New Humidor

[ShavedZombie]

Just dropped a bit of money for a new Humidor for my dorm next year... I've had a few good cigars here and there, and wanted to start a collection of my own... I'm thinking of getting a quality Pipe, but that would take more time and effort than I can devote during my school year (and straight razors already own a fair portion of my discretionary income)

By recommendation of a friend, I headed over to CheapHumidors.com and picked up this little guy.

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/DH-25LTH.html

Nothing too special, but reasonable size, attractive appearance, and all the necessities for a dorm-idor.

Anyone want to recommend some good cigars for a new guy to stock up on?

Cheers,
Jeremy

[HokieGeek]

That's a lot like my first dorm humidor. It's a great, portable size and holds plenty of cigars. Make sure you are diligent in keeping it at the perfect humidity and you won't regret it! :thumbup1:

[Not A Nice Person]

Before stocking it, throw the humidifier and gauge in the trash, and get a tube of 65% RH beads from Heartfelt, and a calibratable digital gauge from the same place you got the humidor.

Salt test and adjust the gauge (Boveda makes a kit) and season the humidor and you'll be good to go. Your cigars will thank you, and you'll thank me! :biggrin1:

Try a range of brands and sizes and ask your local cigar shop guys---make room for Padron X000, Fuente 858, Cusano 18, RyJ Bully, Casa Magna and LFD Airbender; stay away from Gurkha, Acid, and Macanudo. Your tastes will develop over time; smoke what you like and like what you smoke.

At the higher end of things, I absolutely LOVE San Cristobal, Illusione, and God of Fire cigars.

Whatever size one's humidor, always have a few cheap but decent giveaways for people who don't regularly smoke cigars but want to try one (Flor de Oliva or similar is fine for this; they never finish 'em anyway) and a couple high end smokes for celebrating special occasions.

NANP™

[invizable]

Whatever size one's humidor, always have a few cheap but decent giveaways for people who don't regularly smoke cigars but want to try one (Flor de Oliva or similar is fine for this; they never finish 'em anyway) and a couple high end smokes for celebrating special occasions.

Amen!
Nothing worse than seeing one of your lovely $10 cigars mistreated. I love the Perdomo Lot 23's, you can get a bundle online for a few dollars per stick and they are fantastic smokes!
Congrats on the new humidor.

[ShavedZombie]

Before stocking it, throw the humidifier and gauge in the trash, and get a tube of 65% RH beads from Heartfelt, and a calibratable digital gauge from the same place you got the humidor.

Salt test and adjust the gauge (Boveda makes a kit) and season the humidor and you'll be good to go. Your cigars will thank you, and you'll thank me! :biggrin1:

Try a range of brands and sizes and ask your local cigar shop guys---make room for Padron X000, Fuente 858, Cusano 18, RyJ Bully, Casa Magna and LFD Airbender; stay away from Gurkha, Acid, and Macanudo. Your tastes will develop over time; smoke what you like and like what you smoke.

At the higher end of things, I absolutely LOVE San Cristobal, Illusione, and God of Fire cigars.

Whatever size one's humidor, always have a few cheap but decent giveaways for people who don't regularly smoke cigars but want to try one (Flor de Oliva or similar is fine for this; they never finish 'em anyway) and a couple high end smokes for celebrating special occasions.

NANP™

I'm planning on keeping the Hygrometer inside of it, an doing the damp-salt-in-a-baggie method, if possible. I'm also sticking with the humidifier it comes with for the first week (until I can go to a few local Cigar places and pick up a better hygrometer/humidifier.)

Thanks for the tips

[Mazeman]

Get a digital hygrometer, some beads or gel for humidification.

Do not buy Acid cigars, or if you must, don't put any in the humidor.

I always seem to recommend Rocky Patel Lites for beginners, but the world is your oyster.

[ShavedZombie]

Get a digital hygrometer, some beads or gel for humidification.

Do not buy Acid cigars, or if you must, don't put any in the humidor.

I always seem to recommend Rocky Patel Lites for beginners, but the world is your oyster.

Why is a Digital Hygrometer recommended over an Analog one... And why isn't the included humidifier good enough?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Mazeman]

Why is a Digital Hygrometer recommended over an Analog one... And why isn't the included humidifier good enough?

Thanks,
Jeremy

The analogs are notoriously inaccurate. Some are adjustable, and you can calibrate them. The digitals tend to be accurate out of the box.

[vintage69]

Great first humidor. Since you are a student with a limited budget, I suggest that you look at JRCigars online and look at the Consuegra line of cigars. The cigars are excellent buys, for example I am looking at a Sultan(7.25x54) in the current catalogue listed for $36.95 for 25 or #604(5.00x40) for 21.95. They are handmade cigars and :thumbup1::thumbup:

[ShavedZombie]

The analogs are notoriously inaccurate. Some are adjustable, and you can calibrate them. The digitals tend to be accurate out of the box.

Alright... I'll look into new humidifiers (the beads, maybe) and see how calibrate-able the hygrometer is... Worst come to worst, I'll look at my local tobacconist for a hygrometer... Should have one.

Cheers,
Jeremy

[Not A Nice Person]

Here's the skinny on the beads: they are calibrated for a set RH---get 65% beads (65% smokes way better than 70%; shops overhumidify to minimize damage from handling) and when your RH is under that, the beads release moisture, when it's OVER that, they absorb it.

No matter what size your humidor, they're simply the best---no muss, no fuss, self-regulating. They will even out your RH, unlike other methods that tend to "spike" and then diminish.

Like the "pump you up" guys on SNL used to say, "hear me now or believe me later." Absolutely worth the investment! I don't even have a gauge in my humidor . . . I just look at the beads and see how they're doing to determine RH levels.

NANP™

[ShavedZombie]

I'll take your word for it and pick them up ASAP. I'll grab the 65% beads, and look for a digital hygrometer.

When you said look at the beads and see how they're doing... What do you look FOR?

[ShavedZombie]

Alright, I'm on Heartfelt... As I'm new to this whole thing... I can't read the site that well... Which of these Humidifiers would you recommend for the Humidifier I linked above?

http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/products.asp?cat=65%25+Rh+Humidity+Beads

[invizable]

The Round Large Disk should be plenty. You can go larger because the gel controls itself pretty well and the more gel you have the less often you have to water it. Just remember, a larger humidifier means fewer cigars.

[ShavedZombie]

The Round Large Disk should be plenty. You can go larger because the gel controls itself pretty well and the more gel you have the less often you have to water it. Just remember, a larger humidifier means fewer cigars.

Alright... Large round disk. I'll probably snag that and the Digital Hygrometer... I was worried someone would suggest that expensive Humidity Bead Case... If I went for that, there's no way I could get the hygrometer...

Did you mean that a larger humidifier means more cigars? I have a small humidor, 25-50 cigars, so do I need the large humidifier, or the smaller one?

It's like I'm learning to use a straight razor all over again :blush:

Best Regards,
Jeremy

[Not A Nice Person]

I'll take your word for it and pick them up ASAP. I'll grab the 65% beads, and look for a digital hygrometer.

When you said look at the beads and see how they're doing... What do you look FOR?

When the beads are "full," they're transparent; when they're dry they're white. You want to keep about 80% of them clear . . . if you overwet, you're adding more moisture than needed (raising your RH) and also keeping them from absorbing excess moisture in the humidor. A couple spritzes of distilled water is all it takes. ONLY use distilled water! PG fluid, which is used for gel crystals like Xikar's, ruins them.

Used to have to buy them by the half pound and make your own container, lol, but now Heartfelt sells direct replacements---just get the one that fits where your humidor's puck went, and maybe add a cigar-sized bead tube if you want a little overkill/safety margin.

NANP™

[ShavedZombie]

When the beads are "full," they're transparent; when they're dry they're white. You want to keep about 80% of them clear . . . if you overwet, you're adding more moisture than needed (raising your RH) and also keeping them from absorbing excess moisture in the humidor. A couple spritzes of distilled water is all it takes. ONLY use distilled water! PG fluid, which is used for gel crystals like Xikar's, ruins them.

Used to have to buy them by the half pound and make your own container, lol, but now Heartfelt sells direct replacements---just get the one that fits where your humidor's puck went, and maybe add a cigar-sized bead tube if you want a little overkill/safety margin.

NANP™

Sounds like the Large Circular container is the winner, then. I'll put out an order for that, and a square, calibrateable digital hygrometer as soon as a payment to my paypal clears.

How long do the beads in the container last, if hydrated properly? (Meaning, should I buy extra beads, or just wait until I need them? Months? Years? Weeks?)

Thanks, everyone, for the help!

Jeremy

[Not A Nice Person]

How long do the beads in the container last, if hydrated properly? (Meaning, should I buy extra beads, or just wait until I need them? Months? Years? Weeks?)


I'm not sure I understand the question . . . beads will basically last forever, properly hydrated or not, as long as you only use distilled water. They'll yellow a bit over time, but that doesn't affect their humidification ability. The only reason to replace them would be if they became contaminated---mold, mildew, chemicals or what have you.

I've had the same beads about five years now, I think.

Now, as far as how often to hydrate, that depends on your setup. I have a glasstop and spritz mine weekly; someone with a tightly sealed coolidor might only have to rewet theirs every other month or so.

NANP™

[ShavedZombie]

[QUOTE=Not A Nice Person;2254268]I'm not sure I understand the question . . . beads will basically last forever, properly hydrated or not, as long as you only use distilled water. They'll yellow a bit over time, but that doesn't affect their humidification ability. The only reason to replace them would be if they became contaminated---mold, mildew, chemicals or what have you.

I've had the same beads about five years now, I think.

Now, as far as how often to hydrate, that depends on your setup. I have a glasstop and spritz mine weekly; someone with a tightly sealed coolidor might only have to rewet theirs every other month or so.

NANP™[/QUOTE

Excellent! Thank you very much!

The humidor has magnetic SealSafe (or whatever it's called) and is solid wood, so I'll probably give it a light spritzing every two weeks or so, as the beads need it...

I think I'll get the Large Round "puck" of the 65% beads ( http://heartfeltindustries.com/proddetail.asp?prod=RH_Large_65 ), a Digital hygrometer ( http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DHYG_REC ), and -if I have enough money left over- one of the Medium Humidity Tubes ( http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HT_1_65 )

I'll take the humidor to a local cigar shop and ask them about seasoning the humidor, after I've done the damp salt in a bag thing to calibrate the hygrometer.

Does this sound like everything?

Thanks for bearing with me, guys!

Cheers,
Jeremy

[Not A Nice Person]

Seasoning is simple . . . just don't get in a rush. Wet the bead puck good, put it in there with the gauge and a shallow bowl of distilled water. That size, wait about 3 days then take the bowl out, check the RH, close it back up for a day. If the RH holds you're good to go.

Some people wipe 'em down with a damp cloth, but since the cedar lining is usually only a thin veneer, I don't recommend that.

NANP™

[ShavedZombie]

Seasoning is simple . . . just don't get in a rush. Wet the bead puck good, put it in there with the gauge and a shallow bowl of distilled water. That size, wait about 3 days then take the bowl out, check the RH, close it back up for a day. If the RH holds you're good to go.

Some people wipe 'em down with a damp cloth, but since the cedar lining is usually only a thin veneer, I don't recommend that.

NANP™

Alright, I'll probably do the damp salt in a bag with the hygrometer to calibrate it to 75%, then do the distilled water thing you've suggested to make sure the RH stays at 65% as the humidifiers are labeled.

Thank you, to everyone in this thread.

Especially you, NANP.

best regards,
Jeremy

[ShavedZombie]

Alright. My order has been placed... Before I start stocking the humidor, I will be receiving the Large Round 65% RH beads, 2 Boveda seasoning packs, and a round Digital Hygrometer.

Anything missing?

[invizable]

Sounds like you are all set.
Now start saving your money for a Palio Cutter!

[ShavedZombie]

Sounds like you are all set.
Now start saving your money for a Palio Cutter!

I plan on picking up a decent cutter and a good butane/torch lighter at my local tobacconist, once all of my seasoning/humidifying is done and I can start stocking....

Now I have to look up the Palio, though... You guys are bad Enablers :lol:

[Mazeman]

Suggestion about the butane torch: don't spend a huge amount of money. They can be very troublesome and die, out of the blue, regardless of brand. Even when you bleed them properly and use good fuel.

So.... either pick up cheap ones and toss them when they go, or consider a brand like a Xikar (moderate price), which has a lifetime warranty.

I'm sending my Xikar back, which is good in that I'll get returned a functioning lighter. In the meantime I'm using a cheaper Vertigo, which is holding up well so far.

[ShavedZombie]

Suggestion about the butane torch: don't spend a huge amount of money. They can be very troublesome and die, out of the blue, regardless of brand. Even when you bleed them properly and use good fuel.

So.... either pick up cheap ones and toss them when they go, or consider a brand like a Xikar (moderate price), which has a lifetime warranty.

I'm sending my Xikar back, which is good in that I'll get returned a functioning lighter. In the meantime I'm using a cheaper Vertigo, which is holding up well so far.


Can you recommend me a good FUEL?

I'm already planning on going with Ronson butane torches (or any other cheap brand), but with good, reliable fuel.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Blue_2]

Vector or Lava fuel, and remember to fully purge a lighter before refilling.

[ShavedZombie]

Thanks!

[maskaggs]

I'm late to the party, but thought I would offer my .02 from (admittedly limited) experience, as I got involved in cigars at about the same time you are (2-3 years ago, during undergrad).

When you're looking for cigars to stock your humi, my general recommendation is to just stay away from anything flavored. You don't wont those additives to become one with the humi and infuse those aromas into anything else. Aside from that, establish a budget and do what you want with it based on how frequently you want to smoke. As I'm sure plenty of other people here can agree, you don't need to spend $20 (or even $10, and in many cases not even $5) on a cigar to get a good smoke. Sure, you'll run into some garbage (sticks rolled too tight, too loose, plugged, etc), but that can happen with expensive stuff, too.

I'm still on the college budget and can probably empathize quite a bit. If there's one thing I've learned, though, it's that you don't need to spend a ton to get a quality smoke. And, although I sense this period of my life is over, one more bit - if you're hanging out with your drinking buddies, do not reach for a $10 cigar when you're looped already :) .

[ShavedZombie]

Thanks, Everyone, for all the help.

My humidor just got in today... It came with a cheap humidifier and a relatively good analog hygrometer... I'm calibrating the hygrometer now, and I'll freshen up the humidifier once I get some distilled water to spritz in it...

My beads from Heartfelt, along with a digital hygrometer are in the mail (and I also ordered a Boveda Seasoning kit, to make sure I didn't screw things up).

I'm going to use the Analog until the digital one gets in, then put the digital in the slot for the analog (they're both very similar in size, and raised area with a cutout for the hygrometer will fit either wonderfully!)

(Just to clarify above, the lid of the humidor does not have a hole cut into it, it has a second slab of spanish cedar with circular cutouts for the humidifier and hygrometer)

In preperation, I went to a local tobacconist (awesome place! if you're ever in medina, Ohio, look up "Medina Cigar and Tobacco") and picked up an Oliva G series, and she threw in a Casa de Garcia (apparently cheap, but reasonably good) for free to get my humidor started... Also grabbed a JetLine butane torch (this place does free butane lighter refills for life, if the lighter was bought from them, with Vector fuel) and a 4$ cigar cutter (Guillotine with a V cutter)

I think I'm all set... I also have a 3-stick sampler coming from a friend, Mild, Medium and Robust.

EDIT: Judging by the size of the cutouts inside the humidor... The small round Heartfelt bead container would have been sufficient... But more can't hurt, now can it? I'll just mount the larger puck over the hole where the smaller one would sit (it's about .75 inches too wide)

Thanks again, everyone.

Cheers,
Jeremy

[Commander Quan]

Good choice on the beads. Dave is a top notch guy, who unfortunately has had a major setback in his personal life and career, so I am glad that you supported him. I've been using the beads for 5 years and they work perfect. I threw away my hydrometers because there was no need for them anymore.

I assume since you are from Medina you have been to the Medina Cigar Shop on Washington St? It's been a couple years since I have been up there have they finished the private lounge in the basement?

[ShavedZombie]

Actually, that place was recommended to me a few days ago, and was where I got my torch, cutter, and Olivas... Owner was really nice, and prices are good (and their "happy hour" thing is awesome! Even though I'm 19 and can't partake)

But yeah, I went there, sweeet place... I'm also from Wadsworth, not Medina, but people have rarely heard of Wadsworth, but more often know Medina...

As for HeartFelt... Glad I picked a good product from a good guy! I also went for a digital hygrometer and boveda seasoning kit from his site.

Cheers,
Jeremy