Humidor problems
 

I need help. I just got a humidor 3 weeks and and follows the instructions and calibrated the hydrometer and everything. Hydrometer never got to 75% which it said it should after 8 hrs. So I moved it to 75% like instructed and it has sat at 70% ever since so I figured everything was alright. I bought a electric hydrometer just to see if the one with the humidor was close. Same thing, calibrated and everything and it never got to 75% only 68% so after reading I figured its off 7%. No big deal when reading it. However when I put it in the humidor over night it the electric one dropped to 50%. So now I don't know if the electric one is completely off or if it is right and the one in the box is off and I need to do something to god humidor. Does anyone have any suggestions.

Re: Humidor problems
 

Eight hours is not long enough to properly calibrate a hygrometer. I assume the one that came with the humidor is an analog one. Those are for decorative purposes only and fairly inaccurate.

By an "electric hygrometer", am I correct in assuming you mean a digital battery powered one?
Those that have larger format humidors make use of electricity to run a humidifier and have the RH readings built in. But all smaller format humidors use a removable type of hygrometer.

This thread should help.
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=619

Also, how big is your humidor? What is the advertised capacity?

Re: Humidor problems
 

Yes the one with the humidor is Analog and the one I bought is digital. And the humidor says can hold 100

Re: Humidor problems
 

Ignore the analog. Use you digital and perform the test as described in the link I provided.

Have you seasoned your humidor? When you added the hygrometer, did you add cigars at the same time? (Cigars will absorb some of the moisture and lower the RH). What method are you using for maintaining RH?

Re: Humidor problems
 

Rectangle humidifier. And I seasoned by putting a shot glass of water for 24 hrs and that's when the analog went to 70% and sat. The instructions with the humidor said to not wipe down

Re: Humidor problems
 

Ignore the analog.

I would not wipe the humidor down. But IMO 24 hours is nowhere near enough time to properly season a humidor. A week or two is more like it.

If your rectangle humidifier has foam, ditch the foam and invest in some beads. The beads will help regulate the RH in either direction.

Re: Humidor problems
 

Alright I really appreciate the help.

Re: Humidor problems
 

Pnoon has hit everything on the head. I second what he has said.

Beads.. Do them! I didn't at first. It takes a lot of the guess work out.

Re: Humidor problems
 

+1. Beads are great!

Re: Humidor problems
 

Beads and Boveda packs work great as a combination. My humidity is steady at 63%.

Re: Humidor problems
 

Alright I'll be getting beads then. I appreciate it

Re: Humidor problems
 

Also you may find that 75% RH is a bit more humid than you want. This is completely up to the user, however you may find your cigars won't burn the hits as well at that humidity level. Most keep theirs in the 65-70% range. Again though, as with everything in this hobby, it's completely up to how you like it to be.

Re: Humidor problems
 

The only thing I can add is when you season the humidor don't keep opening it to check on it, leave it closed if it all humanly possible, you can open it in a couple days to check on the water in the glass.

Another way to season, hey I have two things to add, you can season it using a new clean sponge and a small plate, just soak the sponge in distilled water and put it on the plate in the humidor. More surface area allows the humidor to suck up the moister faster.

Good luck :tu

Hh and ya beads are great, for a smaller box like that you won't even need a lot of them, so that's another benefit of them.

Re: Humidor problems
 

Alright I appreciate everyone's help