Cheap alternatives to "cigar" beads?

I'm with the rest of the logical people in here.
You've already spent plenty of money on the cigars, what's another $20 bucks for beads to keep your cigars properly humidified?

It's like buying a Ferrari then asking around for the cheapest oil and tire change shop.

[KidRock]

Originally Posted by ChINaMaN1472

I'm with the rest of the logical people in here.
You've already spent plenty of money on the cigars, what's another $20 bucks for beads to keep your cigars properly humidified?

It's like buying a Ferrari then asking around for the cheapest oil and tire change shop.

Off the record....Oil change in the new ferrari is 450 dollars. The point goes to show...If you have 150 cigars and there at least lets say 10 dollars each thats 1500 dollars worth of smokes. You would want the best.


Do you put a 12 pack of bud in the trunk during August and open one up 3 weeks later? No, because it will taste like pee.

[Les Nessman]

I recently made the switch to heartfelt beads and have no regrets. To help keep costs down I purchased a half pound of beads for $18 + shipping and made up my own containers for them. Used an old humigel jar, modified the old humidity device (with the foam) that came with the humi and poked holes in couple of mini mm candy canisters to hold the beads. I lose points for looks, but I am holding steady at 65%.

[md4958]

Originally Posted by Les Nessman

I recently made the switch to heartfelt beads and have no regrets. To help keep costs down I purchased a half pound of beads for $18 + shipping and made up my own containers for them. Used an old humigel jar, modified the old humidity device (with the foam) that came with the humi and poked holes in couple of mini mm candy canisters to hold the beads. I lose points for looks, but I am holding steady at 65%.

and old set of pantyhose would also make a nice bag allowing plenty of surface area

[MedicCook]

Originally Posted by md4958

and old set of pantyhose would also make a nice bag allowing plenty of surface area

For ease of use, have your wife/gf take them off first.

[markem]

Someone will possibly chime in with the brand, but there is one kitty litter that has roughly the same properties as beads. That is, it gives up moisture below about 65% RH and absorbs above that. Can't recall if it was here or at another site that the posting was made, but it was made within the last 6 or so months.

I've always used Heartfelt beads. Scott's beads have the same high respect as the one's from Heartfelt. I have 8 lbs of the heartfelt in 4 large storage units (2 vinos, 2 100 qt coolers) and one 1 oz tube in my 150 count Savoy humidor (new addition and the difference is amazing).

The funny thing is that I've always considered beads to be a cheap and safe alternative to other humidification devices, but everyone has their threshold, especially in a down economy.

It would be cool if the litter info gets posted and you are able to run some tests with it. For "humidify and forget" however, beads are my personal choice.

[Skywalker]

[bobarian]

Kitty litter will absorb moisture(humidity) that is what they were designed to do. But they WILL NOT regulate or release moisture at a set level. Though they are both the same product chemically. Kitty litter has not been treated to regulate at a specific RH. I believe kitty litter will work well in high humidity areas, but out here in Cali. Heartfelt beads are the best way to go.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Kitty litter will absorb moisture(humidity) that is what they were designed to do. But they WILL NOT regulate or release moisture at a set level. Though they are both the same product chemically. Kitty litter has not been treated to regulate at a specific RH. I believe kitty litter will work well in high humidity areas, but out here in Cali. Heartfelt beads are the best way to go.

This was my experience with the Exquisicat (sp?) from PetStupid.

Very erratic moisture release, I ended up having to use about five times more of the stuff than what I would be using for heartfelt beads, and it still sucked. This pretty much jives with what shilala posted earlier in this thread.

Oh, and the stories about "training the beads" by putting them in a 65% environemnt then removing them, then putting them back... LOL. Basic understanding of chemistry on so much as a highschool level should tell you that such theories are nonsense.

Originally Posted by T.G

This was my experience with the Exquisicat (sp?) from PetStupid.

Very erratic moisture release, I ended up having to use about five times more of the stuff than what I would be using for heartfelt beads, and it still sucked. This pretty much jives with what shilala posted earlier in this thread.

I'm still getting Heartfelt just to keep it simple. But did you use the Pearls or the non tracking kind? If it wasn't the pearls then it wasn't the right kind anyway.

[MrOneEyedBoh]

Yeah as they all have said, I was looking for alternatives on cigar beads. Just front the money now and be set for life. Its NOT that much when you think of it. Sure if you can use a cheap water pillow in a mini humidor do that, but when it comes to vinos, coolers or larger humidors I would get beads. Cigarmony is running a deal now, and their lb beads come with a free mesh bag.

Originally Posted by MrOneEyedBoh

Yeah as they all have said, I was looking for alternatives on cigar beads. Just front the money now and be set for life. Its NOT that much when you think of it. Sure if you can use a cheap water pillow in a mini humidor do that, but when it comes to vinos, coolers or larger humidors I would get beads. Cigarmony is running a deal now, and their lb beads come with a free mesh bag.

Thanks for the heads up. I checked them out and they're more expensive than Heartfelt for oz and about the same for a lb. They look cool though.
I couldn't find the right kitty litter pearls at any of the local pet shops until a few minutes ago. I stopped by a new shop on the way to a store across town and they had the 4lb bags of Litter Pearls Kitty Litter for $10.99. I grabbed one for the hell of it and I'll try and run some tests later on in the week. For $10.99 it's worth an experiment.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by mariogolbee

Thanks for the heads up. I checked them out and they're more expensive than Heartfelt for oz and about the same for a lb. They look cool though.
I couldn't find the right kitty litter pearls at any of the local pet shops until a few minutes ago. I stopped by a new shop on the way to a store across town and they had the 4lb bags of Litter Pearls Kitty Litter for $10.99. I grabbed one for the hell of it and I'll try and run some tests later on in the week. For $10.99 it's worth an experiment.

Suit yourself...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcAOwP2MFP8&NR=1

[shilala]

Originally Posted by mariogolbee

Thanks for the heads up. I checked them out and they're more expensive than Heartfelt for oz and about the same for a lb. They look cool though.
I couldn't find the right kitty litter pearls at any of the local pet shops until a few minutes ago. I stopped by a new shop on the way to a store across town and they had the 4lb bags of Litter Pearls Kitty Litter for $10.99. I grabbed one for the hell of it and I'll try and run some tests later on in the week. For $10.99 it's worth an experiment.

I could have dug up all the test data and saved you eleven bucks and a lot of time.
You have to precondition the beads prior to using them, too.
You can do that by putting them in an ambient RH that's the same as whatever you wish your setpoint to be, it takes time.
You can also do some mathematical calculations to figure out roughly how much water to add to them to yield a specific RH, but it takes them forever to equalize and become usable.
Simply put, they're a real pain in the butt.
I know where you're coming from though. You'll have fun messing around.

[Sauer Grapes]

Oddly enough, a 12 pack of Bud tastes like pee without sitting in the trunk.

[AD720]

I actually tired using the Kitty Litter silica beads in my cooler a while ago. I put them in and the humidity jumped up to over 80% in a matter of minutes. Just not enough control IMHO.

[chippewastud79]

If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right. Get yourself some real HCM or rH beads

Originally Posted by Sauer Grapes

Oddly enough, a 12 pack of Bud tastes like pee without sitting in the trunk.

[Tio Gato]

If you feel that beads are too expensive, take a look at Humi-Care jars that are sold on C-Bid for a good price. I've had great results with these jars, especially in my tupperdores. Water Pillows may work for you too.
Good Luck.

[SeanGAR]

Pretty much anything will absorb and release water, as will kitty litter and that old wool sweater you received for Christmas in 1986. The key is getting something with enough moisture absorptive capacity so you don't need to recharge once a day and the proper hysteresis curve so you maintain the humidity you seek. I use and recommend beads, the humi care jars get moldy on me after a few months unless I spike them with benzoate or something.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Pretty much anything will absorb and release water, as will kitty litter and that old wool sweater you received for Christmas in 1986. The key is getting something with enough moisture absorptive capacity so you don't need to recharge once a day and the proper hysteresis curve so you maintain the humidity you seek. I use and recommend beads, the humi care jars get moldy on me after a few months unless I spike them with benzoate or something.

I have no idea why that made me laugh, but you got me.
I think it's cause when you said kitty litter I thought of my cat's litter box.
He ain't much of a house cleaner.