Humidity Control

[vlime77]

Hi all, need some advice on how to reduce the humidity level in my humidor. It's went from 70% to 85% gradually and despite adding more PG solution to the credo, it refuse to come down. I've check the hygrometer and it's calibrated correctly.

Appreciate the assistance.

Thomas

[Van55]

» Hi all, need some advice on how to reduce the humidity level in my humidor.

» It's went from 70% to 85% gradually and despite adding more PG solution to

» the credo, it refuse to come down. I've check the hygrometer and it's

» calibrated correctly.

»

» Appreciate the assistance.

»

»

» Thomas

What you need to do is invest in some Exquisicate Pearl Fresh Beads cat litter available at PetSmart stores. This selica gel is identical to that marketed by Heartfelt Industries in its website for considerably more money. Use one pound of the litter per 5 cubic feet of humidor space (measured on the interior). You can either put the beads in a tube fashioned of clean ladies' nylons tied at both ends or place them in a bowl covered with cheesecloth or some simlar material.

These will absorb the excess humidity. When the humidity drops below 65% they will release it back into the air. If it drops below 65% and stays there for a day or two, add just a bit of distilled water to the beads to "recharge" them.

Adding PG to your credo will do nothing but clog the foam. Right now you need a desiccant to bring the RH down.

[genevapics]

Yeah, my RH spiked here the other day and I had to put my Heartfelt Tubes (65%) back in place. They work like a charm. My RH is holding steady at 64/65%!

Van55, this litter mix is the same thing (more or less) that Heartfelt sells?

[Colt45]

I agree with the guys regarding the beads. Remember, PG will still add

humidity in an already overly humid situation. Take your humidifiers out,

and try to keep your humidors in a cool area.

I keep mine in the basement year round.

[n2advnture]

» Hi all, need some advice on how to reduce the humidity level in my humidor.

» It's went from 70% to 85% gradually and despite adding more PG solution to

» the credo, it refuse to come down. I've check the hygrometer and it's

» calibrated correctly.

»

» Appreciate the assistance.

»

» Thomas

Thomas,

What temp is your humi at right now?

Check out hearfeltindustries.com for large quantaties of beads.

If you have a smallerish container (ex: desktop humidor), check out www.humidipuck.com

~Mark

[Smokiethebear]

I second the Exquisicat Crystals. They are the exact same thing as the Heartfelt Beads but at a fraction of the cost. All you have to do isa add distilled water and you're good to go.

[Cohiba007]

The cat litter crystals are great. The only problem now is every time I walk by my humidor I piss all over it.:-D

[genevapics]

» The cat litter crystals are great. The only problem now is every time I

» walk by my humidor I piss all over it.:-D

Do you lick yourself also?:-D

[El Presidente]

» The cat litter crystals are great. The only problem now is every time I

» walk by my humidor I piss all over it.:-D

:rotfl: :rotfl:

[n2advnture]

» This selica gel is identical to that marketed by Heartfelt Industries in its website for considerably more money.

It's not "identical"...

[tacmedic]

» » This selica gel is identical to that marketed by Heartfelt Industries in

» its website for considerably more money.

»

» It's not "identical"...

yea, it's not the same shape, but otherwise it's exactly the same...proven too many times to dig up...

[n2advnture]

» » » This selica gel is identical to that marketed by Heartfelt Industries

» in

» » its website for considerably more money.

» »

» » It's not "identical"...

»

» yea, it's not the same shape, but otherwise it's exactly the same...proven

» too many times to dig up...

not the identical material either

also, don't you have to "train" the kitty litter to perform even in a similar manner? (or so I've read)

~M

[cigardawg]

Heartfelt beads are "da bomb." Have them even in my large cabinet. Keeps things 63-65...just where I want it. Have seen them quickly reduce humidity in a friend's humidor as well. They work great.

[Van55]

» » » » This selica gel is identical to that marketed by Heartfelt

» Industries

» » in

» » » its website for considerably more money.

» » »

» » » It's not "identical"...

» »

» » yea, it's not the same shape, but otherwise it's exactly the

» same...proven

» » too many times to dig up...

»

» not the identical material either

»

» also, don't you have to "train" the kitty litter to perform even in a

» similar manner? (or so I've read)

»

» ~M

Mark,

As a matter of full disclosure should you not mention that you have applied for a patent for the Humidipuck ® device and that you are marketing it through the Heartfelt Industries web site?

As far as I can determine, Exquisicat Pearl Fresh Beads are identical in size, shape and chemical structure to the silica gel beads that you use in your Humidipuck device and that Heartfelt markets. As for "training them" to hold a specific humidity, I can only relate my own experience that I didn't do any such training or conditioning of the litter beads in either my Haier wine cooler or an "Igloodor" and both held at 65% RH, rock solid.

Certainly there is some comfort in buying the beads packaged as in your device and the tubes and other devices offered by Heartfelt as well as in having the vendor represent that the beads are already "conditioned" to hold a specific RH level. But for the budget-concious, the litter beads are da bomb.

[n2advnture]

» As a matter of full disclosure should you not mention that you have

» applied for a patent for the Humidipuck ® device and that you are

» marketing it through the Heartfelt Industries web site?

»

True but I wasn't (am not) concerned for the reasons you may think, I don't want people to be misinformed as I am a cigar smoker first and often times forget that I am a "vendor" which may tarnish any discussions I may have about any product for fear of appearing biased.

~M

[Van55]

» » As a matter of full disclosure should you not mention that you have

» » applied for a patent for the Humidipuck ® device and that you are

» » marketing it through the Heartfelt Industries web site?

» »

»

» True but I wasn't (am not) concerned for the reasons you may think, I

» don't want people to be misinformed as I am a cigar smoker first and often

» times forget that I am a "vendor" which may tarnish any discussions I may

» have about any product for fear of appearing biased.

»

» ~M

Just for the record if it wasn't obvious, I certainly was not accusing you of trying to mislead anyone, Mark. I've never known you to be anything but scrupulously honest.

[n2advnture]

» Just for the record if it wasn't obvious, I certainly was not accusing you

» of trying to mislead anyone, Mark. I've never known you to be anything but

» scrupulously honest.

:-D It was the lawyery "full disclosure" part that got me :-P

[habanolover]

Nice to see you guys deal with this as gentlemen...now about the kitty litter...:-D

» » Just for the record if it wasn't obvious, I certainly was not accusing

» you

» » of trying to mislead anyone, Mark. I've never known you to be anything

» but

» » scrupulously honest.

»

» :-D It was the lawyery "full disclosure" part that got me :-P

[n2advnture]

» Nice to see you guys deal with this as gentlemen...now about the kitty

» litter...:-D

I had a MSDS sheet on the kitty litter but can't locate it. I'll keep looking.

I guess my point is that it may perform a similar function but it is in no way identical nor does it (nor was intended to) perform in the same way.

It's intended function is solely as a dessicent (absorb only), it may have a secondary effect of desorbtion but the sole engineered funtion of silica media that I have chosen to use in the Humidi-Puck is to precisely regulate RH between 65-70%.

Furthermore, even media that is intended to be the exact same as the media I have chosen to use in the Humidi-Puck does not test well in th the 65-70% as the media used in the Humidi-Puck.

I have read people having success with RV Anti-freeze but I wouldn't use that either. :-D

~Mark

[cigarnv]

This discussion on silica gel goes back many years for me when I engaged in a "discussion" with Roy Seaman (spg) who I think was the original Climmax source which seems to have been morphed into the current branded bead product. Over the years the question has been raised as what is the difference in generic silica gel vs. the branded product packaged for cigar humidification. For the most part this question has never been fully addressed.... other than to say it is different. Several variations on the branded silica gel / silica gel sieve's theme are around, most of which involve art preservation (Artsorb, etc.) and musical instruments.

While I do not claim to be an expert, there are differences in the structure and grading of silica gel, but given the non-critical application in the humidification of cigars the differences are for the most part not meaningful, IMO. Some claim that there is a “salt” influence on the branded gel, which I do not accept given the caustic nature of the salts that would be required to maintain humidity in the 65-70RH range. Also salts leech which would be a major concern in a humidor application.

What I can speak to is the following-

-Silica gel (generic as found in “kitty litter”) is easily conditioned to maintain a set point at which it will give off or take in moisture. There is no magic in the conditioning process. It is well documented and has been used by museums for many years.

-Silica gel, bothe generic and branded, is by far the most inefficient media for adding humidity as its sieve construction allows for little moisture to be stored in its structure. On a volume-to-volume basis florist foam holds nearly eight times as much moisture as silica gel and is far more effective in applications where moisture needs to be added on a regular basis.

-Silica gel is excellent in removing moisture and is used universally as a desiccant in many packaging applications. If you want to remove moisture silica gel can be baked at 300 degrees for an hour to remove virtually all the moisture. Placing this baked gel in a humidor is a very effective tool to soak up excess moisture. I use this method during Virginia summers. It is equally effective in gun safes.

-I have found “kitty litter” silica gel to be as effective as branded gel and have used it for the past six+ years in well sealed cigar storage devices

-Silica gel in any form is not extremely effective in large, leaky humidors. It works “OK” in full, well sealed cigar storage devices such as coolers…. But then again full coolers tend to be self-adjusting. Silica gel, branded and generic, are not good solutions for applications demanding significant additions of moisture.

[El Presidente]

Great post Reid! I would love to get to Virginia before long ;-)

[Mindflux]

» » Hi all, need some advice on how to reduce the humidity level in my

» humidor.

» » It's went from 70% to 85% gradually and despite adding more PG solution

» to

» » the credo, it refuse to come down. I've check the hygrometer and it's

» » calibrated correctly.

» »

» » Appreciate the assistance.

» »

» »

» » Thomas

»

» What you need to do is invest in some Exquisicate Pearl Fresh Beads cat

» litter available at PetSmart stores. This selica gel is identical to that

» marketed by Heartfelt Industries in its website for considerably more

» money. Use one pound of the litter per 5 cubic feet of humidor space

» (measured on the interior). You can either put the beads in a tube

» fashioned of clean ladies' nylons tied at both ends or place them in a

» bowl covered with cheesecloth or some simlar material.

»

» These will absorb the excess humidity. When the humidity drops below 65%

» they will release it back into the air. If it drops below 65% and stays

» there for a day or two, add just a bit of distilled water to the beads to

» "recharge" them.

»

» Adding PG to your credo will do nothing but clog the foam. Right now you

» need a desiccant to bring the RH down.

I would LOVE to believe that those Perl Fresh crystals at PetSmart de-sorb humidity as well as wick it up. There has been talk about these on CWISE, Clubstogie and CigarPass that I've seen and someone eventually comes along and debunks these.

[vlime77]

» What you need to do is invest in some Exquisicate Pearl Fresh Beads cat

» litter available at PetSmart stores. This selica gel is identical to that

» marketed by Heartfelt Industries in its website for considerably more

» money. Use one pound of the litter per 5 cubic feet of humidor space

» (measured on the interior). You can either put the beads in a tube

» fashioned of clean ladies' nylons tied at both ends or place them in a

» bowl covered with cheesecloth or some simlar material.

»

» These will absorb the excess humidity. When the humidity drops below 65%

» they will release it back into the air. If it drops below 65% and stays

» there for a day or two, add just a bit of distilled water to the beads to

» "recharge" them.

»

» Adding PG to your credo will do nothing but clog the foam. Right now you

» need a desiccant to bring the RH down.

Great tips fellas, I'm really thankful for all the help. Being a member of FOH has really been a wonderful experience with all the guidance I get from all you connesieurs.

Thanks again,

Thomas

[cigarnv]

For the cost of a 5lb. bag of silica gel kiitty litter one does not have to wonder if they work, for $6 you can determine for yourself...:-)

[n2advnture]

» -Silica gel (generic as found in “kitty litter”) is easily conditioned to

» maintain a set point at which it will give off or take in moisture....

»

» -Silica gel, bothe generic and branded, is by far the most inefficient

» media for adding humidity as its sieve construction allows for little

» moisture to be stored in its structure. On a volume-to-volume basis

» florist foam holds nearly eight times as much moisture as silica gel and

» is far more effective in applications where moisture needs to be added

» on a regular basis....

Very good post my friend but you brought up a few key points.

1.) You have to condition the kitty litter silica. The advice of just use the kitty litter without explaining that it needs to be conditioned is thrown around a lot and I have read dozens of posts where people have RH troubles because that key point is omitted.

2.) "Oasis" or "floral" is great if all you want to do is hold and realease water vapor with no expected RH level. The silica media is extremely effective at a absorbing excess moisture to lower RH and releasing water vapor to raise RH levels to a precise & predetermined level in a closed container.

There are lots of people that want a device that is simple to use, already put together and available at the same place they pick up their smokes - I have never seen kitty litter on a cigar store shelf :-P although I have picked up some smokes that tasted like piss.

~Mark