What's up Fella's? I would appreciate some feedback on how long it should take to break in a 'new' humidor. Bought a El Rey 150 count from c-bid last week. Calibrated Hygrometer with salt test-all ok.(went to 75 in about 9 hrs.) Now have had both humidifier's wet and a shot glass filled with distilled water for about 3 days and can't get it to 68. Any Help? Thanks

You might want to try wiping down the interior of the humidor with a damp cloth, and leaving it closed for 24 hours. That is what Thompson suggests, and it works for me. Good luck!

I guess I am not understanding correctly, but what is wrong with 68?
My humidors consistently run 68-72.
I understood that was the correct settings, but I may have misunderstood?

At this stage you don't need to use distilled water or 50/50 pg solution. Whatever evaporates from the shotglass is distilled, right? You can wipe the interior,(use distilled for that), but keep in mind that will raise the grain of your cedar lining. I recommend patience and using a saucer of water instead of the shotglass, being careful not to spill it. A saucer gives you more evaporative surface area and will help to speed things up. Don't worry, 3 days is not excessive, it may take 2 weeks or more.

68%? Load it with smokes. The cigars will help stabilize the environment.

what i did to get mine up to 72% --
take an old t-shirt rag (or soft rag), wet it with distilled and wipe down all the cedar surfaces in the humi. then put a small bowl of water in, close the lid and keep it that way for 24 hours.

load it with smokes to AT LEAST 3/4 full.

give it a few days -- patience! it *will* get there.

i now keep it at 68%, though, and use it for the sticks i'll be smoking within 1-2 weeks.

I agree with most of the posts so far, just have patience. Personally, I would not wipe the interior down with distilled water cause it can cause the grain to rise. Can being the key word here.

I would get a small bowl that is short in height and very rouond or wide to use instead of the shot glass. This will give you more evaporative area than a shot glass and will help season it faster.

However; since you are already at 68% hunidity, I would ad some cigars. Cigars are a great leveler. I have had humidors that wouldn't hold an even RH level until I added cigars to it. Once I added at least half capacity of cigas the rh level leveled off and stayed really consistent.

Personally, I keep all of my humidors between 67-72% rh. I like my maduros better at the 68% rh level than the 75% rh level. I ahve heard that a lot of other people do the same, so I am not some weirdo either.

Also, when your humidor gets to 75-80% full it is time to buy a new one.

Good luck!
Matt

Sounds to me like your're right on target............remember the cedar lining is bone dry when you begin and wood is not as permeable as cigars so it is going to take a little longer to absorb moisture..............note: If you're going to wait until your empty humidor reaches 70%, then don't be surprised if the humidity zooms up temporarily as much as 8 - 10% right after you add the cigars (because of their moisture content). This is time-limited and will gradually come back down.

Moisture content/humidity is a matter of personal taste within maybe 60 - 75% range, but I've always had much fewer draw/plug/burn problems with about 60 -67% humidity. Just my thoughts...............

Hey Guys , thanks for all the info! Think I'll add some 'sticks' and see what happens.