I finally did it!

[Lou3]

Humidifying a new humidor

Congrats on the new humidors!

Misterbulgarin, those are the instructions that come with most humidors. The first step means to place a wide dish or container filled with water in the humidor. The idea is to have a large surface area of evaporation.

What is the material inside the humidifier? Florist foam or something similar?

[misterbulgarin]

aye looks to be like some blue spongey stuff/ foam

[Lou3]

Have you seen the humidity beads that are being sold for humidors? Most people who have switched to beads find that they regulate humidity much better than foam. If you have problems with consistent humidity, beads are definitely worth a try.

[misterbulgarin]

I found some De-ionised water, and ive put some of that in a tuppaware container. De-ionised is ok yea?

[Lou3]

From the container for initial humidification of the wood, de-ionized water should be fine. Distilled water is more important for the humidifier so that minerals don't gunk up the humidification material. Another possible problem is strong-smelling water tainting the wood, but I assume that wouldn't be a problem with de-ionized water.

[misterbulgarin]

Nah i cant smell nothing, I keep checking it like a sleepin child, cant wait to store things in it. I just put a small lock-n-lock tub in with about 150ml or so water in it.

In regards to the anologue hygrometer, will it sort itself out in 2 days time or so, or will I need to do the calibration (salt & water & bottle cap thing : (googled)).

Or should I not worry too much, Ill assume the digital hygro thats coming will give a better reading, the hygro may come before the cigars but its no worry either way, theres a weeks wait for both or so.

[skyhigh]

wait til you get the digital hygrometer and do a salt test with that in a tupperware container or ziplock bag. give it a good 12 hours and read the the hygrometer, should be 75% humidity ,if less just remember to add the difference to get the true reading of the hygrometer when its in your humidor...mines currently at 71% +3 so 74%..also if more after to salt test just do reverse and deduct..

[Deano]

Nah i cant smell nothing, I keep checking it like a sleepin child, cant wait to store things in it. I just put a small lock-n-lock tub in with about 150ml or so water in it.

He has the bug already!!!

[misterbulgarin]

He has the bug already!!!

Oh I had it long ago, I just have the tools now


Am I doing this right? Ive got a lil tub of deionized water, but I dunno what im sposed to be waiting for. (no im not waiting for cigars to grow , although that would be something). Does this process dampen the wood ever so slightly to house the cigars when I get em?

The analogue hygrometer hasnt moved, altho ive moved the screw to 60. still hasnt moved for 35 or so hours. Should I leave the water in there still, love to know why im doing this, feels kinda silly although im used to that ,being a BOTL.

[Deano]

Hygrometer probably broken, try wrapping in a wet cloth and it should go to 95 or so. They're [the analogue ones] pretty useless.

[misterbulgarin]

It seems glued on, would the screw at the back set it loose, or would i have to rip off the glue (comedy option). Or is it really neccessary? I have a digital one coming in a few days so should i just rely on that one?

[skyhigh]

yes wait on the digital one and salt test it, i've the same humidor as you and the analogue is useless..i did the quick seasoning of the humidor using a saucer of water heated in the microwave for a minute as the steam gets into the wood quicker. i still gave it a couple of days and heated the saucer twice a day as with it only being a shallow saucer the water cooled down vary quickly.

[Lou3]

Does this process dampen the wood ever so slightly to house the cigars when I get em?

Yeah, that's the purpose of it. If the humidor was in storage for a long time, the wood could be very dry. My guess is that the analog hygrometer doesn't work. You'll know what's happening once you get the digital.

Some people accelerate the process by wiping the interior wood with a damp cloth, but many people warn that it could warp the wood. When I got mine, the tobacconist set it up for me by steaming the wood with an espresso machine. I didn't like the looks of that and kept the receipt, but eight months later the humidor is fine. Still, I wouldn't recommend that approach. The container of evaporating water is slower but safer.

[ACMCC]

A couple of friends of mine have that same Humi... the problem with the hydrometer is that it is stuck on with a circle of clear mastic, but the holes in the hydro are out side the mastic, so there's no way for the air to reach it, that's why the dial never moves!!, bit of a silly design fault. I pulled them off peeled off the mastic and re-attached the hydros after a salt test (the hydro is adjustable using a small screw driver in the small hole in the back) with some double sided sticky foam, cut in a larger circle so the holes in the hydro have an air path to the hole in the humi... both have been working perfect since, however the hydro is a bit cheap and nasty although the humi is nicely made.. if you have a digi coming then use that.

You get good and bad in both digi and analogue hydros, they just work on a different principle, digi's work on resistance and analogue on a spring or a hair, is a Casio better than a Patek Phillippe? some analogue hydros are very good, I have a cheap digi that is very badly made and 4/5 % out, came inside a nice old humi... I striped, cleaned and calibrated the brass analogue one on the humi and it works perfect!....

[misterbulgarin]

I lookd at the hygro on my humi and it looks pretty secured on, Didnt really want to go ripping it off at this point and toying with it. Been a few days now with the tuppaware box of water in it , should I just keep it in there til my cigars come, or should I take that out and dampen the humidifier and just leave it with the humidifier in.

Feel like im pissin in the wind a bit with no digi hygrometer yet and a non workin analogue hygro, so excuse the newbish startup questions