America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

Last post 6 years ago by Pudding Mittens. 27 replies replies.
Xikar Humidity Crystals Issue
Jump to Bottom | Previous Topic | Next Topic
achalmers Offline
#1 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 7:41 PM EST
Joined: 02-29-2016
Posts: 69
I have a small 20-30 count humidor and I seasoned it with distilled water...just like my other 100 count humidor that stays at 68% humidity.

My small humidor that I seasoned a few months ago can't keep 65-70 percent humidity and it's pissing me off! It has spanish cedar on the inside so I don't think that's the problem. I tried Boveda pack and they only kept it at 49-50%. I now have a 4 oz. Xikar humidity crystal jar in it charged with the propylene glycol solution that's supposed to keep things at 70%. It has been 2 days and my humidor is only at 37%.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I have about 20 cigars in there and there's plenty of room for more but I want to have a little air circulation in there. Plus I know stuffing it full of cigars doesn't allow for proper humidification. Thanks in advance for your help.

AC
DrafterX Offline
#2 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 7:54 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
Who told you a full humidor is bad..?? Huh



And it sounds like a bad seal... Mellow
Speyside Offline
#3 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 8:08 PM EST
Joined: 03-16-2015
Posts: 13,106
Or a bad hydrometer.
Whistlebritches Offline
#4 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 9:14 PM EST
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,128
achalmers wrote:
I have a small 20-30 count humidor and I seasoned it with distilled water...just like my other 100 count humidor that stays at 68% humidity.

My small humidor that I seasoned a few months ago can't keep 65-70 percent humidity and it's pissing me off! It has spanish cedar on the inside so I don't think that's the problem. I tried Boveda pack and they only kept it at 49-50%. I now have a 4 oz. Xikar humidity crystal jar in it charged with the propylene glycol solution that's supposed to keep things at 70%. It has been 2 days and my humidor is only at 37%.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I have about 20 cigars in there and there's plenty of room for more but I want to have a little air circulation in there. Plus I know stuffing it full of cigars doesn't allow for proper humidification. Thanks in advance for your help.

AC


Sounds like another cheap humidor without any sealing properties.Throw it out and look around the neighborhood for the hottest milf having the next Tupperware party and bag her.If you're good maybe she'll toss some discounts your way.
achalmers Offline
#5 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 10:47 PM EST
Joined: 02-29-2016
Posts: 69
Whistlebritches wrote:
Sounds like another cheap humidor without any sealing properties.Throw it out and look around the neighborhood for the hottest milf having the next Tupperware party and bag her.If you're good maybe she'll toss some discounts your way.


Fucky sucky!
DrafterX Offline
#6 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 11:09 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
Whistle don't play dat.. Not talking
frankj1 Offline
#7 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 11:54 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
DrafterX wrote:
Who told you a full humidor is bad..?? Huh



And it looks like you blew a seal... Mellow

punch line, please.
DrafterX Offline
#8 Posted: Sat, Jan 6 2018, 11:58 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
“No that's just a little ice cream.

Laugh
delta1 Offline
#9 Posted: Sun, Jan 7 2018, 3:08 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,776
did it taste fishy?
Whistlebritches Offline
#10 Posted: Sun, Jan 7 2018, 6:59 PM EST
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,128
DrafterX wrote:
Whistle don't play dat.. Not talking


Where's Adroomi..........he's into that switch hitting stuff.
tonygraz Offline
#11 Posted: Sun, Jan 7 2018, 7:31 PM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
AC/DC
achalmers Offline
#12 Posted: Mon, Jan 8 2018, 2:26 PM EST
Joined: 02-29-2016
Posts: 69
The flashlight and dollar bill test were all ok. So is it safe to assume this humidor is just a POS, or should I try to season it with distilled water and a clean sponge again since it's winter and super dry in my house and then determine if it's a complete POS?
danmdevries Offline
#13 Posted: Mon, Jan 8 2018, 3:14 PM EST
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,309
achalmers wrote:
The flashlight and dollar bill test were all ok. So is it safe to assume this humidor is just a POS, or should I try to season it with distilled water and a clean sponge again since it's winter and super dry in my house and then determine if it's a complete POS?


Seasoning is what comes with time. "Seasoning" by wiping down the pressboard walls of the cheap Chinese woodish box you have does nothing but hurt the particle board.

Just seal it tight in a tupperware, ammo box, jar, etc. Use a two way humidification source of your choosing. I prefer a combination of Bovedas and Heartfelt beads.

You seriously will never have to look at a hygrometer or check your seal or anything.
achalmers Offline
#14 Posted: Mon, Jan 8 2018, 10:30 PM EST
Joined: 02-29-2016
Posts: 69
danmdevries wrote:
Seasoning is what comes with time. "Seasoning" by wiping down the pressboard walls of the cheap Chinese woodish box you have does nothing but hurt the particle board.

Just seal it tight in a tupperware, ammo box, jar, etc. Use a two way humidification source of your choosing. I prefer a combination of Bovedas and Heartfelt beads.

You seriously will never have to look at a hygrometer or check your seal or anything.


A couple of things. The tobacconist who sold me the humidor is very reputable and has never steered me wrong in the 15 years I've been going to him, so I trusted him. He said it was made with Spanish cedar and gave me two 84 RH Boveda packs to season the humidor. He said wait 2 weeks take them out and put in the 69 RH Boveda pack and it's like set it and forget it. Didn't work at all. Couldn't even get in the mid 50s for RH. But one thing I noticed is that the humidor smelled more like glue than Spanish cedar. I think I'm going to return it if this 2nd time "seasoning" doesn't work.

So do you think if I get a new 25 count humidor and a couple of 69 RH Boveda packs and call it a day. I know you suggest an ammo box or tupperware, but I'd like something nicer to put in my family room. I have a huge humidor in my basement that keeps perfect humidity at 68 RH but it's getting overflowed.

AC
bgz Offline
#15 Posted: Tue, Jan 9 2018, 9:00 AM EST
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
You've been here a while now, you should know not to use those cheap azz glass tops they sell you that can be had here for $50

Tupperware and coolers (and ammo carriers apparently).

Here's what you do... take the overpriced pos you bought, stick it in the family room.

Then get your container of choice, follow Dan's advice, then tuck it under something so nobody can see that unsightly thing, then you're good to go!!!

I have a nice glass top in my front room from my noob days, I think my daughter puts my little ponys in there or something.
frankj1 Offline
#16 Posted: Tue, Jan 9 2018, 9:50 AM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
use it to dry box
achalmers Offline
#17 Posted: Tue, Jan 9 2018, 10:47 AM EST
Joined: 02-29-2016
Posts: 69
bgz wrote:
You've been here a while now, you should know not to use those cheap azz glass tops they sell you that can be had here for $50

Tupperware and coolers (and ammo carriers apparently).

Here's what you do... take the overpriced pos you bought, stick it in the family room.

Then get your container of choice, follow Dan's advice, then tuck it under something so nobody can see that unsightly thing, then you're good to go!!!

I have a nice glass top in my front room from my noob days, I think my daughter puts my little ponys in there or something.


It's not a glass top humidor. I learned my lesson re: glass top humidors 20 years ago when I was a noob Angel I have my overflow of 20 cigars in a Ziploc bag with the Xikar humidity crystal jar and it's a perfect 68 RH LOL

I'm gonna give this sucker one more shot and if I can't get it to keep humidity then I'm going to get a new one and follow Dan's advice. I've never had a problem setting up a humidor before and I'm really stumped with this one. It has a nice seal (makes whoosh sound when closing and you can feel the light tightness/suction of the seal when opening it). I do think the wood on the inside is average at best though. This is mostly the the issue. Maybe I just got a dud Brick wall
bgz Offline
#18 Posted: Tue, Jan 9 2018, 11:17 AM EST
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
Well, if that's all true, then you're hygrometer probably sucks. Is it analog or digital... calibrate?
achalmers Offline
#19 Posted: Tue, Jan 9 2018, 12:48 PM EST
Joined: 02-29-2016
Posts: 69
It's a digital hygrometer. I did the salt test and it came back at 75 after 4 hours in the plastic Ziploc. I think I may have gotten a dud because this hasn't happened to me before. Thanks for your help ThumpUp
Roaster Dude Offline
#20 Posted: Tue, Jan 30 2018, 12:56 AM EST
Joined: 11-06-2011
Posts: 771
delta1 wrote:
did it taste fishy?


If it smells like fish........ Eat all you wish.
If it smells like cologne, leave it alone!
Roaster Dude Offline
#21 Posted: Tue, Jan 30 2018, 12:58 AM EST
Joined: 11-06-2011
Posts: 771
Glue?
Don't put any cigars in it.
Take it back to where you got it, get something else.


achalmers wrote:
A couple of things. The tobacconist who sold me the humidor is very reputable and has never steered me wrong in the 15 years I've been going to him, so I trusted him. He said it was made with Spanish cedar and gave me two 84 RH Boveda packs to season the humidor. He said wait 2 weeks take them out and put in the 69 RH Boveda pack and it's like set it and forget it. Didn't work at all. Couldn't even get in the mid 50s for RH. But one thing I noticed is that the humidor smelled more like glue than Spanish cedar. I think I'm going to return it if this 2nd time "seasoning" doesn't work.

So do you think if I get a new 25 count humidor and a couple of 69 RH Boveda packs and call it a day. I know you suggest an ammo box or tupperware, but I'd like something nicer to put in my family room. I have a huge humidor in my basement that keeps perfect humidity at 68 RH but it's getting overflowed.

AC
Pudding Mittens Offline
#22 Posted: Tue, Jan 30 2018, 9:11 AM EST
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
Speyside wrote:
Or a bad hydrometer.

It's "hygrometer" not "hydrometer".
.
tonygraz Offline
#23 Posted: Tue, Jan 30 2018, 2:30 PM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
You need a faster spell checker !
bgz Offline
#24 Posted: Tue, Jan 30 2018, 5:24 PM EST
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
Pudding Mittens wrote:
It's "hygrometer" not "hydrometer".
.


Know it all strikes again!

Good job, what would the interwebs do without you.
tweoijfoi Offline
#25 Posted: Wed, Jan 31 2018, 10:15 PM EST
Joined: 09-22-2010
Posts: 395
Hygrometers that come with humidors are generally terrible. Season your humi before you put anything in it. Makes it easier to diagnose... human nature says ."maybe it's something I put in it", but if you didn't put anything in besides humi sh--., nothing to blame it on.
CamoRoon Offline
#26 Posted: Fri, Mar 30 2018, 6:44 AM EST
Joined: 03-04-2015
Posts: 153
Speyside wrote:
Or a bad hydrometer.


What never seems to be mentioned when I read about salt testing a hygrometer is temperature. This salt thing is 75% at 70 degrees F. If the temperature when you take your final reading varies from 70 degrees it should be like this;

TEMP should read RH
69 77%
68 80%
67 83%

71 73%
72 70%
73 68%

Around 60 degrees F the amount of moisture in the bag used for the test will be about 100% leaving you with condensation in the bag. I am not sure why they never mention temperature when discussing the calibration test. If your hygrometer in the humidor reads 68 degrees and 75% RH you are dead on. If it reads 73 degrees and 63% RH you are dead on. If your temperature is below 70 and your RH is also below 70 you are dry. If your temperature is above 70 and your RH is above 70 you are moist. And remember the hygrometers are generally +/- 2% accurate to start with.
Pudding Mittens Offline
#27 Posted: Mon, Apr 2 2018, 6:49 PM EST
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
Get one new Boveda at your desired RH. Get a gasketed airtight transparent plastic container, not too small or the Boveda will keep the RH inside a few points too high which will throw your calibration off (they claim it won't, but I've tested it multiple times, and it does), about the size of a shoebox or just a little bit smaller is good. Toss in the Boveda pack and one or more Western Caliber IV units (which are excellent), positioned so that you can read their displays through the container without having to open it. Wait 24 hours, then begin taking multiple RH readings from them, writing them down in a log. After you get a healthy set of samples, average the deviation from the target RH for each unit to arrive at how much to add or subtract to make it maximally accurate most of the time. Use the units' calibration function to add or subtract the right number of points to/from each unit, where needed.

Works perfectly and it's very easy. No salt, no mixing/ratio questions or uncertainty, and you're calibrating at your real-world storage RH, not at 75, an RH you'll never actually want to reach.
.
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Back to Top