Will someone be willing to answer these questions on the beads. 100 ct box, how much and 300 ct box, how much. Like a couple of table spoons or more or less and how long do they take to absorb the water and grow in size? Right now I put two tablespoons just covered in distilled water in the smaller bow and double that in two different containers in the 300 ct box.
Also do I need to leave the humidifiers that came with the boxes in the humidors?

Thanks in advance for any and all comments

Ronnie-B

aka poprocz

no.

Ok, never mind then.

Will have to wait till morrow for an answer. Gotta be up at three am for work. Gotta love it.
chow

I'm not real sure I can be any help to you as I have not used the beads in a true humidor. I have two Igloo Polar 120 Quart Igloodors and I have put a half pound of beads in each one. So far they are holding the RH exactly where I want it (65%). BTW I got the 65% versus the 70% variety because I've found a slightly drier cigar does not have nearly the draw problems that a higher RH can have, and it does not seem to detract from the flavor at all. For a true humidor, as a guesstimate, I would say perhaps 2-3 ounces. And remember it takes very little distilled water to refresh them. I don't believe I would leave the credo in the humidor along with the beads. To my way of thinking that would make it much more difficult to maintain the RH you are looking for. One problem presented by folks is what type of container when you are talking about using that small amount of beads. The best idea I have heard is to use the plastic 35mm film canisters and perforate the tops. They are easy to open and refresh with distilled water and they take up very little space in the humidor. You are probably going to have to experiment a little, i.e., the 300 count humidor may require two, one in the top and one in the bottom, the 100 count should get by on one.

I'm flying by the seat of my pants on some of this as I never tried it personally. Hope it helps some. Perhaps some other BOTL on this board can add to it. Good Luck!

PS: I will say that since I started using the beads, I'll never go back to foam. The beads are far superior in my opinion, in consistency and stability.

That's exactly the info I was looking for.

Thanks

I use two plastic soap dishes with holes drilled in the top for my coolidor.

For a 100 count humidor, I used a tooth brush holder and a film canister, drill some holes in the top, put in the beads, add a little distilled water about every 4-6 weeks depending on the time of year. This usually holds the humidity at 65-68%.

For my larger humidor, I use a combination of 35 mm film canisters and tooth brush holders.

You will need to find the right combination for your humidor. Not all humidor s are the same. I have one good one and two cheap ones. The cheap ones do not maintain the humidity as well as the more expensive one.

Good luck!
Matt

I have been trying to setup my coolordor for the past week. I have a smaller one, I think its 50-60 quart?? Either way, I have almost all of my 1lb bag of 70 RH beads in a tupperware dish with holes drilled in the top. I have added what seems like truck loads of water and it is still today at only 56%. I am interested in any info along these lines too? How long should it take to get to 70 after I put the water in? Does the cedar lining in my cooler have an effect on the RH? I have it compleatley lines in 1/4 inch cedar. Should I just keep filling it with a little more water each day until it hits my 70 rh? Thanks, and I hope these questions help everyone, not just me 🙂 MK

poprocz,

What Hoagie and arwings said. Also the Climmax beads won't grow. Agrosoak crystals and the stuff in the Drymistat tubes will grow and keep soaking up water. The Climmax beads are totally different. They might crack and split, but don't worry about that, they'll still work fine.

mkraus,

I think you might have to add a small bowl or coffee mug of distilled water to your coolador until it reaches your desired RH. Sounds like the spanish cedar is still soaking up all the water, causing your RH to remain low. A 60 qt lined with 1/4" cedar is a lot of wood to season.

Also, I'm sure you already did this, but how is you hygrometer cal? Hope this helps.

Regards,
E4A (Mike)

Very good information people. Very helpful. I really appreciate the trouble.

Ronnie-B

aka poprocz

So if I put too much water in my beads, can they be dried out? MK

If you leave them out in a dry environment for a few days they will dry out. If you're in a hurry a hair dryer will also do the trick

What HarleyDave said............a hairdryer will dry them out quickly and don't worry.........it won't hurt the beads at all.........