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Old 09-25-2007, 10:21 PM   #1
maduro4me
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Beware of Propylene Glycol

My constant use of a 50/50 mix has cause me to kill (2) hundred count humidors full of cigars. The PG permeates the boxes as time goes by and the cigars suck up all the moisture they can, leaving the cigars virtually unsmokable unless you can handle a strong, sweet bitter taste and a harsh sore throat after smoking them. The humidors have been remoisturized at least two times a week with just distilled water for over a year now and are starting to show improvements, but I am leery of reusing them at all.

Best bet is to add 50/50 solution once or twice a year at most. PG is really only needed for stopping mold which few of us ever see and for pest contol. Since the tradgic event, I have switched to beads, but PG is a no-no for that, anyway. Stay away from foam type humidification devices as they hold moisture too long and cause problems.
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Old 09-25-2007, 10:53 PM   #2
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Yeah, beads are great.



(but that was the only thing you said that made sense.)
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Old 09-26-2007, 11:04 AM   #3
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Ouch...thanks for the words of wisdom.
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Old 09-27-2007, 05:12 AM   #4
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I'm confused. PG is non-volitile, at least at room temperature. That means it does not evaporate, it sits inside whatever humidification device you dumped it in and it stays there. Unless you are baking your humidor or your humidification device leaks, the PG isn't going anywhere.

That being said, I've never been a fan of dumping anti-freeze in a humidifier and sticking it in my humidor. (Just pick up a bottle of anti-freeze and you will see that the number one ingredient is PG.) I wouldn't drink the stuff, so I'm not going to stick it into my humidor.

Just because a humidifier has foam in it, doesn't mean they are all the same. There are foam humidifiers on the market that do not require PG and maintain the proper humidity levels without creating any other "problems". "Problems" being translated as mold growth on the surface of the foam. I have seen foam humidifiers that were used with only distilled water that are still working perfectly almost 15 years after the person purchased and installed it in their humidor.
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Old 09-27-2007, 08:09 AM   #5
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In my experience, wet or over-humiidified cigars do taste very bitter, acrid and harsh. This is a result of the tobacco "steaming" instead of burning.

Try putting them in a dry box for a day or two and then smoking them to see if your smoking experience changes.
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Old 09-27-2007, 11:30 AM   #6
hermit
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhotek
I'm confused. PG is non-volitile, at least at room temperature. That means it does not evaporate, it sits inside whatever humidification device you dumped it in and it stays there. Unless you are baking your humidor or your humidification device leaks, the PG isn't going anywhere.

That being said, I've never been a fan of dumping anti-freeze in a humidifier and sticking it in my humidor. (Just pick up a bottle of anti-freeze and you will see that the number one ingredient is PG.) I wouldn't drink the stuff, so I'm not going to stick it into my humidor.

Just because a humidifier has foam in it, doesn't mean they are all the same. There are foam humidifiers on the market that do not require PG and maintain the proper humidity levels without creating any other "problems". "Problems" being translated as mold growth on the surface of the foam. I have seen foam humidifiers that were used with only distilled water that are still working perfectly almost 15 years after the person purchased and installed it in their humidor.


No.
Anti-freeze contains polyethylene glycol, not propylene glycol.
Close, but not the same. (the first is poison – the second is a food additive.)
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Old 09-28-2007, 06:35 AM   #7
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Using a 50/50 PG mix once a year, and distilled water the rest of the time, I've never had a problem in over 12 years of cigar storage.

I've switched to beads as a RH control device, but still use my PG credos as a moisture supply device.

I'm not saying it applies here, but, maduro4me's case sounds like typical newbie overkill.

Just a WAG.
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Old 09-28-2007, 08:04 AM   #8
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Beware and stay away?

Although I use beads now, I have successfully used PG/foam in both coolerdors and wooden humidors for over ten years with great success and zero problems. If it weren't for the fact that my tastes now prefer 63-65% humidity for my cigars, I'd probably still be using it. Proper foam maintenance and accurate humidity monitoring were the key to success for me. Later on, an Oust fan per cooler was a great addition.
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Old 09-28-2007, 06:00 PM   #9
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hmmm... I have used foam for about the last ten years. Never had a problem. I must be doing something wrong.
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Old 09-29-2007, 04:26 AM   #10
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Like others, I have used 50/50 for a long time. No problems if used correctly. As noted, it does not volatilize (enter the air) so unless you spill it or rub it into the cedar it will stay in the foam or sponge. Sounds more like overhumidifcation to me. Personally, I think people obsess way too much about storage. Last check I have about 2000-2500 sticks in a humidor and maybe that many in coolers and I'm smoking cigars from the mid 90s that taste damn fine to me.
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