How long on average does it take the humidor to get to the proper humidity level?

I recently expanded, and don't recall how long it takes to even out to proper humidity inside a new humidor, with new mail order cigars.

This is my every day smokes humidor so it has some smaller cigars in bundles, thus I have more than the size of the box states (175-200), max 100-150 it said as far as capacity.

I seasoned it with distilled water in 2 shot glasses for numerous days inside my home kept at 65-75 degrees.

I then placed the cigars, and 4oz gel humidification container in there. After 1 day humidity inside was 48% and the gel was still fluffy, after 2 days I was pushing 50%, and here with re-arranging I added a couple 2oz containers. The next day I was at 51%, and I added another 2oz. Humidity today is at 52%.

Any ideas ?
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You might need to wipe down the interior with a damp paper towel and distilled water.
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It took about a week and around 6 gallons of water to start. Then I transferred my cigar and took another 3 weeks and a few more refill of humidifier of water to finally stabilized my humidor.

Humidity used to drop significantly each time I open my humidor. I don't get that much fluctuation after humidor and the boxes were properly seasoned.

I've seen people boil some water and immediately put the water inside a humidor. It seems to work for quickly seasoning a new humidor.
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Time to start over.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=620
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=619

Take out your smokes and store them temporarily in ziplock bags or tupperware.

When your humidor reaches 65-70% take out the water and let it sit for 24hours. If it stays stable at 65-70% you are good to go. If it drops down to 50% you need to check for leaks. Open the humidor a few inches and drop the lid, you should hear a whooshing sound as it closes. If it slams down, you have a leak.
Place a flashlight inside and look around the edges for light escaping. Add some painters masking tape in small strips where you see light. If you have a glass top you can close a dollar bill around the edges, if there is a spot where it slips out easily tape as needed.
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I have never tried wiping down a humidor but have seen a good amount of information against it due to damaging the wood. You should check your seal by putting a flashlight in it and closing the lid checking for light to escape.
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I didn't have much luck with that gel humidification, I would get rid of it and go with some beads. That or maybe your humidor leaks like a sieve. Are you using a analog or digital hygrometer.

If I leave my coolidor open for 10-15 minutes it drops to 50 RH, about maybe 2 hours later it's back up right where I want it at 62-64 RH. Definitely shouldn't take days to bring up the humidity
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Bob is wise.


Jake is wise too.
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Looks like it's a digital problem :-)

Currently it's showing 62% on one digi hygrometer 63% on my calibrated digi hygrometer, and 51% on my desktop (small) house temp/hygro.

It's apparent now that the house hygrometer is off!
This explains why I never think it's dry in the house but this thing keeps telling me it is.. :-)

All is good :-)
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:-)
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I tried the HCM beads...4 oz for a 150 count humidor. The humidity had dropped because I hadn't paid attention to the hygrometer for a week. My Boveda packets were hard as rocks.
Within a few hours, the beads got it up to 65% and it's stayed there ever since. And remember, the beads require no water and no other humidification was needed. A bloody miracle!
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I May have the Same Issue. My main Humidor has a Glass Top. And an Analog Hygrometer built into the front of it. Worked well for about a year. But not keeps telling me after about 3 days that the RH is 40 - 50% I cant find any leaks, and Ive started over with it a couple of times. I get a Swoosh from the lid when I close it.

I Dont understand the Dollar Bill Trick for the Glass Top maybe someone can explain it more?

But I think Maybe my main problem is my Analog Hygrometer. I bet I should go get a Digital and check it out.
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Buddy. Don't do that. It might warp the wood. Just throw in a bowl of water for several days.
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:-)
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The only thing I might add is if you want to speed up the seasoning process a little place a new, clean sponge (one that is wrung out with distilled water and place it on a saucer in the humi. This will give you more surface area for the water to evaporate. The sponge should be fully saturated. This will speed up the process by a couple of days! :-)

Good luck Bro!
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Where can one purchase HCM beads ?
And is there better/worse beads?
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You can purchase HCM beads (from me) at www.hcmcigarbeads.com. Better or worse is hard to define. I think HCM beads are the best, but there are many people who like Heartfelt (www.heartfeltindustries.com), which is also a good product.

Check out the websites, check out the various threads here to get more information and then order your HCM beads :-)
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Do you sell by the pound?

I have a fridge I`m turning into a big humi, and a handful of smaller ones I want to use this stuff in if it's "so great".

I'd want to try out with 1 or 2 pounds to start to spread among my smaller humis and then go big if it works as described :-)
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At this time the largest size is 1/2 pound. The whole thing with these beads is exposed surface area, so the 1/2 pound bag seems to be an optimal size for the larger humidors.
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Based on your website I would need 400 bucks worth of beads for my fridge :-)

I don't mind the amount (8 pounds), and have the perfect spot at the bottom to lay them out with huge surface area, but 400 bucks and buying only by the 1/2 pound :-)

Maybe I should stick with the electric method :-)
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I have Heartfelt but I know a lot of brothers on here use Michael's/ Shailala beads. You have to look at it this way, it's a one time expense, there stable and no mold. You could spend 90-150 dollars for an oasis or similar device and it quit in a year or so and have to start all over again. Also if you search the threads about cooler/ vino s I think you might be able to get by with fewer beads than you think, but you can never have to many.

Just my:-)

PS. before you ask or someone else suggests it, stay away from kitty litter.
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