local Canadian Tire for $10 down from $13. For you Canadians out there (not sure if there are others besides Laker and myself) it was found in their camping section in a locked case. It's also on their website (not listed on sale) so you can check if your store has stock. I got the solid gun metal grey.
Hey Shaun, I don't know what your ordering limits are but... if you keep your eye on the home page of C.COM, sometimes they include one of their lighters as a freebie if your order is above $125. Not to mention the free sticks they throw in every one in a while
