Feeling a little stupid

[PClark]

Because of the nice weather I decided to enjoy a cigar today but when I opened my humidor I noticed that the hygrometer was reading 43%... I panicked. It has been fine for the last 2 years and all of a sudden something is wrong.

So I started by looking at the humidifier (I was still using the green sponge type) and noticed it was very dark inside but not dried out. I figured maybe its all clogged up or something so I went out and bought the crystal type humidifier and got everything set up and left the humidor to acclimatize before putting my cigars back in (set up a few tupperdores to hold them over). After about a week I opened up the humidor and looked at the hygrometer and its still reading 43%. I was confused at this point, I thought maybe there is something wrong with my humidor for some reason.

I went to talk to my tobacconist and he said the simplest thing in the world "Did you check the hygrometer?". Not once did I think of that, never crossed my mind. I went home and immediately tried the salt test and it wouldn't go over 45% until I shook the hygrometer and it started jumping to the most random numbers. Now it looks like I'll be buying a new hygrometer, maybe one with a thermometer built in too. On the plus side I've finally upgraded my humidifier like I've been meaning too.

Anyway there's no real question or anything here I just wanted to share my panicked experience. And that I learned to look for a simple problem rather than an obvious one.

 

[Boro62]

Because of the nice weather I decided to enjoy a cigar today but when I opened my humidor I noticed that the hygrometer was reading 43%... I panicked. It has been fine for the last 2 years and all of a sudden something is wrong.

So I started by looking at the humidifier (I was still using the green sponge type) and noticed it was very dark inside but not dried out. I figured maybe its all clogged up or something so I went out and bought the crystal type humidifier and got everything set up and left the humidor to acclimatize before putting my cigars back in (set up a few tupperdores to hold them over). After about a week I opened up the humidor and looked at the hygrometer and its still reading 43%. I was confused at this point, I thought maybe there is something wrong with my humidor for some reason.

I went to talk to my tobacconist and he said the simplest thing in the world "Did you check the hygrometer?". Not once did I think of that, never crossed my mind. I went home and immediately tried the salt test and it wouldn't go over 45% until I shook the hygrometer and it started jumping to the most random numbers. Now it looks like I'll be buying a new hygrometer, maybe one with a thermometer built in too. On the plus side I've finally upgraded my humidifier like I've been meaning too.

Anyway there's no real question or anything here I just wanted to share my panicked experience. And that I learned to look for a simple problem rather than an obvious one.

its happened to the best of us, since your getting a new hygrometer, look into one of the digital calibratable hygrometers.

 

[the_edski]

its happened to the best of us, since your getting a new hygrometer, look into one of the digital calibratable hygrometers.

+1. It's happened to all of us, all we need is a rational person to snap us back into reality!

 

[syngent]

I like when stuff like this happens, and it isnt to me.... +1 to the plus side of getting new stuff as a result thats a cool thing to happen

 

[Hangten]

On the bright side nothing is dried out! That would be worse... I once knew a guy we will can him a "friend" that lost $300 worth of finely aged cigars to a bad humidification system.... It had a thing for making mold!!!

 

[PClark]

I like when stuff like this happens, and it isnt to me.... +1 to the plus side of getting new stuff as a result thats a cool thing to happen

Its good because I've been meaning to upgrade the humidifier.

its happened to the best of us, since your getting a new hygrometer, look into one of the digital calibratable hygrometers.

This one is digital, unfortunately not able to calibrate it though. I don't think it would make a difference if I could anyway because the numbers jump around on it. I plan to look at the digital ones, but my dad has an old analog one that's always accurate and doesn't need batteries (a plus there) so I might pick up one of those.

 

[Boro62]

Its good because I've been meaning to upgrade the humidifier.



This one is digital, unfortunately not able to calibrate it though. I don't think it would make a difference if I could anyway because the numbers jump around on it. I plan to look at the digital ones, but my dad has an old analog one that's always accurate and doesn't need batteries (a plus there) so I might pick up one of those.

I've had a few of the analog ones that never really worked right, RH always off. I've read around that its pretty common with the analog ones. I love my Xikar one, I own 4 of them, lifetime warranty on it which is really nice. The one time one was off, and wouldn't calibrate right, I sent it back and they sent me a new one.

On a side note, what sticks did you have in your humi?

 

[smokin3000gt]

I use xikar's digital hydros. They work well, have temp, and can be calibrated. What humidity do you like to keep your smokes?

 

[BubblesTGB]

Sadly, my humidor is like my wine rack. The products in both are most often consumed before I need to worry about any "spoilage."

 

[PClark]

I use xikar's digital hydros. They work well, have temp, and can be calibrated. What humidity do you like to keep your smokes?

My humidor has always stayed at a constant 68% year round. And goes from 67-70 degrees.

On a side note, what sticks did you have in your humi?

my humidor is a little empty at the moment, being unemployed and all, but I currently have:


Montecristo no. 5 x3
Montecristo no. 2 x2
Montecristo Edmundo x1
H. Upmann Half Coronas x6
H. Upmann magnum 46 x3
Cohiba Exquisitos x4
Cohiba Behike 52 x1
Fonseca no. 1 x13
Fonseca Delicias x7
Romeo Y Julieta Churchills x4
Romeo Y Julieta Exhibicion No. 3 x2
Guantanamera Cristales x2 (these are gross)
Guantanamera Minutos x1 (equally gross)

As for non Cubans:
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto x1
Camacho Triple Maduro Torpedo x1
Rocky Patel Decade Robusto x3

 

[smokin3000gt]

Very nice selection man! If you ever consider lowering the RH,a dirt cheap way to reliably humidify is buy some kitty litter and put it in a piece of panty hose a foot long or filter media bags. Has to be a certain kitty litter though. Not the gray clumpy stuff but the unscented white crystals (Exquisi cat is what I use). Any unscented "silica" crystal litter will work. Rock solid 65%. I keep mine around 62% and can't tell you how much better the habanos and non cubans are smoking/tasting/burning.

The cigars below aren't mine but are a good example.

Enjoy your smokes in good health brother

 

[PClark]

Very nice selection man! If you ever consider lowering the RH,a dirt cheap way to reliably humidify is buy some kitty litter and put it in a piece of panty hose a foot long or filter media bags. Has to be a certain kitty litter though. Not the gray clumpy stuff but the unscented white crystals (Exquisi cat is what I use). Any unscented "silica" crystal litter will work. Rock solid 65%. I keep mine around 62% and can't tell you how much better the habanos and non cubans are smoking/tasting/burning.

The cigars below aren't mine but are a good example.

Enjoy your smokes in good health brother

I use a crystal humidifier. When I first put it in it was at 71% but I added a few pieces of cedar from boxes to bring it down. 68% works well for me. It's a good compromise for Cubans and non Cubans.

 

[Whiskey Badger]

its happened to the best of us, since your getting a new hygrometer, look into one of the digital calibratable hygrometers.

+1 and +1.

its easy to panic and overlook the obvious,when your precious sticks are involved

 

[Hunter]

+1. It's happened to all of us, all we need is a rational person to snap us back into reality!

Ed.... We don't have rational people here on the BL... Some can do a great imitation but I don't think we have actually rational people...

 

[the_edski]

Ed.... We don't have rational people here on the BL... Some can do a great imitation but I don't think we have actually rational people...

Oh this I know, hence why I was referring to the OP's tobacconist! We are all off the rails here!

 

[Hunter]

Well since I'm nearly over my Bronchitis, I've been looking at my pipes and cigars longingly....