Humidor Help

[jazznut]

Originally Posted by MVickExperience

...does the wood expand when it absorbs moisture?

Different woods expand at varying rates when exposed to high ambient moisture levels, more so across the grain than along it. Rises in humidity also often cause internal stresses within woods to shift - this can result in warpage if structural design factors have been compromised.

In a properly fabricated humidor, these occurrences will be negligible.

It's certainly not advisable to apply water directly to any wood surfaces. The correct way to season the interior is to gradually raise the ambient RH level through evaporation of the water and its slow re-absorption into the wood. From that point, the indirectly moistened wood will help to stabilize the interior RH level.

One more point... Don't use tap water, as it may contain mineral and/or bacterial impurities capable of being carried and redeposited through the evaporation/absorption cycle. Stick to distilled or denatured water, either of which you can easily procure at your local pharmacy.