Pumidor Candidate

[tacobell]

Hey Taco!
Awesome, I've been checking back excitedly waiting!
Yay!
Hey - looks like you removed the vertical dividers? Easy?
How about odor? Any plasticy odor?

Congrats!

Wantzzz!

No problem! The dividers weren't fixed in place so nothing to remove. No odor. Turns out the cigar guys are as crazy as we are about odors. Pristine insides.

If you are interested, you should mention that you heard about it here. He said that he would offer a discount to teachat members.

http://shop.humidors4u.com/products/hum ... co-humidor

[Seeker]

Thanks!

Soon as finance allows (prettysoon), I'll order.

What % humidity are you maintaining?

Cheers!

[tacobell]

One humidifier that I picked up at a cigar shop keeps it easily at 60%. I am certain another humidifier would bring it up to 70%. Most inexpensive humidifiers are florist foam, that green stuff. You could make one easily and just use distilled water to keep unwanted growth down to a minimum.

I guess I am pretty afraid of mold so happy a little drier rather than it becoming a terrarium in there.

[Salsero]

I use the florist foam in plastic tubs and it keeps some of my 8 drawers of pu at 60%+ and others around 70%. I can't figure out why the variation, but it all seems within tolerance for me. Every now and then I open all the drawers and give them a good airing for a couple hours and I do worry about mold or what not, but so far all is good.

I did have a little scare in February of last year with a bout of white frost on my shu, but Hop allayed my fears and I brushed it all off. Recently, Tim told us that tea with white frost can actually sell for a higher price in some situations!

[Seeker]

So, Taco,
Doesn't the pumidor come with a humidifying set-up? (all the stuff you need to just load it up and go)?
Would I need to get one? I checked the site, and it does say it comes with one, does it not get the job done?
I asked because you mentioned picking one up at a tobacco shop?
(And, a little while back I purchased a small stainless & leather cigarette case for carrying puerh into nice restaurants at a tobacco shop, and it reeked of tobacco even though it came in a nice box within which it was wrapped in paper or foam or something; due to the odor I've never used it).
Thanks.
I'm wanting a "pu"-midor!

[tony shlongini]

I would definately look into getting a pound or so of the humidity beads that are all the rage in the cigar world. They prevent overhumidification.

[TIM]

I would definately look into getting a pound or so of the humidity beads that are all the rage in the cigar world. They prevent overhumidification.

+1
Just dont buy it from a cigar place, much cheaper in hardware shop like Homedepot

[tacobell]

I would definately look into getting a pound or so of the humidity beads that are all the rage in the cigar world. They prevent overhumidification.

+1
Just dont buy it from a cigar place, much cheaper in hardware shop like Homedepot

What are they called? Humidity beads? Scentless at Home Depot?

[TIM]

I would definately look into getting a pound or so of the humidity beads that are all the rage in the cigar world. They prevent overhumidification.

+1
Just dont buy it from a cigar place, much cheaper in hardware shop like Homedepot

What are they called? Humidity beads? Scentless at Home Depot?

Exquisicat Pearl Fresh (not the blue one) or Litter Pearls Crystal Clear (not the Eliminates odor one). 8 pound for $12. pet store, wholesale superstore, hardware store or some home depot might carry them. If you want to go fancy, look for museum archival supply shops, they have degrees of humidity to choose from.

[Seeker]

Thanks for all the great advice!

So, would I put the humidity beads into the pumidor in addition to whatever humidifying unit that comes with the pumidor?

Thanks again.

That much closer to providing a happier home for all my pu!

[TIM]

Thanks for all the great advice!

So, would I put the humidity beads into the pumidor in addition to whatever humidifying unit that comes with the pumidor?

Thanks again.

That much closer to providing a happier home for all my pu!

you don't need the unit anymore. As long as you have the right amount of beads. Top and lower selves back is my suggestion. But I would stablize the box first with those new beads (3 days to a week depands). Then put back the goods after. Btw, where are you located?

[tony shlongini]

You definately want the calibrated beads.

[Drax]

or Litter Pearls Crystal Clear (not the Eliminates odor one).

Can you imagine the horror....? Why doesn't my tea smell like tea at all anymore??

(not that some measly beads could wipe out the overpowering pungency of most pu-erh, but still...)

[Seeker]

you don't need the unit anymore. As long as you have the right amount of beads. Top and lower selves back is my suggestion. But I would stablize the box first with those new beads (3 days to a week depands). Then put back the goods after. Btw, where are you located?

Thx Tim.
I'm in Pleasanton, CA. That's about an hour south and east of San Francisco - typical temps in summer are btwn 90 & 100 (very much hotter and drier than SF, though cooler right now - 80's; most summers, and i'm sure this one too, we'll be in the 100's); we're separated from the actual bay by a range of hills, so this is a very different climate. Zone 14 according to horticulture guidelines.
AC inside, so house pretty consistent 72-75.
Rel humidity pretty consistent 45-47 (I have one of those oregon sci weather stations, gives me inside and outside readings).

BTW, do you put water on the beads? The HomeDepot stuff sounds like it's for pet waste, so I doubt it has instructions for "pu"-midor use.

As I'm considering this unit, I must admit, I'm also starting to consider one of those custom wooden units from the other thread. If I remember correctly, folks were using hum units as well as beads though?

Thanks again.
Got to get my pu into the right conditions.

[TIM]

... AC inside, so house pretty consistent 72-75.
Rel humidity pretty consistent 45-47 (I have one of those oregon sci weather stations, gives me inside and outside readings).

45-47% is pretty dry for sheng, but good for shu for a half the year. But the heat is the problem if its around 90s. So, and enclosed (pumidor) aging unit might be a good idea.

BTW, do you put water on the beads? The HomeDepot stuff sounds like it's for pet waste, so I doubt it has instructions for "pu"-midor use.

Yup, you do need to put distill or boiled water to those beads.

As I'm considering this unit, I must admit, I'm also starting to consider one of those custom wooden units from the other thread. If I remember correctly, folks were using hum units as well as beads though?

If you like the extra Spanish cedar wood character, which I adore At the end of the day, if you spend 2k on one of those unit, I bit you will use any items attached to it just to make it worth There are some differences in aging cigar and puerh. So I would try/experiment and make it your cup of tea.

Thanks again.
Got to get my pu into the right conditions.