Stupid Newbie Questions

[EarwaxUK]

Hi all

I've been through lots of old threads on this (and other) forums and I'm getting conflicting advice to a couple of real newbie questions which you're probably all sick of answering. Having said that, I'm going to ask them anyway!
I've just got a Prestige Chateau Humidor from CGars to store my newly acquired wedding cigars. I also bought a digital hygrometer at the same time
First question: do I need to season the humidor? My current batch of cigars are tubed Punch Coronations and I've got a bundle of 60g Boveda 69% packs and I wondered if I could just start storing them without seasoning as they're tubed.
Second question: rather than fiddling around with salt and DI water, can I calibrate my hygrometer with one of the 69% Boveda packs in a ziplock bag? This is effectively what the Boveda calibration packs do (albeit with a different humidity)

Thanks in advance!

[RDBM]

You're right Chris, there is a myriad of conflicting info on the web. I didn't bother seasoning any of my humidors, just gave them a clean, filled them with HF beads and a digi hygro left them for a couple of days to see where it settles and pretty much all of them were close enough to 65% for me to pop sticks straight in. I doubt you will need to calibrate a digital hygro but I'm no expert compared to the majority of folks on here. I'm confident you'll get the answers you need soon.

[Seegarnub]

Stupid Newbie Questions

I've not got the experience that others have on here, but as far as I understand it, to really benefit from a traditional humidor it does need to be seasoned. Regarding humidity (which again is personal taste) everyone seems to have their own personal methods of stabilising their chosen humidity, mine being four Xikar crystal tubes that take tap water and keep my 75 count humi, always stocked with approx. 55-60 sticks, at a constant 67/68% at which I find they smoke perfectly for me[emoji2]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Matt Wall]

Again I have not much experience in comparison to others however if you don't want to fiddle around with salt water calibration then I would suggest just sticking the cigars in your seasoned humidor along with the Boveda packs and let them do the work, they'll keep it at whatever humidity you chose so you don't really need to worry about calibrating it too much. I rarely check my hygrometer as I use Boveda packs but every time I do it reads 67-69% which is bang on what I choose for my Boveda's
In regards to the seasoning, I seasoned my humidor using de-ionised water rather than distilled water and it still works for me. I didn't cover the whole humidor liberally but I gave the sides about 4 coats of lightly brushed water
Hope that helps!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TonyN]

Hi Matt
Why would you want to cut corners having spent good money on a humidor
all you need to do is get a couple of the boveda 84% pouches stick them in your humidor for 14 with your digital hygrometer
after that take them out replace them with your 69%ones wait till your hygrometer is reading 69%
and place your cigars in job done knowing your humidor is properly seasoned.
Even though your cigars are in tubes the humidor being dry will obsorb the little bit of moister the cigars may have.

[TonyN]

True what your saying about calibrating your hygrometer get a 69%pouch in a ziplock bag stick your hygrometer
wait 24 to 36 hours and see what reading you get if out just adjust to the reading you should of got.

[Seegarnub]

I thought all digital hygrometers were like mine and self-calibrating?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TonyN]

Some you can calibrate others you can't
example the calibre 3 you coulden't where the calibre 4 you can
other brands not sure .

[Seegarnub]

Some you can calibrate others you can't
example the calibre 3 you coulden't where the calibre 4 you can
other brands not sure .

I have the round Xikar thermo-hygrometer which does[emoji2]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[EarwaxUK]

Hi all

Thanks for all the info.
I've stuck my Caliber 4 into a ziplock bag with a 69% Boveda pack which will tell me how good the factory calibration is! Being of the scientific ilk I'm used to calibration certificates coming with pretty much everything I use! Shame I can't pinch one from work!
I've also just ordered a Boveda 84% pouch to season my humidor. It certainly can't do it any harm!

I'll just have to admire the tubes for a couple of weeks (assuming they last that long)

[Wigan]

Again I have not much experience in comparison to others however if you don't want to fiddle around with salt water calibration then I would suggest just sticking the cigars in your seasoned humidor along with the Boveda packs and let them do the work, they'll keep it at whatever humidity you chose so you don't really need to worry about calibrating it too much. I rarely check my hygrometer as I use Boveda packs but every time I do it reads 67-69% which is bang on what I choose for my Boveda's
In regards to the seasoning, I seasoned my humidor using de-ionised water rather than distilled water and it still works for me. I didn't cover the whole humidor liberally but I gave the sides about 4 coats of lightly brushed water
Hope that helps!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your humidor is probably tucked now matt.


Don't put water directly on your humidor

[Seegarnub]

Your humidor is probably tucked now matt.


Don't put water directly on your humidor

I initially lightly wiped mine out with distilled water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PeeJay]

Your humidor is probably tucked now matt.
Don't put water directly on your humidor

Remember you're a Womble!

[Wigan]

I initially lightly wiped mine out with distilled water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also now fooked

[Seegarnub]

Also now fooked

Why's that, as when I first purchased it, many aficionados including where I bought it from, recommended I did so in order to season it and I must admit it's been fine?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk