Boveda Packs Regeneration

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Subvet642

My pleasure!

If all these values are fixed (RH setpoint of the RO membrane, etc.), can we graph out how long a depleted pack must soak to hit the target weight?

Maybe.

There are some things we don't know about these packs, like what the transfer rate is through the membrane. Also you have a variable for how dried out the pack really is when you start and water temperature might also be a variable.

I suppose I can take a few dried out packs and toss them in water, then periodically pull them out to weigh them. Not exactly the most scientific method, but maybe narrow the times down a little bit.

Know that this is an older thread, but wanted to post an observation. I usually recharge my packs in a Tupperware with a water source, usually a saturated washcloth. Packs are positioned so they do not come in contact with the water source. Usually do 1 or 2 packs over a 2-3 week time. This method works well, but requires patience. Recently found that I let four packs get to near hockey puck state and started the recharging process. After 2 weeks, only two were anywhere near being rehumidified. Being the impatient sort, I decided to experiment with Scott's method and soaked them in water for 36hours. They were nice and juicy! Then I realized there was the issue of getting the outer paper to dry without drying out the entire packs, so they were placed outside overnight to dry in the humid Florida air. By morning, the packs were dry outside, but juicy inside! No discoloration or degradation of the outer wrapper at all - look like new! In all, a great way to do a quick-charge when needed. I would not do this as a matter of course, but only when needed in a short time period. Bovedas Rock!

[shilala]

That about wraps up this test. Very nicely, too.
Well done, gentlemen!!!

[Subvet642]

Originally Posted by shilala

That about wraps up this test. Very nicely, too.
Well done, gentlemen!!!

[meatcake]

I do this all the time too, the only drawback I can tell is they seem to dry up faster after the recharge. Still getting SAME RH for most part though. So I got a 12 pack and just rotate.

[Subvet642]

Originally Posted by meatcake

I do this all the time too, the only drawback I can tell is they seem to dry up faster after the recharge. Still getting SAME RH for most part though. So I got a 12 pack and just rotate.

That would mean that "re-charged" humidity escapes the humi faster than "new" humidity or that a new pack works slower than a re-charged pack. The new ones do feel different from re-charged ones, though.

[meatcake]

Originally Posted by Subvet642

That would mean that "re-charged" humidity escapes the humi faster than "new" humidity or that a new pack works slower than a re-charged pack. The new ones do feel different from re-charged ones, though.

Could be that I am impatient and don't wait for them to FULLY recharge? Not sure. I haven't been real technical about how i do it. I put them in a snap lock tupperware with another tupperware inside it with 2 fresh sponges soaked in distilled water. I put the packs around that, lock it up and leave them for a week or until they feel squishy again. They just don't seem to have the same consistency of NEW boveda packs once recharged. Who knows.

[Zane]

Originally Posted by meatcake

Could be that I am impatient and don't wait for them to FULLY recharge? Not sure. I haven't been real technical about how i do it. I put them in a snap lock tupperware with another tupperware inside it with 2 fresh sponges soaked in distilled water. I put the packs around that, lock it up and leave them for a week or until they feel squishy again. They just don't seem to have the same consistency of NEW boveda packs once recharged. Who knows.

I imagine your like me and have no patience so they don't get fully recharged.

[meatcake]

Originally Posted by Zane

I imagine your like me and have no patience so they don't get fully recharged.

Probably true.

[OLS]

I also put mine in a empty desktop humidor with some overly-charged beads and they fatten up pretty well.
I have never thought that it was worth it for me to soak them, but I KNOW they work that way, too.
And when I charge them, they are invariably flat and hard as a rock. Bringing them back for many years has
not seemed to lessen their efficacy.

[shilala]

You guys can get a gram scale like old Cheech there has, they're but a couple bucks at Amazon.
The 8 bucks spent on a scale would save a fortune on Boveda packs.

It'd be nice to take the info from this post and turn it into a coherent sticky.
It'd save brothers a lot of money, not to mention how useful the information would be for all the boys and girls we support overseas. I know I sent a small fortune in Boveda packs.
It's not like I'd ever quit buying them, they're ideal for SO many situations. It just makes good sense to squeeze every penny out of them that we can. Then we could buy more Boveda cigars, if they'd just start making some.

Have two 69 Boveda packs that were pretty stiff- almost dry. Had them in a zip lock with wet sponge for two weeks now. Pretty much recharged, but still a little bit crunchy around the edges. Is this normal?
RR

[T.G]

Originally Posted by badbriar

Have two 69 Boveda packs that were pretty stiff- almost dry. Had them in a zip lock with wet sponge for two weeks now. Pretty much recharged, but still a little bit crunchy around the edges. Is this normal?
RR

Can't say if it's normal or not, but I wouldn't worry about it. It's just salt and water inside a sealed bag, so eventually the crystallization at the edges should go into solution.

[Subvet642]

Originally Posted by badbriar

Have two 69 Boveda packs that were pretty stiff- almost dry. Had them in a zip lock with wet sponge for two weeks now. Pretty much recharged, but still a little bit crunchy around the edges. Is this normal?
RR

Originally Posted by T.G

Can't say if it's normal or not, but I wouldn't worry about it. It's just salt and water inside a sealed bag, so eventually the crystallization at the edges should go into solution.

That's been my experience.

[WaxingMoon]

Here is how I rehydrate my Boveda packs.... works well...

I have a "large" sealed container with a lid and the next size down container without the lid...




I then put all the packs I want to rehydrate in to the smaller container, which will remain "dry".




I then nest the smaller container in to the larger container which is about 1/2 full of DW.... The Boveda packs will not come in to contact with the DW... as they are "floating" in the smaller container.




Then, I put the lid on the larger container and put them aside - and forget about them until I need them again. By that time, they will be ready for reuse.... I usually go a couple of months before having to replace them.... and I do all four of my humidors at the same time.

[MarkinAZ]

Great job and photographs everyone. I like the idea of re-hydrating a pack back to its original weight (small pack 8g app and large pack 60g app). This appears to bring the pack back to its original RH set.

The manufacturers web page indicates the packs when originally purchased, should last between 2-4 months. I would assume if you recharge a pack, that it should last at least 3 months (avg) prior to needing another recharge. This depends on, of course, how many cigars one is keeping humidity on.

Again, good work all