Cigar Weekly

CSMAnderson · 10-24-2011, 08:30 AM

If you have cigars in a large humidor and the humidity is 70% does that mean the humidity in the boxes of cigars stored in the unit are also 70%? I'm talking about the boxes of cigars you have opened but the lid is shut for storage purposes. Or should you crake the lid a little so the humidified air can curculate into the boxes? hanks

grtrx · 10-24-2011, 09:01 AM

given enough time the humidity should equalize

I do not crack lids, if that means anything

BigJohn · 10-24-2011, 10:05 AM

Never thought of it, but, if the cigars were packed at the right humidity, and they're stored in an appropriate environment, they should be fine.

Cigar boxes are amazingly permeable things, I've come to notice. I've used a couple as "mini humidors" until I realized that they just did not maintain any deal of humidity inside reliably.

Mad Dawg · 10-24-2011, 10:17 AM

I never prop open the lids on boxes in my coolers. Paper, cardboard, cello, thin Spanish cedar...all are highly gas-permeable. If the cigars in the box started out at a good RH, and the humidor is maintained near that RH, they'll be just fine. If the cigars are a bit dry or a bit wet, it will take a little time but they will equilibrate to the RH in the humidor.

KatDad · 10-24-2011, 10:45 AM

Agree. Someone once explained it to me like this, "Think of the cigar boxes as well as the cellophane on the cigars (and on the boxes when they are unopened) as humidity "speed bumps" rather than humidity barriers. They'll slow things down but not totally stop anything."

Mad Dawg · 10-24-2011, 11:27 AM

Yep. They're graduated, as well. Cello barely slows down gas exchange at all, while the kind of Spanish cedar laminate plywood that many dress boxes are made out of is a pretty substantial barrier.

Breech · 10-25-2011, 07:20 AM

FWIW, I do fold up a little piece of paper, or a business card, and just crack my boxes open.... I have a small end table humi that holds (usually) about 17 or so boxes, so I am not cramming stuff in at every corner, so I have the room to prop open the tops. I even slide SLB's open a bit....

Not sure if it matters, but that is what I do.... Oh and lastly, I take all my cello off!!

John

cahow · 10-27-2011, 06:11 AM

I use the Boveda packs. 69% and 72%. They claim to last 6 months but here in the Philippines where it is humid they last for years. I've got a couple that are more than 4 years old that I bought from Mark at Tower Pipes and Cigars in Sacramento.

Right now it's 10pm with a temperature of 82 degrees and 59% humidity.

The lowest ambient humidity I've noticed is 40% and the highest 88%.

When it gets higher than 72% I leave them in my Lanai to be recharged!

10-24-2011, 08:30 AM	#1
CSMAnderson Herf God Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 16,354	Humidity Question If you have cigars in a large humidor and the humidity is 70% does that mean the humidity in the boxes of cigars stored in the unit are also 70%? I'm talking about the boxes of cigars you have opened but the lid is shut for storage purposes. Or should you crake the lid a little so the humidified air can curculate into the boxes? hanks

10-24-2011, 09:01 AM	#2
grtrx Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Naperville IL Posts: 44,579	given enough time the humidity should equalize I do not crack lids, if that means anything __________________ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill "A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

10-24-2011, 10:05 AM	#3
BigJohn Chief Geek, @cigarweekly Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta (north burbs - Woodsto Posts: 14,174	Never thought of it, but, if the cigars were packed at the right humidity, and they're stored in an appropriate environment, they should be fine. Cigar boxes are amazingly permeable things, I've come to notice. I've used a couple as "mini humidors" until I realized that they just did not maintain any deal of humidity inside reliably. __________________ Government breaks our legs, then hands us a pair of crutches and says, "You see? If it wasn't for us you wouldn't be able to walk.".... Aren't we so lucky!? Need a website? Get one from a BOTL - > PM me! *"I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."* Help support the CigarWeekly webhost (me!) > Shop online? Start HERE: direct to Amazon.com Protect your computer from VIRUSES > Get Avast!

10-24-2011, 10:17 AM	#4
Mad Dawg Administrator Herf Dog Herf God Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 34,199	I never prop open the lids on boxes in my coolers. Paper, cardboard, cello, thin Spanish cedar...all are highly gas-permeable. If the cigars in the box started out at a good RH, and the humidor is maintained near that RH, they'll be just fine. If the cigars are a bit dry or a bit wet, it will take a little time but they will equilibrate to the RH in the humidor. __________________ Gone, But Never Forgotten. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ That which does not kill me....has made a grave tactical error.

10-24-2011, 10:45 AM	#5
KatDad Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 30,274	Agree. Someone once explained it to me like this, "Think of the cigar boxes as well as the cellophane on the cigars (and on the boxes when they are unopened) as humidity "speed bumps" rather than humidity barriers. They'll slow things down but not totally stop anything." __________________ The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it George Bernard Shaw The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it H. L. Mencken The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants Albert Camus The Land of the Free Because of the Brave Last edited by KatDad; 10-24-2011 at 11:30 AM.

10-24-2011, 11:27 AM	#6
Mad Dawg Administrator Herf Dog Herf God Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 34,199	Yep. They're graduated, as well. Cello barely slows down gas exchange at all, while the kind of Spanish cedar laminate plywood that many dress boxes are made out of is a pretty substantial barrier. __________________ Gone, But Never Forgotten. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ That which does not kill me....has made a grave tactical error.

10-25-2011, 07:20 AM	#7
Breech Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Inna Godda Devita...... Posts: 3,838	FWIW, I do fold up a little piece of paper, or a business card, and just crack my boxes open.... I have a small end table humi that holds (usually) about 17 or so boxes, so I am not cramming stuff in at every corner, so I have the room to prop open the tops. I even slide SLB's open a bit.... Not sure if it matters, but that is what I do.... Oh and lastly, I take all my cello off!! John __________________ Now, when I was young boy at the age a-five, my mother said I was gonna be the greatest man alive - Muddy Waters Talkin' 'bout some back rent, she lucky if she get any front rent.- John Lee Hooker Strike While The Iron Is Hot!!

10-27-2011, 06:11 AM	#8
cahow Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 11 mos Philippines/ 1 mo Sacto Posts: 576	I use the Boveda packs. 69% and 72%. They claim to last 6 months but here in the Philippines where it is humid they last for years. I've got a couple that are more than 4 years old that I bought from Mark at Tower Pipes and Cigars in Sacramento. Right now it's 10pm with a temperature of 82 degrees and 59% humidity. The lowest ambient humidity I've noticed is 40% and the highest 88%. When it gets higher than 72% I leave them in my Lanai to be recharged!

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