Jimbo593
2 years ago
I recently purchased a Mantello Cigar Humidor. I have seasoned it many times and I am having a difficult time keeping the humidity between 65-75. I have purchased the Humi-Care crystals and nothing seems to help. Any advise?


Thanks
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Tiver
2 years ago
A well seasoned humidor means the wood inside is close to the desired relative humidity. If the wood is dry, the moisture will migrate to and through the wood. The sealer on the outside of the wood is supposed to mitigate this somewhat. Additionally there is a seal formed when the lid is closed. This is typically a weaker seal and allows moisture to migrate out of the box. Google lid seal for humidor or some such to see remedy for that.

Many here will use plastic storage containers as the leakage is quite minimal and humidity maintenance becomes quite simple. Sistema is a popular brand. Standard picnic coolers can perform this function as well. Another brand of sealed plastic container is Ezy storage, IP67 rated, available at the home Depot. I use these. They come in small to large sizes with the largest a little under $30 I had a lot of trouble getting a wooden humidor to season properly. At this time I actually have three wooden desk top humidors inside larger Ezy storage containers. I know they are well seasoned now because they have been in the sealed plastic containers for over a year and the wood will be at the RH of the container. If I remove them, the maintenance would be much easier because I know they are properly seasoned, but they are happy in there plastic container for now.

There are thousands of helpful posts and videos and commentary around the internet for getting better results from wood humidors. Getting a plastic container (sistema, Ezy, picnic cooler, tupperware) will solve your issue immediately while you work on a solution for the wooden box
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jeebling
2 years ago
Tiver hit the nail on the head. I’ve got a desktop humidor that is 13 or 14 years old. I’ve had to pay attention to the raised wooden seal to keep my box in shape. What I’ve done is use cotton swabs and lint free cloth to concentrate on that raised seal and it really helps. You might try this cotton swab method at the corner joints as well. Tiver has some excellent tips re: Sistema.
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rfenst
2 years ago
1. Take out all cigars and wipe the interior down completely with a damp paper towel. Close it and wait for the wood to wick in all the moisture. Do it again and a third time if necessary all over about 2-3 days.

2. Make sure to really dampen the seal as that is what causes most problems.

3. Boveda packs for a week is the easy way to go for humidity control.

4. Fill the humidor at least 50% full with cigars. More cigars stabilizes humidity!

5. Give it a week and everything will be fine. Then just check it every time you grab a cigar or once every 2-4 weeks until you learn how often it will need to be checked. I probably check every 30-60 days.

6. Keep your RH at 67%-64%, IMO.

GOOD LUCK!!!

EDIT: If the humidor has a lock or clasp, use it!
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deadeyedick
2 years ago
That is a cheap humidor and they very seldom seal well. Put a flashlight in the humidor in a dark room and see if you light coming out around the seal.
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tonygraz
2 years ago
Jimbo, try beads or Bovedas. Better still, store the cigars at 60-67. My guess is that your humidor is leaking or you are opening it a lot. My big woodies are pretty good at holding the humidity and that's probably because they only get opened once or twice a month. I keep the go to and yard gars in small wooden humidors and add water every week or so. Plastic tubs and cooler often go without adding moisture for as long as a year. Humidity concerns will drive you nuts if you let them.

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KingoftheCove
2 years ago
Do the dollar bill or flashlight test.
Crappy seal? Weather stripping might fix it. If not, turn it into office storage (pens, pencils, rulers, tape, paper clips, etc.
Beads and Bovedas is the way to go.
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danmdevries
2 years ago
Ditch the cheap China humidor, get a gasketed tupperware and some boveda packs and call it a day.

Also, you're aiming too high with your humidity. Try 65 or less. Your cigars will smoke better.
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MidnightToker( • )( • )
2 years ago

Ditch the cheap China humidor, get a gasketed tupperware and some boveda packs and call it a day.

danmdevries wrote:


I second that motion. Especially if u don't care how it looks. Wood humis are a pain.

Electronic ones are nice and can be had for the price of a good quality wood humidor. They are also fully spanish cedar like a good humidor not lined like a cheap one. The ones that heat and cool with fan cost around $1 per stick storage starting at $150 for 150 stick all the way up to $750 for 1000 count.
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rfenst
2 years ago

I second that motion. Especially if u don't care how it looks. Wood humis are a pain.

Electronic ones are nice and can be had for the price of a good quality wood humidor. They are also fully spanish cedar like a good humidor not lined like a cheap one. The ones that heat and cool with fan cost around $1 per stick storage starting at $150 for 150 stick all the way up to $750 for 1000 count.

MidnightToker( • )( • ) wrote:



I have a 50-cab of cigars that need to age another year or two. Left them untouched in their cab, with the lid shut tight. Tobacco on tobacco. All within a 100% enclosed spanish cedar. The cab is stored most simply in a zip-lock bag with a boveda tucked in the bag, sitting on a library shelf. That's all. I check on it every few weeks or so and they are coming along fine. The others aging are in a spanish cedar humidor in their original boxes, untouched, or are "singles" or multiples stacked into piles. It's that simple, IMO. What am I missing as to temperature control and cooling fans,?
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danmdevries
2 years ago
Robert, I never understood the temp control aspect either. But enough people like em that they're a thing. Cooling the unit introduces humidity control issues of its own.

I get the humidity control part, it's something I see and notice the effects from being out of range. Temp control I dunno. Maybe it has an impact, but my basement is pretty stable temp wise.

Storing in wood vs plastic I haven't noticed a difference except that the sealed storage is a lot less maintenance.
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frankj1
2 years ago

Jimbo, try beads or Bovedas. Better still, store the cigars at 60-67. My guess is that your humidor is leaking or you are opening it a lot. My big woodies are pretty good at holding the humidity and that's probably because they only get opened once or twice a month. I keep the go to and yard gars in small wooden humidors and add water every week or so. Plastic tubs and cooler often go without adding moisture for as long as a year. Humidity concerns will drive you nuts if you let them.

tonygraz wrote:


I get a lot of great reviews on Yelp.


Frankie Tripod
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MidnightToker( • )( • )
2 years ago

I have a 50-cab of cigars that need to age another year or two. Left them untouched in their cab, with the lid shut tight. Tobacco on tobacco. All within a 100% enclosed spanish cedar. The cab is stored most simply in a zip-lock bag with a boveda tucked in the bag, sitting on a library shelf. That's all. I check on it every few weeks or so and they are coming along fine. The others aging are in a spanish cedar humidor in their original boxes, untouched, or are "singles" or multiples stacked into piles. It's that simple, IMO. What am I missing as to temperature control and cooling fans,?

rfenst wrote:


The fans aren't for cooling, they are for even distribution of humidity and too add humidity (Water or beads go in front of the fan). As for temperature control, that would be convenient if you're leaving the house for the entire day or several days and don't want to have the A/C on or heat all the way up.
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jeebling
2 years ago
The temp control is also good to have if you’re putting the cabinet in a place like the shop or garage or some type of weird man cave set up.
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drglnc
2 years ago
Sorry to say you have fallen victim and wasted money like so many before you... including myself and many on this forum. What you have is... cheap made junk. most likely not eve made from Cedar but either press board or other cheap wood with a cedar veneer. The hinges suck, the seal will be bad and if it is a glass top then even worse. You may fuss with it over weeks/months and get it to work for a while but... it will not last long and will continue to give headaches over time. embrace the loss now, use it to store your cigar accessories like cutters and lighters but not to store cigars.

If you truly want a wood humidor you will need to fork over much more money for a decent and reliable one. most of us choose to use the types of items mentioned above instead for the ease of use. if you really want a desktop option that looks ok then check out the Boveda Acrylic or similar. if you don't care about the look then Tupperdoors and coolerdoors are really the easiest most reliable way to go. Nothing beats Boveda for Humidity control in these set ups either.
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jeebling
2 years ago
And you can buy Spanish Cedar fines / sheets to line your tupperdore if it matters to you. You can also buy Spanish Cedar insert trays to use in the 236oz tupperdore. I’m no expert but I don’t think that is necessary. I do save the Cedar that comes with some of the fivers I get and they add up before you know it.
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drglnc
2 years ago

And you can buy Spanish Cedar fines / sheets to line your tupperdore if it matters to you. You can also buy Spanish Cedar insert trays to use in the 236oz tupperdore. I’m no expert but I don’t think that is necessary. I do save the Cedar that comes with some of the fivers I get and they add up before you know it.

jeebling wrote:



Yup, Many boxes come with a small sheet as well but if one really cares then find a wood dealer near you and they will almost always have Spanish cedar in 1/8 inch planks. i was able to get them 6 inches wide and 4 feet long to cut and put in the bottom of my coolers.
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KingoftheCove
2 years ago
Temp control is somewhat important as too high risks beetles and too low messes with RH ( as does too high for that matter)
I’m lucky to live, and in fact, have always lived, in a cigar storage friendly climate.

But there are folks who live in extreme heat and/or extreme cold, and typically do NOT keep optimal temps/RH in their cigar storage rooms when they are not home (work), or leave town for a few days.
That’s when cigar storage issues become more of a chore, and sometimes problematic.
Tupperdores are great, but temperature sensitive, which is why many use coolers instead.

My general advice to noobs is..
Cooler
65RH Bovedas combined with 65RH beads or pure silica KL, trained to 65RH.
If ya wants, throw in some cedar strips.
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ZRX1200
2 years ago
Best way to season is with Romaine lettuce and Lowreys SS.
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Sunoverbeach
2 years ago
I've actually made a couple of cheap humidors work with some V shaped adhesive weather stripping. The thin stuff. Padded won't work. But yeah, coolers and tupperware work better. I've got those too.
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