User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 10/28/2006 9:22:00 PM EDT
[#1]
Go to the store and get some of the kitty litter beads, they should be blue. Get a table spoon or so of them and put them in a small container with 3 or 4 tbl of distilled water. Put in humi, and let it sit for a week before worrying about it.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/28/2006 9:25:55 PM EDT
[#2]
My humidor is thirsty these days too. I guess it's because of the woodburning heater that I heat my house with and the low humidity these last few weeks. Have you soaked your discs lately? My humidor came with instructions on soaking the humidification discs properly.
The after taste is from smoking the cigar too long. Cigar snobs will tell you to only smoke one half to two thirds of the cigar. I smoke mine untill it burns my fingers. Try blowing out through the cigar after several puffs. This seems to clear some of the lingering heat. Don't smoke it too fast either. There are rules. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/28/2006 9:30:09 PM EDT
[#3]
You want to soak your humidor 3 times to prepare it so that the wood will soak it up and expand. Make sure that you have a good seal. Also, make sure that you have a good humidifier. Most of the ones that come with humidors suck. I prefer Diamond Crown myself honestly. 65-70 is generally what's recommended, but I keep mine between 70 and 75 as that seems to be best to me. I have a humidor similiar to this one:
http://humidorswholesaler.com/products.php/item_id/258 as my main one and a couple others. That being said, a good seal is essential, otherwise you just let the moisture run out. Edited to add: For the after taste, smoke a good cigar.. :D Other wise, Cigar Clear. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/28/2006 9:30:18 PM EDT
[#4]
Ah! Hadn't heard that one. Thanks! 
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 11:02:13 AM EDT
[#5]
Bump for the bored-and-without-a-life-on-Sunday crew.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 11:32:52 AM EDT
[#6]
You have a lousy seal on the humidor. Put a flashlight inside, see where light comes out. You can use cedar strips (some cigars come wrapped in thin cedar) to shore it up. Drink whiskey. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 11:50:04 AM EDT
[#7]
I use "Climmax" beads, they come in 65% & 70% RH. FWIW I use the 65rh in a couple of 50qt. cooleradoors
also sold under other names, here ya go : linkypoo |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 11:54:30 AM EDT
[#8]
stupid newbie question: should I leave the cigars in the plastic wrap in the humidor or unwrap them when I put them in?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 11:58:53 AM EDT
[#9]
If you put more than one kind in the same humidor then you need to keep them in the wrap, otherwise cigars can begin to taste like each other. I like to be able to distinguish between cigars so I keep mine separated. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:03:25 PM EDT
[#10]
you can get them here: www.heartfeltindustries.com/Beads.htm along with tubes to keep them in. Works for me |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:03:32 PM EDT
[#11]
+1 This is correct. I have heard 68 is optimal. If you get it to 60, your cigars won't last long. Especially the more premium (ISOF) kind. The best results I, and others I know, have had is using a large rubbermaid container. sealing the lid with weather stripping, sticking some SPANISH cedar in it and purchasing some kind of humidification, the cheapest (and works) are those big green blocks you can get in a grocery store that people use for fake flower arrangements; although they are harder to regulate. ALWAYS use a good hygrometer. You can use other woods but they have problems: Cedar (not spanish); can cause worms, and the cigars will taste like cedar. Mahoganny; doesn't absorb wood as well. I don't know of any reason why you wouldn't use spanish cedar, and most humidors are made of it. 
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:08:16 PM EDT
[#12]
The beads are great for a climate with moderate humidity and a nice, tight humidor. Sounds like your humidor, however, is a moisture sink. If you can't shore it up or buy a tighter one, you'll have to constantly be adding water to the beads. In your case, you might benefit from a humidifier with a larger water reservoir. This one from Osh Kosh is pretty good. It holds 10 oz of distilled water and has an adjustable vent. They're on sale too. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:08:48 PM EDT
[#13]
I prefer the humidity in the 68-72% range. 60% is waaaaaaaay too dry for me. Xikar came out with a line of beads that is supposed to be the heat according to my cigar guy. I use the diamond crown passive system and sometimes I have to stick a shot glass of distilled water in there when it gets too dry. The location of your humidor matters too in some climates. An interior closet away from air vents and ceiling fans works best for me here in TN. How many cigars do you have in there? The more you get in there the easier it seems to be to regulate. Lastly, that plastic wrap sticks come in is permeable so leaving them wrapped or taking it off doens't make much difference either way.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:10:16 PM EDT
[#14]
You should not use Distilled Water alone, rather, use a 50% Propylene Glycol mix.
Here are a couple of sources: Pre-mixed: www.jrcigar.com/index.cfm?page=accessories_detail&ItemCode=3MA16&type=HMF Concentrated: www.chemistrystore.com/propylene_glycol.htm |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:12:46 PM EDT
[#15]
Why dont they just individually seal the cigars in the tubes with a cedar sheet wrapped around them?
Seems to keep the freshness in until the seal is broken. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:12:54 PM EDT
[#16]
Not true. The glycol will make the water last longer though. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:13:08 PM EDT
[#17]
This is an endless debate among cigar smokers. Sort of like "what's better, the AR or AK" I leave the celo on. It acts as a small buffer for changes in humidity in the humidor. Many other people take it off. Regardless, you should rotate your cigars in the humidor occasionally (move them around), and open it up for fresh air. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:15:46 PM EDT
[#18]
Before you go too crazy, how are you measuring the humidity?
Those analog hygrometers that come with most humidors are often inaccurate. You may want to pick up a digital one (if you haven't already) to double check. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:17:35 PM EDT
[#19]
Better to do the salt test on your analog hygrometer before running out and dropping $ on digital. I found that out after buying my DC system, turns out my analog was only 1% or so off. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:22:15 PM EDT
[#20]
Let me re-state. PG will aid in more easily maintaining a constant 70% humidity. |
||
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:23:20 PM EDT
[#21]
I use the linked OshKosh and have no trouble keeping mine at 70% all year round. I also have a 1000 plus humidor that I cannot get sealed just right, still trying to figure it out. If you have one of this size it's best to use electric humdifiers. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 12:58:26 PM EDT
[#22]
I had all these problems with humidity myself, then I got one of these.
I have to fill it 2-3 times a year and, it doesn't fluctuate. If you're serious about cigars, this is the investment to make. And you cannot beat an electronic system. Prior to that, and what alot of people do, is use improvised methods. Coolers, tupperware, I even know guys who use wine coolers. These methods can work really good... you only need two things... 1.) a good seal 2.) the heartfelt beads Desktop humidors for $50 just don't seal all that well. Alot of them are not really even cedar, just a laminate.  |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 3:51:44 PM EDT
[#23]
oh
JR Cigar rules. I stopped in the one in Statesville on my way home from the family reunion I went to in GA |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/29/2006 3:55:15 PM EDT
[#24]
Analog. I suspect I may have to invest in a decent humidor. The one I have was somewhere arounf $100. Mass-produced. Seems to seal well, but I'm very new to all this.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 10:56:01 AM EDT
[#25]
Do the "drop test" for the lid. When you drop the lid, it should make a "whoosh", then close slowly. I got a Savoy humidor that I'm very happy with. They're made by Ashton, but are a lot less expensive. You can get them for $100-200, rather than the >$1000 that the Ashtons cost. |
||
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 10:58:18 AM EDT
[#26]
I use the Cigar Oasis. It keeps it at what ever percentage I want and I only have to refil it every couple of months. It was the best $100 I've ever spent.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:05:15 AM EDT
[#27]
+1 No doubt, have a few of those cigar oasis units, love em, better than any other cigar humidifier I've ever used (and I've used most of them). I also use the climmax beads in my smaller humidors and that works good as well but require more attention. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:05:36 AM EDT
[#28]
I used to have the same damn problems as you guys. The wood humidors leak. Your cigars suffer for it.
So I used a coolerdor for a while with good results and then went with a fridgerador eventually. It has an electronic cigar oasis and a johnson thermostat to keep everything at 70/70 year round. Been using the fridgerador 2 or 3 years now. My cigars have never tasted better either! old pic  recent pic 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:09:17 AM EDT
[#29]
I see some Ashton VSG's - excellent choice, they are just about my favorite. I can't find the Opus X's around here but I hear a lot of mixed reviews. What's your take?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:11:04 AM EDT
[#30]
I wish this actually worked, then I could keep a few cheapies in with my cubans and they would taste like the cubans, but sadly it does not seem to work that way. I understand what you are getting at, in the cigar world it's called "marrying" but real changes of taste are not a real concern unless you keep flavored cigars with your natural cigars. A white owl is never going to taste like an Opus X even if it was surrounded by them for years. |
||
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:14:26 AM EDT
[#31]
I love the Opus X, the smaller ones. I had a 5 year aged Opus X a while back and it was the best cigar I ever smoked, and I smoke all the premiums (cubans too). |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:20:35 AM EDT
[#32]
Opus's are great cigars, but they are expensive. So, you can get an Arturo Fuente Hemmingway or AF Don Carlos and its gonna be 98% of what an Opus X is, but cost half as much. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:24:05 AM EDT
[#33]
Yeah, my cigar guys stocks the Hemmingways, they are good sticks. He's a loooooong time smoker and according to him the Don Carlos are just as good as the X's if properly aged.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:30:07 AM EDT
[#34]
for any further questions i must refer you to www.eherf.com
great website, very knowledgable guys i'm running a coolerdor and 150ct desktop both with 65% heartfelt industries beads. the coolerdor maintains very well while i have to check on the desktop about once a week. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:40:27 AM EDT
[#35]
Beautiful setup there Gaspain!
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 11:45:19 AM EDT
[#36]
+1 Very nice! |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 12:29:34 PM EDT
[#37]
Yeah, but will the Opus X start to taste like the White Owls? 
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 12:38:49 PM EDT
[#38]
Why would you even waste space in your humidor by sticking flavored cigars in there? 
|
||
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 3:23:05 PM EDT
[#39]
White Owls are cigars?! Personally, I don't like ANY flavored cigars, but if you do, you don't want to mix even the better flavored cigars (like Acids) with your regular cigars in the humidor. The unflavored ones may take up the taste. |
|||
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 3:25:00 PM EDT
[#40]
Onyx, Opus X, VSGs.... You sir, have good taste.  I could live on those, with maybe an occasional Padron Aniversario (either 1964 or 1926)... |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/30/2006 3:33:10 PM EDT
[#41]
Yep...
|
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
