Humidor Question

[chicagotrim]

Good Evening Gents...
I purchased my first humidor and it arrived a few days ago. I began to season it with just a shot glass of water and a humidor charge. I understand the stock analog Hygrometers are terrible, so I purchased a nice Xikar digital one(of which I received today). I threw it in the humi today(day 3 of seasoning), and an hour later checked the reading and it was a 68. Well... I opened it again a little later and it went down to 61 and has been keeping that reading...Could I have lost that much humidity for opening briefly once or twice? Do I need to wait until its back up to store my cigars? Shot glass is still almost full(3/4).

 

[the_edski]

You can check out this thread here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/287197-Humidor-stuck-at-64

You may need to calibrate your Xikar hygrometer, or just wait and see what happens.

 

[Boro62]

A couple of things, first off, I would check the hygrometer you can do the salt test or you can order one of these http://www.amazon.com/Quality-Importers-Humidi-Pak-Hygrometer-Calibration/dp/B000A3UBLA . You basically just open the boveda bag shove your hygrometer in it and let it sit for a day or 2. If its not reading 75% then you know your hygrometer is off and u just hit the calibrate button and it will set it to 75%. After you figure out if your hygrometer is off, you can start from there.

If after you check your hygrometer and figure out that its calibrated, try leaving the humidor close for a couple of days before opening and checking it. Sometimes it just takes some time for the humidor to come back to the right RH and level off again after opening it, so try to open it as little as possible. After you start stocking the humidor with cigars, it will help bring the RH back to level quicker.

Also what humidification are you using and do you know if its 65% or 70%. Also keep in mind as the temperature changes, your humidity level will spike and drop depending on the temperature and sometimes also needs some time to level off. Also be sure the temp inside doesn't get too high or you're going to run the chance of getting tobacco beatles.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[Boro62]

Here's also a link to how to salt test/calibrate your hygro meter.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/181395-How-to-Calibrate-your-Hygrometer

 

[shrtcrt]

Don't worry about it too much. As long as your cigars are as wet or dry as you want them, you are fine. I would not let it get below 60% though. Put your cigars in there, it will help to stabilize the humidity. How large is the humidor and as other have said what are you using for a humidification system? I would add your cigars and keep the shot glass in there for a week or so, things will even out and you will be fine.

Hygrometers can be +- 2%.

 

[sdekuyper]

It takes at least one day to 'cure' the cedar, so I would just keep some water in there for a couple of days and then check it again. Worked with mine.