Ok, turns out both of my digital hydrometers are all over the place now. I put the most accurate one in with salt it reads 70%, okay....I then used a water pillow that is 67% and it reads 71%. I do not understand how it can be over AND under, guess it is just busted, you get what you pay for. Anyways, I know there is several places to get re-adjustable hydrometers online. My question to you is who do you think has the best out there. Thanks a lot, I appreciate your answers.
Tommy
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Change the battery :-)
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Who's to say that the water pillow is dead on at 67%? Your hydrometer might be correct.
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it says on the back of the pillow it is made for 67%....
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and I am not comfortable with something that MAY be correct...
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get the beads they seem to be more accurate
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Don't stress over the numbers.

Only one question matters - How are your cigars smoking? If you say fine, end-of-story.

Edit: If you are determined to resolve the "numbers", I would trust the hygrometer much more than a water pillow. :-)
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I hate to admit it, but I'm with Pete on this one.
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:-)
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There's also some correlation between temperature and relative humidity, could explain some of this variation. Not sure how it works, but I've noticed the RH reading in my glasstop varies a % or two as the temp rises & falls. I don't stress over a few percentage points--I figure I'm just keeping the leaves comfy until I torch them anyway, not running a science experiment :-)
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Exactly.
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Thanks for the response. After reading what you guys said, well, I feel a lot more at ease now, lol. Thanks!
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The only thing that bothers me is some of my cigars I have smoked recently self extinguish around the final third.....not that big of a deal I guess now that I think it over. It would be if upon relighting it tasted off, but it doesn't. I guess I should just dry box. The only thing that does worry me is what if I end up hanging onto a few smokes for years, can't 70 percent be a bad thing for long term aging? I have heard both sides of this story, so I just want to know what your experience is rather than what you think might happen. Thanks so much for your input guys.
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My understanding is that 70% is actually ideal for long term aging. Storing them at a lower RH slows down the process.
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Opinions vary....I find that low 60s is the best RH for the way I prefer my cigars to age. :-)
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Just like everything else in this hobby. I don't actually have first hand experience with long term aging - I've only been smoking for a few years and my cooler has 65% beads in it.
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But you're in the mix now, Colin, and experimenting is half the fun! :-)
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