Cigar Oasis XL Mod - Polymer Crystals

[Rufio]

I am running a cigar oasis xl and I want to replace the green foam with polymer crystals. Has anyone done this?

I could use some guidelines on how to take the green foam out of the cartridge properly? I have also seen some people glue a tupperware container to the top of the cartridge (cut the bottom half off) and then use it normally.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Rufio

[Skyfall]

When I used to use the Oasis, the very first thing I did to all of mine out of the box was to soak the foam to capacity and take a screw driver and dig out all of the foam, it takes about 45 seconds. The second step I always did was fill the base 1/2 full of heartfelt 65% humidity beads.

[Rufio]

Thank you for the help Skyfall! I am going to do that as soon as I can. I am probably going to just buy a few pounds of beads: fill the Oasis and then distribute on the levels of the wineador.

[hdryder]

I am not familiar with the cigar oasis but have a hydra. Took the too off and hot glued it to a Tupperware container, got a replacement filter for a household humidifier and cut a piece off to fit it the container and just pour distilled water in it. Works great without the extra cost of beads

[almudawi]

I modded mine with polymer crystals. Works like a charm. Just:

1- remove the foam (takes a minute)

2- add a table spoon of crystals

3- fill up to 3/4 of the container with distilled water.

Hope this helps

[Profmd]

I am using the Oasis XL in my cabinet.

Used a Dremel to cut the top off the unit, so replacement of the foam is not a problem when/if needed.

Using distiller water in it and never had mold or anything else.

Not really sure why the change to beads would be needed if you keep the foam in good shape and

Always filled with distiller water.

[Rufio]

Profmd - how long have you been using yours? I have heard some stories of mold and such and was thinking about some ways to reduce the chances of that happening.

[Profmd]

I have had 2 of them over the past 10 years. First one had electrical problems so I replaced it.

I add water weekly just to top it off, and have never had any mold with it. If the foam starts to look rough, I just replace it and it's good as new!

[CigarAsh]

The foam in my first cartridge on my Oasis started to get mold on it after about a year. I just bought another cartridge and it's been running fine and clean for about 2 years. I check regularly and no mold. I use the Oasis in my good, large upstairs humidor.

I do like Skyfall's idea of the heartfelt beads. I keep a pound of beads in each of my basement "tupperdors" and they do a perfect job of regulating the humidity.

[Brickhouse]

  On 12/17/2013 at 8:24 PM, almudawi said:

I modded mine with polymer crystals. Works like a charm. Just:

1- remove the foam (takes a minute)

2- add a table spoon of crystals

3- fill up to 3/4 of the container with distilled water.

Hope this helps

Agree. I've been using polymer's for 6 years now.

[CanuckSARTech]

For the OP, take a look in the Humidor Tutorial sub-forum. I did a thread a while back called "Further thoughts on coolerdors...." etc., and it contained how I did mine up with the superabsorbent polymer crystals. I've now done that to a number of people's for them, about 3 or 4 systems now, and they're all working tip top with that gel. Rememeber, a little goes a long way once it expands. Just make sure you don't overfill the gel or it will gunk up the fan and burn out the fan motor.

Also, that thread tells and shows how to use a small spoon to carve out the green foam without damaging the casing of the reservoir or needing to cut it open.

And, for what it's worth, I wouldn't necessarily do this mod with the RH Beads. I find that they're not as fast-releasing with the moisture as the gel is. The beads won't evaporate enough moisture into the air to work with the quick cycles of a Cigar Oasis or Hydra unit.

[Duxnutz]

  On 12/17/2013 at 8:24 PM, almudawi said:

I modded mine with polymer crystals. Works like a charm. Just:

1- remove the foam (takes a minute)

2- add a table spoon of crystals

3- fill up to 3/4 of the container with distilled water.

Hope this helps

Can you explain what Polymer crystals are?

[Fuzz]

  On 12/30/2013 at 9:53 AM, Duxnutz said:

Can you explain what Polymer crystals are?

The same stuff you find in those super-absorbent nappies (new ones, not used... ). The crystals can absorb many times their weight in water; 1g of crystals can absorb about 30g of water.

[Duxnutz]

Love your sense of humor Fuzz.

[TheDistrictJP]

You might not see any mold on the green foam unless you completely took it out of the Hydra - i.e. on the bottom where the stagnant moisture sits. I only had to see that once before years ago changing to water only in my Hydra. I still take it out and wipe with vodka every 4-5 months though, just to be safe.

jp

[Spartan]

I use the Oasis XL-polymer combo in my end table cabinet with a pound of 65% beads tossed in as a fail safe. The polymers tend to run dry rather quickly during the winter months, I have to recharge them every 2 weeks or so. The beads help keep everything rock solid.

[OkieJoe]

I would think that the foam would work fine (if you are not having mold issues), with a oasis since its an active system. To me the beads work well with a passive system setup since they regulate humidity.

[Zedman05]

I have an XL, and use it in the winter months only as it gets rediculously dry here. I have been using the foam in the bottom for years now. I too had an issue with mold developing on the foam, but didn't know until I took the top section off the base. I used a hair drier to heat up the glue around the base. Slow warming of the glue, not just a blast of super-hot air that might melt the plastic was the trick to loosen the glue up and pop it off. Once off, I discovered there was a tiny bit of mold developing around where the air intake holes were coming into the foam. I used a knife and cut the foam in a few places and then just scooped it out...pretty simple as it is very porous. The next step was to go to a flower shop and buy a small chunk of floral foam. It is the exact same stuff they use in the original. I put the floral foam on my desk, tipped the now empty bottom cartridge over, and pressed down hard. It actually cuts right through the floral foam all the way to the top/bottom. Once you have it all the way down, you cut it flush if need be, and voila ! You have yourself a perfectly usable XL again that will last you another year for $2.00

Of course cleaning/sterilizing is recommended after removal.

Hope this helps.

[Rufio]

Been using CO XL Plus for a few weeks now and for some reason the past few days the CO has been reading upwards of 73RH to 75RH every though it is set to 65. The seal is intact, there are no leaks, and the drain hole is plugged. My calibrated hygrometers that I have scattered throughout the levels of my wineador all read right around 69RH-70RH.

Along with the CO I had about 17 65% Boveda packs scattered throughout the levels. I took the CO out and left the wineador to sit and now the humidity won't drop below 70...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Orion21]

You have no media in the your humidor that will absorb the excess humidity. The Heartfelt type beads are designed to do both. I once had my humidity spike because I hydrated my beads too much and they had no ability to absorb excess moisture. The problem I see is your 17 Boveda packs. They are only good for the one spot they sit in the humidor, so let's play a game. Let's say the area of your humidor where 9 of the packs are is making them give off moisture, but the area where the remaining 8 are is not. You could have a scenario where your readings spike because part of your system is working against the other. I would pull the Boveda packs and see what happens. Or you could buy a pound of dry 60-65% beads and put them in dry. It can take days to set things right.

[audio1der]

I found replacement bricks of floral foam at a dollar store which are 95% the size of the Oasis foam. I just replace the foam before each winter season to avoid mold. Works like a charm with almost zero effort or cost.

[Dbone]

I don't have much experience with the Oasis, but yeah I have a lot of beads in my humidor. Forgot how much total but about a full stockings or two worth on each shelf. More near the top. Good luck

[Rufio]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'm going to pull all the Boveda and get beads.

My plan is to do like others and run the CO with beads distributed on the shelves. Probably pull the florist foam out and add polymer crystals as well.

[Guyman1966]

  On 1/2/2014 at 8:45 PM, Rufio said:

Thanks for the advice! I think I'm going to pull all the Boveda and get beads.

My plan is to do like others and run the CO with beads distributed on the shelves. Probably pull the florist foam out and add polymer crystals as well.

any updates?

[Rufio]

I have had my wineador set up for about 2 and half months now and I have experimented with a couple different things.

Tried only Boveda packs and humidity stayed around 66-68 RH.

Tried 1/2 pound of beads on the bottom of the unit and humidity stayed around 62-62 RH.

Tried only the CO and humidity fluctuates a little lower at about 60-62 RH.

I keep my wineador off and temperature stays between 68-70 DF. With temperature being pretty constant I am currently using only the CO with no modifications.

My cigars are smoking great and I have had no problems with beetles or burn issues. The key for me was figuring out how to keep temperature as constant as possible. RH stays much more stable and within my preferred range at 68-70 DF.

Thanks to PigFish for all of the information and help.