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Old 08-15-2005, 05:28 AM   #1
mwm1331
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Help!!! MOLD!!!

I bought a new humidor recently. I set it up seasoned it and put in the humidifier. Then about a week later I opened it up and found my lovely ISOM's covered in mold.
I wiped them off, and took out the humidifier thinking maybe it had made the humidor too moist, as all of the mold was concentrated in the back of the humidor where the humidifier is attached, and yet this week I opened it up and the mold had returned, though not as much.
What do I do?
Are my beutiful cohibas and romeo y juliettas ruined?
What happened my digital hygromoter said the humidity was only at 70%?
this is the humidor I have.
http://www.humidordiscount.com/Humid...ti_medium.html
I have the humidifier attached in the back and a digital hjygromoter attached in the front where I can see it through the glass.
Please help me!!!
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Old 08-15-2005, 05:35 AM   #2
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You must have a humidifier with open slots on the back. When the humidifier is saturated, it creates a very humid area between the humidifier and the humidor liner. It's pretty normal to see mold there. Get a good humidifier without back slots. I recommend the thin aluminum one pictured here:

http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/beads_1.html

More $$ than the oasis type but it will last much longer. I like the 65%RH.
Brush the mold off and wipe with some denatured alcohol. You can lightly sand with 150 grit and wipe again if necessary.
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Old 08-15-2005, 05:39 AM   #3
mwm1331
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The one I have is very similar.
I bought it at the same website I got the humidor.
http://www.humidordiscount.com/Cigar...grometers.html
Its the second item pictured on this page. As an aside the digital hygrometer I bought is directly beneath it.
I mounted the humidifier behind the shelves of the humidor, could that be what is causing the humidity zone?
What is denaturated alchohol?
I live in eastern europe so some things can be very hard to find.
Also what should I do with the sticks that were covered in mold?
The mold hasn't reappeared on the wood just on the sticks.
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Old 08-15-2005, 06:22 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwm1331
I mounted the humidifier behind the shelves of the humidor, could that be what is causing the humidity zone?
What is denaturated alchohol?
I live in eastern europe so some things can be very hard to find.
Also what should I do with the sticks that were covered in mold?
The mold hasn't reappeared on the wood just on the sticks.
The answer to your first question is probably yes. The drawer type humidors are sometimes hard to humidify. I think that people most commonly put seperate humidifiers in each drawer. I hope someone that has one will weigh in. Denatured alcohol is a common cleaning agent generally available in most hardware stores in the U.S. It evaporates quickly and leaves no odor or residue. You might find something with similar properties.

Lastly, are you sure the cigars have mold and not plume? Plume is a residue that forms from the oils in the tobacco. It looks like an even dusting on the cigar. It's okay and you can smoke away. Mold has a more patchy, blotchy appearance. In light cases it can be brushed off with no ill effects to the cigar.
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Old 08-15-2005, 06:26 AM   #5
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This was definatly mold.
It was thick. Looked kinda like whitish cotton candy
The drawers aren't that big, enough for maybe 15-20 average size sticks.
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Old 08-15-2005, 06:38 AM   #6
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If it's mold, your humidity has been too high. I have not used the type of humidifier you have. But it would appear it isn't regulating humidity the way it should. Are you using any type of humidification solution?

Humi-beads work really well and only require distilled water. You could buy a loose half pound or pound and put some in each drawer. There are some threads in this forum about various bead holder strategies.
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Old 08-15-2005, 06:45 AM   #7
mwm1331
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrundog
If it's mold, your humidity has been too high. I have not used the type of humidifier you have. But it would appear it isn't regulating humidity the way it should. Are you using any type of humidification solution?

Humi-beads work really well and only require distilled water. You could buy a loose half pound or pound and put some in each drawer. There are some threads in this forum about various bead holder strategies.
Just distilled water.
I was thinking about either beads or a cigar oasis.
I'll check the other threads about beads though.
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Old 08-15-2005, 07:14 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwm1331
...Just distilled water.
I was thinking about either beads or a cigar oasis.
I'll check the other threads about beads though.
Using water by itself is a sure-fire way to grow yourself some mold...
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Old 08-15-2005, 07:15 AM   #9
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Really?
I never had a problem before.
What should I use?
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Old 08-15-2005, 07:41 AM   #10
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From the site you referenced earlier:

http://www.humidordiscount.com/Cigar...l?currency=EUR

I guess it's worth giving a try before making a bigger change. The Propolyne Glycol solution will regulate humidity at approximately 70%.
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