Properly Seasoning a New Humidor

[N2Advnture]

To Properly Season A Humidor:

In regards to seasoning, it's pretty simple. Most people think that you should wipe down the interior with water and you're done but I DO NOT recommend this for two reasons. 1.) It does not provide enough moisture to properly season the humidor 2.) It can warp the wood in the humidor.

New wood will draw moisture until it reaches its saturation point, so to properly season your humidor, simply place a large bowl of distilled water into the humidor and keep it closed for 7-14 days. This will allow the dry wood to absorb as much moisture as it can hold. By doing this, you will have a more stable environment for your cigars and reduce the chances of the dry wood absorbing moisture from your cigars. Patience is key to ensure that your new humidor is properly seasoned.

While your waiting for the humidor to season, purchase and calibrate a digital hygrometer. You'll save yourself some headache in the long run.

I hope this helps and happy smoking!

~Mark

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[CSTibby]

Great thread! There are a ton of ways people suggest to season a humidor, but you break it down to the basics: The why of seasoning.

[Confederado]

I bought a humidor about a month ago and followed all of the instructions for seasoning that came with it, but the hygrometer is still hovering around 52%. It never got higher than around 62 - 65 when I was calibrating it, and the instructions said it should read 75%. I suppose I should try again? In the meantime, what's the best way to store my cigars while it's seasoning?

[icehog3]

A tupperware container should keep your cigars fine for a short time w/o added humidifcation, or indefinitely with.

Is your hygrometer analog or digital? The analog hygrometers are notoriously inaccurate.

[N2Advnture]

I bought a humidor about a month ago and followed all of the instructions for seasoning that came with it, but the hygrometer is still hovering around 52%. It never got higher than around 62 - 65 when I was calibrating it, and the instructions said it should read 75%. I suppose I should try again? In the meantime, what's the best way to store my cigars while it's seasoning?

What was the procedure they suggested for seasoning? Many times, they simply say to wipe it down with a sponge but that is not nearly effective enough and if don't improperly, could lead to a bad seal on the humidor.

Like Ice suggested, if using an analog, you'll want to salt test it to make sure it's calibrated (that goes for digital as well for that matter).

Since the hygrometer is our only visual indicator for what the exact RH level is inside the humidor, I recommend calibrating your digital hygrometer twice a year and replacing the battery annually (weak batteries can give a false reading as well).

Most hygrometers are off, typically +/- 2-4% by sometimes by as much at 10-12%.

1.) How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer:

A. Fill a small container with salt (milk bottle cap or ketchup cup works well)

B. Add a few drops of distilled water. NOT enough to dissolve the salt, just enough to moisten it. You want the mixture to be thick and pasty.

C. Put the cap inside of an air tight zip lock bag or plastic container along with your hygrometer. Then seal the bag or container. (Tupperware works well).

D. Wait 24 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without opening the bag or container (or quickly open the container and check if the container is not clear).


If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no adjustment is required.

If the reading is not precisely 75%, then you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual humidity level inside of your humidor.

For example, if your hygrometer test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get when the hygrometer is inside of your humidor to determine the actual levels of humidity.

(e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity
level of 65%).

Writing the +/- percentage on a piece of tape or small post it note and
affixing it to the hygrometer works well.

2.) Properly seasoning your humidor is critical. If the new wood is not properly seasoned, it will continue to absorb moisture from the RH Beads until the wood has reached it saturation point. To properly season, simply place a bowl of distilled water in the humidor and leave it closed for 7-14 days.

3.) Performance may also depend on your ambient humidity, how frequently you open and close you humidor, how well the seal of the humidor is and how often you add new cigars (drier ambient humidity introduced into your relative environment may reduce the RH level temporarily and new cigars may absorb some moisture if at a lower RH level than that of your humidor).


I hope this helps

~Mark

[Dave128]

Very good tips. Thank you.

[Confederado]

Mark, the instructions that came with my humidor were pretty much the same as what you told me, except they said to use a shot glass instead of a bowl, and didn't specify an amount of time (I did it for about a week). I started re-calibrating my hygrometer last night around 11:00 pm. It's been stuck at 60% since about 7 this morning. I guess I'm going to have to go digital. For the amount of money I paid for this thing, I expected perfection. :( Thanks for your help!

[EricF]

What Mark states above is very true and accurate! The only thing I might add is if you want to speed up the seasoning process alittle place a new, clean sponge (one that is wrung out with distilled water and place it on a saucer in the humi. This will give you more surface area for the water to evaporate. The sponge should be fully saturated. After that throw in your humidification device(s) and enjoy!

[pektel]

Hell, I didn't even use a sponge. I just folded up a paper towel and stuck it in the bowl of distilled water. Worked just fine, and a lot faster than just a bowl of water.

[mikethegoalie32]

Does one need to season a humidor after a certain amount of time, or is first time all?
I bought my humidor within the last two years. Winter seasons see me having great difficulty maintaining humidity in it. I have a rather large humidor for a beginner (around space for at least 1000 cigars) but will only have about 60 in it within a week. I use the gel capsules and find in winter I really struggle to keep it at 70% and normally find me dropping in the mid to low 60s... how can I fix this?

[T.G]

Two things:
Too much empty space can make it difficult to maintain a set RH. For only 60 cigars, a 1000 count humidor is way overkill. A smaller humidor or lots more cigars would help to achieve a more stable humidity reading.

Second, low-mid 60%RH is great. You'll probably find that your cigars burn better and have more pronounced flavors at the lower RH.

[Emjaysmash]

Does one need to season a humidor after a certain amount of time, or is first time all?
I bought my humidor within the last two years. Winter seasons see me having great difficulty maintaining humidity in it. I have a rather large humidor for a beginner (around space for at least 1000 cigars) but will only have about 60 in it within a week. I use the gel capsules and find in winter I really struggle to keep it at 70% and normally find me dropping in the mid to low 60s... how can I fix this?

One would be to get more cigars. Cigar help maintain an even, constant humidity. Seeing as you fill only about 6% of that humi, the other 94% could be filled with cigar boxes or spanish cedar to help buffer it a little.
Winter has been notoriously bad for me with humidity. Keep your humi away from windows and doors, as the change in ambient temp can make your RH fluctuate.

Also, do you have any glass tops or door to your humi? Humidity can leak through the seam between the glass and the wood.

[mikethegoalie32]

Ok, 65% is very consistent for me in winter, and 70% is more consistent in summer... This makes me happy!
More cigars will be added very soon. 50 coming back from Cuba, and at least another 50 for XMAS.
And yes I do have both a door and glass all around. But if im around 65% and thats normal I think my seal is solid. Should in the future the seal be weak, how does one fix it?

[T.G]

Should in the future the seal be weak, how does one fix it?

Blue masking tape! :tu


Seriously, it depends on the type of seal and how it's leaking and where (door or glass for example). There are lots of different possibilities and combinations there, so I'd say cross that bridge when and if you get to it.

[mikethegoalie32]

I am so happy I found this website! I was thinking far worse than that lol. You guys and gals are life savers!

[bobarian]

An easy way to check your seal is to open the top about 3 inches and let it go. You should hear a "whooshing" sound as the top closes. If it slams shut with a bang, then you need to check your seal. Put a dollar bill(or whatever goofy money you use up there :D) between the top and the bottom in several places. If you find a spot where it slides out easily, then use the magic blue(painters)tape to seal. :2

[CigarNut]

An easy way to check your seal is to open the top about 3 inches and let it go. You should hear a "whooshing" sound as the top closes. If it slams shut with a bang, then you need to check your seal. Put a dollar bill(or whatever goofy money you use up there :D) between the top and the bottom in several places. If you find a spot where it slides out easily, then use the magic blue(painters)tape to seal. :2Make sure to use paper money and not any of those dollar (or two dollar) coins :)

[mikethegoalie32]

Sounds good, will do that tonight for sure!

[mikethegoalie32]

So checked the seal of the door, no leak, but when checking the seal of the glass, there is a possibility of leaking as I can get a receipt in and moving around.

Blue masking tape is the way to go I guess? On the outside of the humidor I suspect is where I do the tape job?

[CigarNut]

I personally like to use Silicone sealer around the glass. The catch with this is that you need to empty your humidor while you are doing this and give it a few days to air out. Then you need to (re)season your humidor.

[mikethegoalie32]

Seeing as I dont have much (60 cigars max in a large 500-700 cig humi) but more coming soon, do you recommend this now before I have more? How many days do I go without it? Re-seasoning is not a worry. I would rather have it done right than a problem for a long time to come,...

[CigarNut]

Seeing as I dont have much (60 cigars max in a large 500-700 cig humi) but more coming soon, do you recommend this now before I have more? How many days do I go without it? Re-seasoning is not a worry. I would rather have it done right than a problem for a long time to come,...That is the best attitude to have!

Most silicone sealers take a day or two to set, then another few days to air out the "vinegar" odor -- gotta make sure that odor is all gone, as you don't want to taint your sticks.

All-in-all figure a week or so to be safe.

[mikethegoalie32]

ok perfect.
Again I assume it is done on the OUTSIDE of the humidor. Also, I assume I can just take out all shelving to avoid extra stink time. Thirdly, just store my current cigs in a cooler with the humidification stuff I am using until then?

[T.G]

ok perfect.
Again I assume it is done on the OUTSIDE of the humidor. Also, I assume I can just take out all shelving to avoid extra stink time. Thirdly, just store my current cigs in a cooler with the humidification stuff I am using until then?

Opinions vary on the inside or outside of the glass application. I personally believe that if you use a silicone sealer that is non-odorous when dried, ie; GE Silicone-II, then it doesn't matter, so use it on whichever side you prefer as "better" for you based on aesthetics and ease of application.

Some people will go as far as to pull the wooden retainer strip/trim on the backside of the glass, lift the glass out, run a bead on the outside lip, then reset the glass and run an inside bead before finally reinstalling the trim.

Yes, just go ahead and move your cigars and humidification to a tupperware container or cooler while you wait for the repairs to complete - depending on what you are using for humidification, you might need to keep an eye on the RH if things are going to be in there for a long time.

[thecatch83]

I see no harm in lightly wiping the inside of a new humidor with a moist sponge, towel etc. because if for nothing else, you are removing the dust/micro wood particles etc. The wood is not going to swell if it's not soaked, and IMO wiping down the inside does help speed up the seasoning process.

[76GTFan]

I see no harm in lightly wiping the inside of a new humidor with a moist sponge, towel etc. because if for nothing else, you are removing the dust/micro wood particles etc. The wood is not going to swell if it's not soaked, and IMO wiping down the inside does help speed up the seasoning process.

Agreed. Sometimes I just take it out back and run a waterhose over it for a few minutes.:sw

[thecatch83]

I think you should sticky that technique under humidor seasoning :xxx

[T.G]

I see no harm in lightly wiping the inside of a new humidor with a moist sponge, towel etc. because if for nothing else, you are removing the dust/micro wood particles etc. The wood is not going to swell if it's not soaked, and IMO wiping down the inside does help speed up the seasoning process.

While a light wipe down might not put you at risk for swelling and warping the wood, any kind of a wipe down can risk raising the grain of the wood resulting in a cosmetically unattractive rough surface that can easily tear cigar wrappers.

If you want to wipe down the wood to remove dust, you should just barely moisten a clean lint free cloth and wipe it with that. A barely moistened cloth will not leave any water behind or moisten the wood, it will just trap the dust particles.

[thecatch83]

Excellent advice Adam!

[BnBTobacco]

To me the most effective way of naturally imparting moisture to a humidor is with natural evaporation. Use a damp sponge or paper towel. The key to a well seasoned humidor is time.

[smokepuff]

Thanks for the great information :D

[Mattso3000]

Quick question here, I have a small (100) decorative humidor that I keep sitting on my bar and it has always been locked on 64%. I moved last year and over the winter it dropped into the high 50's so I added some cigarjuice to the humidification device. This worked fine during the winter, but now the thing jumped up to 78%. I emptied the smokes into my larger humidor, but is there any way besides just letting it air out and reaseasoning it to get it in line?

[CigarNut]

Reseasoning will not bring the RH down. First, calibrate youe hygrometer to make sure you really do have a problem. If the RH is high then keep your sticks in the other humidor and let the humidor air out -- and hour or so at a time.

Also, get rid of the cigar juice and switch to beads to manage your RH.

[Ncpsycho]

Im seasoning a 120 count Cuban crafters humi right now its been going for like 3 days with a damp sponge in it but ever since i first closed it my freshly calibrated digital hygrometer is reading 73% Rh? Ive read posts that say to let it season till the hygrometer reads 70%? Will the rh level out or should i stop with the seasoning after 3 days?

[DPD6030]

Im seasoning a 120 count Cuban crafters humi right now its been going for like 3 days with a damp sponge in it but ever since i first closed it my freshly calibrated digital hygrometer is reading 73% Rh? Ive read posts that say to let it season till the hygrometer reads 70%? Will the rh level out or should i stop with the seasoning after 3 days?

Did your hygrometer propery calibrated read 75%? If so then 73% would be accurate. If not, then subtract 75 from 73 and you get a 2 difference. So 73% would technically be 75% calibrated. I know my digital hygrometers are off a few % but I write on them with a small piece of tape the difference. Your humidor may not be fully seasoned yet. I'd give it 7-14 days like Mark has suggested and in the meantime re-calibrate your hygrometer. It can't hurt. :2

Does your humidor have cigars in it yet? If not that could be an issue as well as cigars regulate humidity and "even" out the humidity.