Re-Seasoning my Humidor (with help from GoveeLife)

[Cigar_Addict]

Edit: apologies if this is in the wrong section

Hi all. I have been storing my cigars in a tupperware (which I gather are as, if not more, efficient at storing cigars), but since I have a humidor I wanted it to be operational, if only to store more cigars when I come by them.

So the humidor itself is actually 20 years old and seem to recall seasoning it the old fashioned way (sponge etc) when I got it.

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I recently bought a seasoning kit (unaware I really needed two for this size) but stuck it in anyway. I also put in the GoveeLife hygrometer to measure what it was sitting at during its seasoning


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I am assuming the fluctuations are due to the humidor possibly not having a tight seal (although it looks/sounds/feels fine).

Its only been in 10 days of the two weeks and while the humidity is creeping up slowly, it only at circa 64%.

Now there are a number of factors that could cause the overall inaccuracy, but should it ever reach the RH on the pack (84%)? Would it def need two packs or can I possibly rehydrate the seasoning pack & use again or would that cause over humidity & possible mould/beetle issues (also would like to re-season an old travel humidor I have)
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I intend to do a similar test with the tupperware to see if there are the fluctuations which should be interesting (well, to my analytical brain anyway 🤣)

On a side note, the GoveeLife hygrometer is a REALLY good investment. Very cheap & allows you to have a visual on current levels & the history of it.

As always, I very much appreciate your feedback

[BullittBoy]

Hola Amigo!

So I have recently re-seasoned my 25 cigar count cedar humidor with Boveda packs - I put one 60g 84% pack in for 2 weeks and then put in my cigars with my preferred 65% packs.

I understand that for every 25 cigar capacity of your humidor you should use one 60g 84% pack. Also your humidor will never actually reach 84% on your hygrometer - as that is measuring the humidity of the air and not the wood inside (so I am told). So the question is how many cigars does your humidor hold?

As of yet I have not rehydrated any seasoning packs (I know many on here have had success with them) but it would be the law of sod that means I would be the one with the issue.

I shall have a look at those hygrometers though - I am just using some cheapy digital ones of Amazon.

[ha_banos]

Boveda packs have a tolerance, hygrometers have a tolerance. So +/-4% right there, depending on temperature. Temperature changes cause rel humidity fluctuations too. So don't expect stability... You're better off applying an exponentially decaying moving average Now we have that out the way.

I've never used a boveda seasoning pack. A ramikin with distilled water will get it up to humidity faster. But I see no reason you couldn't recharge one the same way lower rated packs are recharged.

I keep an average humidity of 65-68 and all's well. Wooden humidor, few 69% packs should be good. Just monitor and adjust as needed. I guess when you're seeing 68-70% while seasoning you're good to go.

[Cigar_Addict]

I guess without the GoveeLife I wouldn't know any different and ignorance would be bliss.

I am unsure as to the quality of the humidor I have so I'm guessing it'll never be an exact science. I am curious to see what the fluctuations would be in a tupperware box but think I'll need to re-calibrate the govee and the digital hygrometer to be have as clear a picture as I can get.

I have 4 65% Boveda packs so can split them between humidor, tupperdore & travel humidor

[Cigar_Addict]

I shall have a look at those hygrometers though - I am just using some cheapy digital ones of Amazon.

They are great, more so that you don't have to open it up (ie humidor) to see what humidity it's running at. I think they're a little over £12, but there's sometimes 10/20% off vouchers that makes it around a tenner

Edit: the pack of 2 is currently £25 & has 40% off

[Cigar_Addict]

You're better off applying an exponentially decaying moving average Now we have that out the way.

Just what I was thinking 🤔 🤥 😂

[Cigar_Addict]

A ramikin with distilled water will get it up to humidity faster.

Would I do well to add this with a seasoning kit? Or after the seasoning kit? Would you allow it to sit for the same 2 weeks?

Sorry for all the questions. Probably over thinking it, but just trying to get my head around it all

[ha_banos]

Would I do well to add this with a seasoning kit? Or after the seasoning kit? Would you allow it to sit for the same 2 weeks?

Sorry for all the questions. Probably over thinking it, but just trying to get my head around it all

With or instead of the seasoning kit. Would only help raise the humidity and so probably season the wood quicker.

[Cigar_Addict]

With or instead of the seasoning kit. Would only help raise the humidity and so probably season the wood quicker.

Thanks very much. Would there be any danger of causing issues (mould etc) from over humidifying?

[ha_banos]

Thanks very much. Would there be any danger of causing issues (mould etc) from over humidifying?

The advice is generally do not exceed 70%rh and 70°F.

Do we have a sticky for this? Seems no.

I tend to open the humidor every few days... You know to have a schniff

[Simon Bolivar]

Lots of good technical advice above. A few general tips from me: We all get hung up about humidity levels, temp not so much. Temps in the UK are rarely too hot for long & could & dry is probably worse (air carries less moisture then). I once bought a Wine fridge ater two yrs of 30oC+ in Belgium & low & behold, it never happened again! Gave it away,

If you are getting 64%, I'd say that was fine for CC's.
Humi's less than 100 sticks are far more difficult to keep at a set humidity, 20-25 stick desk tops are the worst. Part of the normal humidity is in the cedar & the rest in the cigars themselves. Everytime you open it, you let the higher than abient humidity out.

I keep a tiny humidor in my Cigar Lounge, with a Boveda 65% sachet inside, has lasted for months. Just keep 4-6 sticks in there that I might smoke, if my chosen one that day lets me down or I decide I'd like another. Otherwise my stash is in 100+ humi's, Plastic storage boxes & a couple of cupboard size wooden humidors. The humidity in there is usually rock solid. My old Aristocrat, imported from the States, at least 2 owners previous, has a fan & a tray for a gallon of water! I keep a cup of distilled water in that tray & some Boveda's as well. I have to top the water up once a month, even though I might only open that once a month.

Seals are not meant to be perfect, a whooshing sound when you drop the lid is said to be good enough. or placing a piece of paper inside & just being able to withdraw it.

Hope this helps?

[Cigar_Addict]

All very helpful, thanks. I'm trying not to get too hung up about it all, but don't want it set up terribly from the start. The seasoning should be done in a few days so I'll stick a hygrometer in there for a while before adding any sticks to see what it's running at

[Cigar_Addict]

So the humidor has been through it's 2 week cycle (admittedly with just the one seasoning pack) and after it had finished I did the bank note test on it. This did not go well, and while there was some resistance to removing the trapped note on various corners, I checked the area between the hinges at the back and it slid almost straight out.

This is enough to know I probably don't want to store any cigars in there moving forward as I could have a battle on my hands keeping them humidified. Until I can afford something decent, then I'm sticking with tupperware and either boveda packs or my 65% Heartfelt beads

[ha_banos]

Here's another thing to ponder for you. You know those shop freestanding cabinet humidors? I have one of those. They have holes drilled into the back panel and the door is not sealed...

[ShaazK]

So the humidor has been through it's 2 week cycle (admittedly with just the one seasoning pack) and after it had finished I did the bank note test on it. This did not go well, and while there was some resistance to removing the trapped note on various corners, I checked the area between the hinges at the back and it slid almost straight out.

This is enough to know I probably don't want to store any cigars in there moving forward as I could have a battle on my hands keeping them humidified. Until I can afford something decent, then I'm sticking with tupperware and either boveda packs or my 65% Heartfelt beads

Buddy you're gonna lose your mind. A little air movement is not a bad thing necessarily. Put a good hygro in there and keep an eye on it.

Im always cautious of letting the science of the hobby stress me to the point of not enjoying the hobby. The mental overhead of is it over/under/perfect can make you forget to enjoy the leaf


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