Problems with the humidor!

[tatatizia]

Hi!! I build my new pumidor in a very big wood box with a professional hygrometer and a fan for cigars. I also bought an humidifier for cigars at this address: www.humidordiscount.it
I bought Adorini deluxe model but it seems to be not adeguate for the box because the humidity not go up than 53%. In this season the humidity in my house is about 45%/47%. To have the humidity level at 70% I must add three big sponges full of water every day. The box is 80x60x50 cm. What model of humidifier do you think I need? Thank you!

[Drax]

Hrm, a couple questions...

How is the circulation in the box? Is the air inside mixing thoroughly?

How long have you let the box equilibrate? (hopefully with nothing inside...?)

The problem could be circulation. Or the wood could still be absorbing moisture. Or it could be leaky.

You should be able to fix all of these problems if you can identify which one is the cause (in the case of a leak, weather-stripping or better protection of cracks at the doors and other places will help).

I suppose it could be something else, too, but that's all that springs to mind at the moment...

[sp1key]

Hi!! I build my new pumidor in a very big wood box with a professional hygrometer and a fan for cigars. I also bought an humidifier for cigars at this address: www.humidordiscount.it
I bought Adorini deluxe model but it seems to be not adeguate for the box because the humidity not go up than 53%. In this season the humidity in my house is about 45%/47%. To have the humidity level at 70% I must add three big sponges full of water every day. The box is 80x60x50 cm. What model of humidifier do you think I need? Thank you!

tatatizia, thats a lot of work! natural storage is the best... I'll age my raw here and you keep some of those brunellos cool, we'll swap some in a decade

[shogun89]

Drax posted 3 good questions you should take seriously, especially the third.

[tony shlongini]

I know that the "cigar guys" have been gaga over the humidity beads for regulating RH.

[wyardley]

To have the humidity level at 70% I must add three big sponges full of water every day. The box is 80x60x50 cm. What model of humidifier do you think I need? Thank you!

If I'm doing my math right, that's 240000 cubic inches or 14646 cubic inches, or 8 cubic ft. 1/2 lb of humidity beads will condition about 2.5 cubic feet of space. So you could try like 2 lb of the beads, but at the size you're looking at, you'd really probably prefer to have an active humidification system.

http://heartfeltindustries.com/products ... dification
http://www.aristocrathumidors.com/electronic.htm

Whatever you do, make sure you use distilled (not spring or filtered tap, unless you have a RO system) water.

ps - Are you putting a tiny cigar humidor inside the large box and expecting that it will humidify the whole thing? Because if so, that's your problem.

Also, make sure the box has been aired out well and that the humidor doesn't contain any cedar or other strong smelling wood.

[beachape]

I bet the wood is absorbing the moisture. Did you season the humidor? If not just google it for a step by step.

[Ebtoulson]

how much humidity would yall consider too much? I'm currently aging some pu in clay pots and its either at ~50% with no humidifier or 90% with a small cigar humidifer. Is 90% too much?

[shogun89]

how much humidity would yall consider too much? I'm currently aging some pu in clay pots and its either at ~50% with no humidifier or 90% with a small cigar humidifer. Is 90% too much?

Yes, 90% is too much. 80% is going to be the highest you want it to go and thats considered wet stored at that point, you want about 70%, try cutting some oasis foam to size and putting distilled water on it and putting that in there, you can add or take away foam to regulate humidity.

[coloradopu]

why is it so important to use distilled water and what is a RO system. and does it matter for a ionizer type humidifier

[shogun89]

The reason you want distilled water is because it is free of impurities. If you use bottled or tap water there are minerals in it such as salt and stuff, when the water evaporates this is left behind, eventually these solids will clog the pores of the sponge thus not allowing for evaporation any more.

[hooksie]

why is it so important to use distilled water and what is a RO system. and does it matter for a ionizer type humidifier

RO = Reverse Osmosis

[coloradopu]

i guess with the ionizer i am ok then?
that is what i use in the pumadore and with it i can reach 99.9% not that i want it to rain or anything but with the fan on etc. it stays pretty nice. i do get swings but without them i feel no true aging is achieved.
it is quick in RH rise and if you have a large area to control i recommend it.

@ this time
temp=77 deg F
RH=56 %
smell .......... hold on let me put my socks back on

[shogun89]

The good news for me is that I just used the salt calibration for my hydrometer and found out that it was ready 7% below the actual humidity, So when I thought I had 60% I realy had 67%. So pretty much all spring I've been in the 70-80% range. yay!