humidity issues and hygros

[Ike]

I don't know whats going on with my humi anymore.

I had an analog that I thought was pretty close. I calibrated it like my B&M told me to. But I dropped it and its all out of whack. I didn't change anything and the cigars have been smoking ok.

Well I was in walmart and decided I would buy one of those $7 digital hygrometers they have. I got it home and put it in there and after about a day it said my humidity was at 43%. It had to be wrong I thought so I did the salt test and after about 12 hours it said 61%. I took it back to walmart and got another. This one is doing the exact same thing.

I thought maybe the humi isn't holding so I bought a rubbermaid thing to make a tuperdore. I put the hygro in there with just my 65% puck(filled with beads) after a while it is now saying 44%

I'm just annoyed now. I may get rid of all the hygros and just keep the puck and my big foam unit in there together(like i've been doing for the past few weeks) and not worry about it. The cigars are smoking fine, taste great and burning evenly.

Is there an accurate hygro? I don't believe this one.

[Ike]

For the past hour and a half I've had the puck opened in the tupperdore with the hygro. It said 62 when I just checked on it. I put the top back on the puck and within a couple of minutes it dropped to 54%

For those of you not familiar with The Puck it is a black dish filled with beads, you then put a piece of foam over the beads and then put the lid on. The lid has holes in it.

I'm guessing the foam piece is keeping the moisture from getting away from the beads.

The beads are 65% and the hygro says it is accurate within 5%. Since it said 62 I guess it is pretty accurate.

Originally Posted by Ike

I don't know whats going on with my humi anymore.

I had an analog that I thought was pretty close. I calibrated it like my B&M told me to. But I dropped it and its all out of whack. I didn't change anything and the cigars have been smoking ok.

Well I was in walmart and decided I would buy one of those $7 digital hygrometers they have. I got it home and put it in there and after about a day it said my humidity was at 43%. It had to be wrong I thought so I did the salt test and after about 12 hours it said 61%. I took it back to walmart and got another. This one is doing the exact same thing.

I thought maybe the humi isn't holding so I bought a rubbermaid thing to make a tuperdore. I put the hygro in there with just my 65% puck(filled with beads) after a while it is now saying 44%

I'm just annoyed now. I may get rid of all the hygros and just keep the puck and my big foam unit in there together(like i've been doing for the past few weeks) and not worry about it. The cigars are smoking fine, taste great and burning evenly.

Is there an accurate hygro? I don't believe this one.

Most hygros are not accurate, there are some that will be accurate but that is mostly the luck of the draw when you buy it. There is a round hygro and a rectangular hygro on the market that you can adjust for accuracy after you test it with either the salt test or a Boveda Calibration Kit. It will then display accurately.

If interested the link is below.

Adjustable Hygrometers

[xrundog]

Most hygrometers are + or - 5%. My radio shacks are both -10%. I like to use the Little Havana hygrometers and have good results with them. Not many of any brand are dead on. I guess perfect accuracy is a lot to ask for under $20.

[Ike]

In an empty rubbermaid with only the beads and hygro it goes right where it should be.

In the rubbermaid with beads, hygro, and about 20 cigars the hygro goes down to about 55%.

In my larger humi with a foam element, beads, hygro, and cigars the hygro reads 52%.

I thought my humidor wasn't sealing but now I think I just need more beads for the space and cigars.

Can you give me the interior dimensions of your humidor and i can tell you how many ounces of beads you nee at a minimum.

[Ike]

Ok, thanks

It is 7.5" from front wall to back wall (inside)
and 11" wide. It is 3.5" deep.

These were all taken with the lid open and the lid has a bit of extra space upward from the seal. Maybe .5-.75"

[xrundog]

Originally Posted by Ike

I thought my humidor wasn't sealing but now I think I just need more beads for the space and cigars.

Dry cigars will suck up some water! And yours are evidently dry.

[Ike]

Yeah they are. I don't know if I'll be able to fit something big enough in the humi to keep things at the level it needs to be.

That humi calculates out to over a half ounce. I would use at least an ounce in it and make sure you keep the beads 80% wet for a while. Xrundog said it, they sound like they are really dry and are sucking up all of the moisture they can.