my first humidor - please help

[Fireball JaX]

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Well the title and pics says it all. I bought this off ebay and picked it up off a fellow today. He has had it locked away a few years after giving up smoking entirely about 5 years ago. He told me it was bought but then never used as a triple heart bypass persueded him to give up. So I effectively own a brand new (5 year old) humi, unless from the pics anyone can tell me otherwise. Its bigger than i thought it would be measuring 35cm by 24cm and 16cm deep.

Im struggling with wether it will work or not given its been stored away, and how to work it at all. I dont know if cigars are supposed to sit on the tray on the top or if they can go in the space underneath, or what the two thin pieces of wood are with rubberised end strips. I assume the black box inside is where the humid atmosphere is created but I really am very new to all this so can someone please give me some pointers as to what is what and what goes where. Once im sorted I can start to get a couple of cigars in there.

[pedro]

Cigars go top and bottom wood with the two rubber ends just a divider. Yip black bit with green foam inside is humidifier. Add solution or distilled water. Read the sticky about how to season your humidor. You will need a analogue hygrometer as the analogue will be inaccurate and replacing the black bit with beads will make life easier.

[crusse]

Cigars go top and bottom wood with the two rubber ends just a divider. Yip black bit with green foam inside is humidifier. Add solution or distilled water. Read the sticky about how to season your humidor. You will need a analogue hygrometer as the analogue will be inaccurate and replacing the black bit with beads will make life easier.

I think that Pedro meant a digital hygrometer - they're much more accurate than the analogues. I'd also suggest getting rid of the foam humidifier and replacing it with humidity beads, which are much better for keeping a constant humidity. You can buy them here: http://heartfeltindustries.com/categ...Humidity+Beads. I use the 65% beads and they have kept my stogies in perfect condition. Hope this helps mate.

[Fireball JaX]

cheers guys, would a digital one be the same shape abd size as the analogue one i have in there so it would be a straight swap. also when storing cigars in the large bottom compartment is it ok to stack cigars on top of each other as the humi is so big and deep or can you only store then in a single flat row

[Deano]

Yeah stacking is ok. I'd keep the same together though, and don't mix non-cubans with cubans.

[Zigatoh]

The analogue one would be left on, part of the aesthetic appeal anyway, digital ones can be really small so you just put them inside with the cigars, ebay is good for these, mine are similar to this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/digital-lc...item3cc1a8eb3a

[Fireball JaX]

whats the reason for that Deano. what do you do with tubed cigars. do they stay in the tubes inthe humo or should they be removed from the tube

[Sludgie]

You can buy a digital hygrometer that will sit inside your humi along with your cigars. If you check out the forum sponsor's website (cgars) then there are various options available. I have a Caliber III and it is very accurate. It is a small black rectangular shape, and is not designed to replace the inbuilt analogue hygro at the front of your humidor.

Nick.

[bambini]

whats the reason for that Deano. what do you do with tubed cigars. do they stay in the tubes inthe humo or should they be removed from the tube

Ah, the classic, age old question

Truth is, there's no consensus on this and it's down to personal preference. Some say the tube adds to flavour, others say it makes not difference. Personally, I like to keep them in their tubes with the cap on because His Holiness Min Ron Nee once said that it enhances the aging process in the long term (i.e. 40 years long term).

Some people leave them in the tube but remove the cap, others simply take them out. It won't hurt nor harm your smokes either way, so go with your gut

Nice humi, BTW.

[Deano]

Non-Cuban tobacco is quite different from Cuban, imo, and may taint the taste. I'd prefer keeping them separate. Even separating different brands of Cubans (but I wouldn't worry too much).

[tippexx]

whats the reason for that Deano.

'Cos Apartheid is legal in humis and Deano don't want his puro Cuban wrappers rubbing shoulders with wrappers from who knows where. Basically it's good practice.

Tubes you're gonna get a hundred answers. I leave mine IN the tube, caps ON.

[Fireball JaX]

cheers everyone. the wealth of answers so quick shows how good this forum is and the people within it. Will get a digital gauge ordered this morning. one more question, I promise it might be the last (for now) Is there somewhere on the forum or a recommended site on what humidity percentage it should be kept at and how to achieve and maintain the level?