GrayBeard2
Monday, February 4, 2013 10:40:49 AM

I've been on this forum for a few years and I keep seeing posts about beetles, freezing and mold.

Now, personally. I have never seen a tobacco beetle or had a cigar with a beetle hole. I have never had a cigar with mold on it, and I do know the difference between mold and plume.

I keep my cigars in a Big blue tupperdor that holds just about 330 cigars when full. They are layered out with cedar separators and it does get burped one or two times a month when I'm shopping. I don't have a hygrometer, just crystal jars and the basement stays below 72 all year long.

You noobs have to learn what a "Real" squeeze and sniff is.

Confuzed
Monday, February 4, 2013 10:48:09 AM
🤔
bassman45
Monday, February 4, 2013 10:50:27 AM

I've been on this forum for a few years and I keep seeing posts about beetles, freezing and mold.

Now, personally. I have never seen a tobacco beetle or had a cigar with a beetle hole. I have never had a cigar with mold on it, and I do know the difference between mold and plume.

I keep my cigars in a Big blue tupperdor that holds just about 330 cigars when full. They are layered out with cedar separators and it does get burped one or two times a month when I'm shopping. I don't have a hygrometer, just crystal jars and the basement stays below 72 all year long.

You noobs have to learn what a "Real" squeeze and sniff is.

GrayBeard2 wrote:

+100000=d>

KingoftheCove
Monday, February 4, 2013 10:52:05 AM

You noobs have to learn what a "Real" squeeze and sniff is.

GrayBeard2 wrote:

is it...

Jade and ZRX sharing a phone booth, behind the seedy ghey bar?

knokmdwn
Monday, February 4, 2013 1:05:27 PM

is it...

Jade and ZRX sharing a phone booth, behind the seedy ghey bar?

KingoftheCove wrote:

Why yes........yes it is.

CapeFear
Monday, February 4, 2013 1:33:34 PM
Graybeard2 is wise...

I think beetles only come out when the humidity is above 80%, temp is 80+, and it stays that way for at least a few days. Oh and if beetle eggs/larvae etc. are actually in said cigar.

I've never seen them myself and unless you gots no brains, you're not going to store cigars in the conditions above. The few stories I've read/heard involved a rogue cigar that was given to them that obviously wasn't treated with the respect it deserved.

I could see mold happening more often, but unless you get OCD with your humidifiers, chances are you're going to forget about them more often than you're going to over-humidify. Again, the humidity has to be up there along with the temp in order for that to happen.

So keep the A/C on, add moisture only when needed. Otherwise leave your cigars alone! 🇨🇮

dstieger
Monday, February 4, 2013 2:03:13 PM

Graybeard2 is wise...

I think beetles only come out when the humidity is above 80%, temp is 80+, and it stays that way for at least a few days. Oh and if beetle eggs/larvae etc. are actually in said cigar.

I've never seen them myself and unless you gots no brains, you're not going to store cigars in the conditions above. The few stories I've read/heard involved a rogue cigar that was given to them that obviously wasn't treated with the respect it deserved.

I could see mold happening more often, but unless you get OCD with your humidifiers, chances are you're going to forget about them more often than you're going to over-humidify. Again, the humidity has to be up there along with the temp in order for that to happen.

So keep the A/C on, add moisture only when needed. Otherwise leave your cigars alone! 🇨🇮

CapeFear wrote:

Or...if you're like me, not the least bit OCD, but more than a little concerned about the thousands of dollars in cigars, many of which are nearly irreplaceable, you'll take the time to learn about the risk and not just what Mr. Fear 'thinks'. The risk of beetles and mold are real and they are significant. Both can be largely avoided thorugh simple precautions and proper storage, but I think it's foolhardy to suggest that it isn't something I should concern myself with.

dstieger
Monday, February 4, 2013 2:19:00 PM
Re-reading that, I may have given the wrong impression. By and large, I'm a 'set it and forget it' kind of guy. But, I do think that anyone storing cigars should educate themselves on best available info regarding beetles, freezing, mold, etc. I do freeze some, but not all. I don't sweat a few points swing in RH or degrees of temp. But, I do open each of my humidors/coolers every couple weeks or so and ensure all's well. Make the effort to get smart about beetle risk.
GrayBeard2
Monday, February 4, 2013 5:39:45 PM

Well, I expected to get a little flame on this post, but I wanted to start some comment on the subject. It seems a lot of brothers are a little OCD about their cigars and this hobby does begin to involve a lot of money. And, yes, my wife has no idea how much money is down in the basement invested in cigars.

My memory/start in cigars goes back to my dad, a real old timer. He would soak a half of a soft brick in water and put it in his "keeper box". He would take one or two out at night and put them on his dresser and the next day after work and dinner he'd usually nibble the end off and light up.

I sure do miss those nights sitting there with dad and his quart of Ballantine beer, Friday night fights and his cigars.

dpnewell
Monday, February 4, 2013 5:41:30 PM
I've had mold a couple times and a beatle once. It never happened in my storage, but I received them that way. One was from a big name shop in NC. The humidor was so wet that my glasses steamed up when I walked in. Those Exile cigars with the news print wrapper. By the time I discovered the mold, it was dead and dry. 2nd time was on an Anejo that was gifted to me. Again, dead, dry mold under the cedar wrap.

The beatle came from here. Received some cigars that where sopping wet. A couple months later, found a beatle hole in one cigar, with a dead, dehydrated beatle in the foot under the cello.

There's a reason why I keep my storage in the low 60s. Mold won't grow, and beatles will dehydrate and die. Of course most cigars smoke better at that humidity level too.

GrayBeard2
Monday, February 4, 2013 6:44:07 PM

DP, I haven't bought from the NC guys in years. Too much moisture for shipping!

Here it comes again================ Squeeze & Sniff . Seriously, it's pretty hard to go too low in RH when storing cigars, but really pretty easy to over humidify.

I find it bewildering that people buy into the 70/70 story if they have ever been in the Caribbean or south America.

The only place there that I have been is Aruba which is a desert island, the rest are hot and humid. Way above 70 degrees.