Boveda 75% calibration bag query

[Simon_B]

Hello!

So ... I've been a member for less than a day, and I'm afraid I already have a question!

A much-anticipated parcel arrived this morning from CGars containing a lovely Caliber 4R hygrometer. Oooh, it's nice! *breathes on it and polishes*

At the same time, I ordered one of those Boveda 75% calibration kits. Now, I'm quite new to using Boveda, but I understand that as they expire, they get sort of a grainy texture to them. At least, that's what I've found so far.

I was a bit concerned to see that as I felt the Boveda pack through the plastic bag, it had that grainy texture. Is this normal, or is it on its last legs? I was thinking that because this is the 75% one it might be a different salt mixture inside, but I thought I'd check with you guys before I mis-calibrated my hygrometer!

Thanks!

[TonyN]

Hi simon the one's I've had in the past have all been ok, none of the 75% pouches have felt grainy.
With it being on i'ts last legs as you put it you might not get a true reading on your hygrometer
get in touch with them see what they say .

[Emaresee]

stiff and solid is when boveda is 'done' .... stick it in a tupperware box with a dish of water or wet sponge - without getting the pouch wet. It will recharge soon enough.

[Simon_B]

Thanks chaps. Well, this morning the Caliber is reading 74/75 in the bag, so I'll trust it for now. Do you know, I have about 4 Boveda packs currently recharging in a tupperware box, but it didn't even occur to me that I could recharge the calibration kit...

I'll do that and re-test it - thanks!

Not sure how I manage to light the right end, sometimes....

[Simon Bolivar]

Can I just ask why you are using 75%, just because it was freeby or that's what you expect to use to keep your cigars at 75%? I don't know if using a couple of 75%'s in a large container is cheaper than half a dozen 65% but I would be aiming for the humidity to be between 65-70max or you're likely to get foot splitting & possible mould issues.

[PeeJay]

Can I just ask why you are using 75%, just because it was freeby or that's what you expect to use to keep your cigars at 75%? I don't know if using a couple of 75%'s in a large container is cheaper than half a dozen 65% but I would be aiming for the humidity to be between 65-70max or you're likely to get foot splitting & possible mould issues.

I've never felt the need to use one Simon but perhaps its the humidity used for calibration?

[PeeJay]

Can I just ask why you are using 75%, just because it was freeby or that's what you expect to use to keep your cigars at 75%? I don't know if using a couple of 75%'s in a large container is cheaper than half a dozen 65% but I would be aiming for the humidity to be between 65-70max or you're likely to get foot splitting & possible mould issues.

I've never felt the need to use one Simon but perhaps its the humidity used for calibration?

[Harvey Spectre]

Can I just ask why you are using 75%, just because it was freeby or that's what you expect to use to keep your cigars at 75%? I don't know if using a couple of 75%'s in a large container is cheaper than half a dozen 65% but I would be aiming for the humidity to be between 65-70max or you're likely to get foot splitting & possible mould issues.

Hi Simon,

I use the Boveda packs (currently have 4 x 65% in my humidor).

The 75% bag is just part of a hygrometer calibration kit and not for the humidor. Just think of it like a pre-packaged salt test.

Harvey

[Emaresee]

FWIW ...given that in the main its stability you're after, i've never calibrated one either... rather flip the hygro'sd between the various humis and locknlock boxes... if they all read +/- 2% ish, then i'm content...

[Simon_B]

Don't panic, chaps! Sorry I didn't explain that better! Yes, I'm not using the 75% in the humidor - it's just for calibration. I've got 72 in the humidor at the moment, but have bought some 69s to switch to when they run out, as it seems to be holding about 71, and I'd feel happier at 67-69ish.

Thanks for making sure I wasn't knackering my cigars, though! I appreciate it!

[Harvey Spectre]

FWIW ...given that in the main its stability you're after, i've never calibrated one either... rather flip the hygro'sd between the various humis and locknlock boxes... if they all read +/- 2% ish, then i'm content...

I think when I started out I just wanted to know that I was starting from a good point. I got a couple of cheaper digital hygrometers that weren't reading what the Boveda bags stated (this was in a sealed jar) so I thought I'd get the calibration kit to check if the hygrometer or the Boveda was the issue. The hygrometers were both 4% out which I thought was unacceptable. I ditched the cheap ones, bought a Calibre4 which I could calibrate and now at least I trust what it says.

Now my humidor has 4 x 65% Boveda bags in it and it reads on my calibrated hygrometer 65%-66% depending on the weather and time of day.

Harvey.

[Emaresee]

Boveda have a published +/- 1% (i think) variances so generally good enough is probably good enough.....

Sent from my LG-K350 using Tapatalk

[Simon Bolivar]

Hi Simon,

I use the Boveda packs (currently have 4 x 65% in my humidor).

The 75% bag is just part of a hygrometer calibration kit and not for the humidor. Just think of it like a pre-packaged salt test.

Harvey

Understood & reassured.

[Simon Bolivar]

Just a question for us simple ones, I have half a dozen Boveda packs that were dried up for ages & I put them in a ziplock bag with a bowl of water to recharge them but nothing seems to have happened. Is there a point of no recovery where they are too dry to be saved?

[PeeJay]

Just a question for us simple ones, I have half a dozen Boveda packs that were dried up for ages & I put them in a ziplock bag with a bowl of water to recharge them but nothing seems to have happened. Is there a point of no recovery where they are too dry to be saved?

I think you hit the nail on the head Simon, you could try putting a ramekin of boiling water instead so the condensation accelerates the recharging process. If that doesn't work, bin them.