Humidifiers

[smokum]

With all the pics of these beautiful new humidors it made me want to spruce up my old Viking endtable !! It came with passive brick style humidification which kept the box at 70 or a little above. I used to cover 1/2 the brick to keep it down in the mid 60's. Since I live in Chicago I don't really need to cool the box. I just bought an Oasis xl humidifier to automate my sytem a bit. Its kind of a cheap looking thing but it's supposed to work. Anyone have any experience with this humidifier ? Its compact and easy to use so if its keeps the RH where I need it maybe it will be worth it.

[Colt45]

My concern would be that the oasis is unable to remove humidity - unless you have

a fan set up. So, it will shut off when it reaches the prescribed humidity, but what

happens on especially humid days? (I don't have one, but this has been discussed,

somewhat previously).

My own personal opinion is that I'd go full two way humidity control, like our

members who have these great cabinets, or I'd go with beads / crystal litter.

Just my two bits - good luck.

[AZsteelman]

» With all the pics of these beautiful new humidors it made me want to spruce

» up my old Viking endtable !! It came with passive brick style

» humidification which kept the box at 70 or a little above. I used to cover

» 1/2 the brick to keep it down in the mid 60's. Since I live in Chicago I

» don't really need to cool the box. I just bought an Oasis xl humidifier to

» automate my sytem a bit. Its kind of a cheap looking thing but it's

» supposed to work. Anyone have any experience with this humidifier ? Its

» compact and easy to use so if its keeps the RH where I need it maybe it

» will be worth it.

Well, I've had a wine cooler set up for a while now, and used the Oasis XL in it along with beads to help stabilize things. I liked it ok, it did a great job. It will only add, the beads will absorb when it gets too high.

[smokum]

It has never gone over 70 since it is a very nicely sealed unit. Even during the very humid summer days. I keep the A/C in the house going 24/7 usually. Guess I've been away a while so....what the heck are beads ?????

[Colt45]

» Guess I've been away a while so....what the heck are beads ?????

Humidification beads. They are conditioned to maintain a predetermined humidity

level. Check out www.cigarmony.com - this site belongs to an FOH member, and

you should find more detailed info there.

You can also do a search here - there should be plenty of info.

[n2advnture]

» With all the pics of these beautiful new humidors it made me want to spruce

» up my old Viking endtable !! It came with passive brick style

» humidification which kept the box at 70 or a little above. I used to cover

» 1/2 the brick to keep it down in the mid 60's. Since I live in Chicago I

» don't really need to cool the box. I just bought an Oasis xl humidifier to

» automate my sytem a bit. Its kind of a cheap looking thing but it's

» supposed to work. Anyone have any experience with this humidifier ? Its

» compact and easy to use so if its keeps the RH where I need it maybe it

» will be worth it.

The new Oasis XLs come with a digital read out which helps out a bit. Try turning the adjuster down a bit.

The problem with this device is that it robs you of valuable humidor space, can be tough to regulate and you have to buy the refill cartridges which can be pricey.

Hope this helps

~Mark

PS - Thanks for the kudos Colt

.

[smokum]

» The problem with this device is that it robs you of valuable humidor

» space, can be tough to regulate and you have to buy the refill cartridges

» which can be pricey.

»

» Hope this helps

»

» ~Mark

»

» PS - Thanks for the kudos Colt

»

» .

Thanks.Its actually a lot smaller than the brick thats in there now. Its actually the size of a house brick ! Seems to me....you can just pop the cannister off this thing and add more distilled water. Its running in there now so I'll see what happens. I'll check out those beads.Thanks guys.

[Mark Twain]

» Thanks.Its actually a lot smaller than the brick thats in there now. Its

» actually the size of a house brick ! Seems to me....you can just pop the

» cannister off this thing and add more distilled water. Its running in

» there now so I'll see what happens. I'll check out those beads.Thanks

» guys.

The resoviour on the Oasis is just that green foam stuff and wears out after a while. I saw someone pop open the case and exchange the foam for beads which worked great.

[matt19hsc]

so here is a newb question.

Just got my 80 count humidor and I was under the impression that you should try to keep the hyrdometer reading at 70%. Is this not correct? Should it be in the 60's? Thanks!

[Colt45]

» I was under the impression that you should try to keep the hyrdometer reading

» at 70%.

The old 70/70 rule.....

In reality I think you'll find that 70% is just too damp, which can lead to draw and

burn problems, as well as muted flavors.

Try keeping them around 65% - some like a bit lower, or a tad higher, and some

keep long term aging at a slightly different level than ready to smoke.

Right now, my humidors are at 64%, and in the most humid weather may creep

as high as 67%, but any changes are very gradual.

As for temps, I'm at low to mid 60s year 'round.

P.S. you're going to need a bigger box!

[Van55]

»

» The problem with this device is that it robs you of valuable humidor

» space, can be tough to regulate and you have to buy the refill cartridges

» which can be pricey.

The latest version of the Oasis does not require the purchasing of replacement cartridges. The older versions that can be found cheaper can be pretty easily retrofitted with superabsorbent polymers in place of the floral foam in the cartridge, eliminating the need to replace the cartridge.

Many people use both beads and the Oasis with good results for humidity regulation.

[VigorishSLC]

I use beads in my wine chiller with no problems.

[habanohal]

Just dont believe what they say bout the Cigar Oasis lasting6 months before its empty. I have a tower cabinet and run a CO #2 and an CO + just so one doesnt half to work harder. With winter here, I am refilling bout every 12 days or so.

[smokum]

I ordered some beads just to be safe. My humi is an end table which has been running for many years with that old brick so I am hoping this little CO will keep a little better control. Funny thing is there are now 3 hygrometers in there including the CO unit and NONE of them show the same RH !!!! Sounds like the beads are a nice fail safe product.

[wp2]

Funny thing is there are now 3

» hygrometers in there including the CO unit and NONE of them show the same RH !!!!

Run the salt test on all 3 and see how much each is off. That will give you a pretty good idea of the RH.

[smokum]

Guys can you repeat this procedure please....I know its somewhere here but I searched and couldn't find it...in fact I think I read it somewhere in the past week but I am coming up empty.

[Colt45]

» Guys can you repeat this procedure please....I know its somewhere here but

» I searched and couldn't find it...in fact I think I read it somewhere in

» the past week but I am coming up empty.

fill small container with salt - I use a clean lid used to cover opened

cans. Dampen the salt - dampen only, not enough to dissolve salt.

Place in a zip-loc bag, place hygrometer in bag - make sure bag has

plenty of air in it, and does not rest on hygrometer.

You can use an airtight tupperware type container as well, but I like

a clear zip-loc so I can read the hygro without opening.

Leave alone for half a day to a day. Should read 75% -

now you should know how far off your hygros are.

I use two digitals - one reads 5% high, the other 1% high.

They now make digitals with adjustment knobs as well.

[smokum]

» » Guys can you repeat this procedure please....I know its somewhere here

» but

» » I searched and couldn't find it...in fact I think I read it somewhere

» in

» » the past week but I am coming up empty.

» fill small container with salt - I use a clean lid used to cover opened

» cans. Dampen the salt - dampen only, not enough to dissolve salt.

» Place in a zip-loc bag, place hygrometer in bag - make sure bag has

» plenty of air in it, and does not rest on hygrometer.

» You can use an airtight tupperware type container as well, but I like

» a clear zip-loc so I can read the hygro without opening.

» Leave alone for half a day to a day. Should read 75% -

» now you should know how far off your hygros are.

» I use two digitals - one reads 5% high, the other 1% high.

» They now make digitals with adjustment knobs as well.

Excellent...Thanks Colt !!!

[Miami101]

Good information guys: I going to go get the beads in a few min's...

[n2advnture]

» Guys can you repeat this procedure please....I know its somewhere here but

» I searched and couldn't find it...in fact I think I read it somewhere in

» the past week but I am coming up empty.

How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer:

1. Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and

add a few drops of distilled water - NOT enough to dissolve the salt,

just enough to moisten it. You want the slurry to be thick and pasty.

2. Put the cap inside of an air tight zip lock or plastic container

along with your hygrometer. Then seal the bag or container

(Tupperware works well).

3. Wait 12 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without

opening the bag or container (or quickly open the container and check

if the container is not clear).

If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no

adjustment is required.

If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75%

by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done

immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room

conditions cause the reading to change.

If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then

you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference

between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual

humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer

test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get

inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity

(e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity

level of 65%).

Hope this helps bro

~Mark

[n2advnture]

ooops...just saw Colt's post :-)

[cls515]

» ooops...just saw Colt's post :-)

I don't know how accurate the salt test is. I have tried the Boveda calibration kit and it works good. You may want to spend the 5 bucks on one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Boveda-Hygrometer-Cali...1QQcmdZViewItem

[n2advnture]

» » ooops...just saw Colt's post :-)

»

» I don't know how accurate the salt test is. I have tried the Boveda

» calibration kit and it works good. You may want to spend the 5 bucks on

» one.

»

Just make sure you use them at 70 degrees as results have varied with lower temps.