High Humidity With Boveda

[iaMkcK]

For the past week or so, I've been running 2 72% Boveda packets and they have been dead on @ 72%.. The temperature has been around 75F around the cigars.. Came home this morning to a temperature drop to 58F degrees -- and a RH of 75%.. I aired it out and placed it in a warmer area.. How much of an effect will this have on my cigars? Shall I just dry box em before smoking or have I done some harm here?

Thanks, any help is appreciated/needed..

EDIT :: Been doing some reading on RH.. And I feel a bit stupid now. Lovely. Whatever, feel free to comment regardless! :-D

[dave]

Ok, based on your edit, I'll put the smartass comments about running mold experiments.....

But, just for humor's sake, here's a bit more reading, if you haven't come across it yet:
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=47876&highlight=temperature

Oh...and once you do get it where you want it, don't sweat a couple RH points from day to day. You'll live longer.

[T.G]

Just being at 72% is going to give you problems down the line. Bad burn, tight draws, sour tasting cigars, mold...

Going from 72% to 75% for a few hours probably isn't going to do anything to make it worse.

[iaMkcK]

Well.. I have a box of 72% and a box of 69%.. I've yet to crack any of the 69%.. What do you feel I should do -- instead of wasting 4 perfectly good 72% packs? Just keep them in the general container but not the humidors? I'd hate to toss all the 72% ones..

[T.G]

Well.. I have a box of 72% and a box of 69%.. I've yet to crack any of the 69%.. What do you feel I should do -- instead of wasting 4 perfectly good 72% packs? Just keep them in the general container but not the humidors? I'd hate to toss all the 72% ones..


I don't understand what you mean by the text highlighted in red.

Even 69% is high. You'll find a lot more flavor and less problems with your cigars when kept in the 60%-65% range. So as for the packs, I'd save them for seasoning a humidor or something and just get beads from either Cigarnut @ HCMbeads.com (user adjustable RH set point) or the 65% beads from heartfeltindustries.com
.

[iaMkcK]

Say I have a cooler for the time being as opposed to a wineador: Should I put the 72% packets inside the cooler and put the 69% inside the actual cedar boxes -- That's what I meant.

[T.G]

No need for that. If the boxes are in a humidified environment, the humidity will get through them to the cigars.

[iaMkcK]

So.. Toss the 72% and don't even use the 69% for a grand total of $70 wasted?.. Interesting.

[lenguamor]

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=618

[T.G]

So.. Toss the 72% and don't even use the 69% for a grand total of $70 wasted?.. Interesting.

Can you return the unopened ones?

[iaMkcK]

Can you return them?

The 72% would have been returnable -- they were from Amazon.com -- but they've been opened.

The 69% -- unopened.. CigarMonster -- So.. Non-returnable.. :-(

[pnoon]

So.. Toss the 72% and don't even use the 69% for a grand total of $70 wasted?.. Interesting.

I don't believe that is what he said.

This is a good reason why folks should read older threads. Tons of good and cost saving information. (Yes, I understand that you likely purchased the Boveda packs prior to joining. But there is much for new and old members alike to learn)

[363]

The 72% would have been returnable -- they were from Amazon.com -- but they've been opened.

The 69% -- unopened.. CigarMonster -- So.. Non-returnable.. :-(

Save em and use em for when you send sticks :sh

[pnoon]

Save em and use em for when you send sticks :sh

Or pass them along to Hugh or Scott for shipments to the troops overseas.

[iaMkcK]

Yeah.. I purchased the packs before joining.. And trust me, I use the Search function more often than I post. I wasn't being rude to him or anything like that.. I'm just now realizing I bought a bunch of useless items and that is always hard to cope with. If you could, please send me a pm for the address to donate these for the troop packages.

[pnoon]

Yeah.. I purchased the packs before joining.. And trust me, I use the Search function more often than I post. I wasn't being rude to him or anything like that.. I'm just now realizing I bought a bunch of useless items and that is always hard to cope with. If you could, please send me a pm for the address to donate these for the troop packages.

Shoot a PM to Hugh (hotreds) or Scott (shilala). If you don't hear back from them promptly, I will PM you their addresses this evening.

[iaMkcK]

Right on. Before the suggestion of donating, I e-mailed Famous-Smoke and they will take back the un-opened 12 and send me 9 65%'s.. And I still got 8 unopened and 4 opened 72%'s.. So I will donate those. Again, sorry if I came off rude T.G -- your input is invaluable. As was everyone else's -- Thanka!

[pnoon]

Right on. Before the suggestion of donating, I e-mailed Famous-Smoke and they will take back the un-opened 12 and send me 9 65%'s.. And I still got 8 unopened and 4 opened 72%'s.. So I will donate those. Again, sorry if I came off rude T.G -- your input is invaluable. As was everyone else's -- Thanka!

:tu

[T.G]

I didn't think you were being rude.

Glad to hear that you were able to work something out with Famous, they're a good operation, they really do try to keep the importance of the customer in mind.

FYI, the boveda packs are rechargeable, so now that you have the 65% packs, you're set. If you ever go to beads, then you can always use a 65% pack in a traveldor for an extended trip to a dry climate.

To recharge the pack, simply take a medium sized tupperware container, put the spent pack at one end, put a small ramekin or shot glass of distilled water at the other and seal the tupperware. Check on the pack once every 7-10 days, at which point I change the water out. Depending on how dry the pack is, you will eventually notice that the pack will expand back to it's original (or larger) size as it absorbs moisture from the air. It works better if you don't allow the pack to completely dry out, but even if you do that, they will still recharge, but it will take a long time.

Double ziploc bag the recharged pack and store in the humidor/cooler until needed.

I've been recharging the same 4 or 5 packs for at least 7 years now.

[iaMkcK]

Nice. Yeah, I didn't mean to completely blow past the beads suggestion.. Just at the small amount of cigars I plan on having this year, this is the easiest solution. Thanks for the recharging tip as well, I had heard people mention that which added to the allure.

I appreciate all the input. Soon I'll have a Whynter 28S so I can keep the temps proper.. Living in the desert with 115 degree summers and 30 degree winters can hurt a stick, I imagine ;-)

[RobR1205]

I didn't think you were being rude.

Glad to hear that you were able to work something out with Famous, they're a good operation, they really do try to keep the importance of the customer in mind.

FYI, the boveda packs are rechargeable, so now that you have the 65% packs, you're set. If you ever go to beads, then you can always use a 65% pack in a traveldor for an extended trip to a dry climate.

To recharge the pack, simply take a medium sized tupperware container, put the spent pack at one end, put a small ramekin or shot glass of distilled water at the other and seal the tupperware. Check on the pack once every 7-10 days, at which point I change the water out. Depending on how dry the pack is, you will eventually notice that the pack will expand back to it's original (or larger) size as it absorbs moisture from the air. It works better if you don't allow the pack to completely dry out, but even if you do that, they will still recharge, but it will take a long time.

Double ziploc bag the recharged pack and store in the humidor/cooler until needed.

I've been recharging the same 4 or 5 packs for at least 7 years now.

MIND BLOWN! Had no idea you could do that! Thanks! :tu:tu

[CigarNut]

...FYI, the boveda packs are rechargeable, so now that you have the 65% packs, you're set. If you ever go to beads, then you can always use a 65% pack in a traveldor for an extended trip to a dry climate.

To recharge the pack, simply take a medium sized tupperware container, put the spent pack at one end, put a small ramekin or shot glass of distilled water at the other and seal the tupperware. Check on the pack once every 7-10 days, at which point I change the water out. Depending on how dry the pack is, you will eventually notice that the pack will expand back to it's original (or larger) size as it absorbs moisture from the air. It works better if you don't allow the pack to completely dry out, but even if you do that, they will still recharge, but it will take a long time.

Double ziploc bag the recharged pack and store in the humidor/cooler until needed.

I've been recharging the same 4 or 5 packs for at least 7 years now.One thing I have noticed is that the recharged Boveda packs can be slightly off on RH (a point or two higher or lower). At first I thought it was my hygrometers, but it's definately the packs. It could be due to how many times I have recharged them; I do not know for sure. I did contact Boveda when I first noticed this (a while ago) and they told me that recharging was not recommended or supported :)

For the most part this is not a problem for me, just wanted to share...

[hotreds]

I too, was surprised that I could recharge these- and I do so. Works better on the bigger ones, but also on the smaller ones. Does take a while- I have a tupperware container with a glass of distilled water and I throw my Bovedas in there when they get hard. I also sometiems sprtiz the sides of said container with distilled water- this does seem to speed up the process somewhat. But, in fact, you could make do with a set of Bovedas for a long while. They also begin to look ragged, but who cares?

[bobarian]

I recharge using a sponge I dampen with distilled water. This prevents spilling the water out of the container. Just moisten and put in the tupperware with the Boveda on the other side. :2

[T.G]

One thing I have noticed is that the recharged Boveda packs can be slightly off on RH (a point or two higher or lower). At first I thought it was my hygrometers, but it's definately the packs. It could be due to how many times I have recharged them; I do not know for sure. I did contact Boveda when I first noticed this (a while ago) and they told me that recharging was not recommended or supported :)

For the most part this is not a problem for me, just wanted to share...


Aren't boveda packs +/- 2 anyway, even when new?

[hotreds]

What's a coupla degrees among friends, anyway? Life is +/-2 also!

[mkarnold1]

I recharge using a sponge I dampen with distilled water. This prevents spilling the water out of the container. Just moisten and put in the tupperware with the Boveda on the other side. :2

+1, I think the increased surface area of the sponge speeds up the recharging process.

[iaMkcK]

Sounds good. Just glad all is not lost. Get 9 65% packs and donate to a good cause. Well worth the $75. :-)

[omowasu]

One thing I have noticed is that the recharged Boveda packs can be slightly off on RH (a point or two higher or lower). At first I thought it was my hygrometers, but it's definately the packs. It could be due to how many times I have recharged them; I do not know for sure. I did contact Boveda when I first noticed this (a while ago) and they told me that recharging was not recommended or supported :)

For the most part this is not a problem for me, just wanted to share...

I use 69% Boveda packets and 65% beads, and almost always get RH right at 67%. They balance each other out quite nicely. I too have recharged the packets regularly, works great, I use the distilled water and sponge method.

[bobarian]

I use 69% Boveda packets and 65% beads, and almost always get RH right at 67%. They balance each other out quite nicely. I too have recharged the packets regularly, works great, I use the distilled water and sponge method.

67% only occurs by accident. It has been stated many times that Rh devices do not average out. The Boveda will release Rh and be absorbed by the beads until they are saturated. :2

[Wharf Rat]

67% only occurs by accident. It has been stated many times that Rh devices do not average out. The Boveda will release Rh and be absorbed by the beads until they are saturated. :2

Well, at equilibrium, the RH is probably 69% real close to that packet and 65% near the other. Somewhere between the two, it might really be 67% :noon

[longknocker]

I recharge using a sponge I dampen with distilled water. This prevents spilling the water out of the container. Just moisten and put in the tupperware with the Boveda on the other side. :2

This Is What I Do, Also.:):tu