I have a mold problem

[VigorishSLC]

Opened a dress box of RASS today to find several sticks on both layers with a little mold. I ended up throwing a couple away and brushing off a couple. I also freaked and inspected all my stock to find mold in a dress box of Punch Punch as well. I am highly obsessive about maintaining ideal storage, and am wondering if it's normal to have a box or two crop up with a little mold from time to time or if I have a more systematic problem. L et me know if more info is needed, and thanks in advance for your perspective!

[n2advnture]

What are you using for a humidor?

What is your RH and temp level?

Have you calibrated lately?

Is there any fresh air exchange at all?

~Mark

[VigorishSLC]

» What are you using for a humidor? I have dual wine chillers.

»

» What is your RH and temp level? Rh ~ 65% Temp 63-67

»

» Have you calibrated lately? Multiple hygros--I'm certain that readings are acceptable.

»

» Is there any fresh air exchange at all? 35 cfm fans installed in both coolers.

»

» ~Mark

Thanks for responding, Mark.

[KB24]

I had the same problem and it was the final straw in deciding to order my Aristocrat. I was trying everyday to get proper temps and it wasn't working. I was ordering products to fix the issues and it wasnt working. Finally, after opening up a box of Monte 4's and finding mold, I placed the order 30 minutes later.

I think the mold is a direct result of inproper conditions and not related to certain boxes per bach. Mold is airborne and will attach the boxes it comes into contact with. Hope this helps!

-Patrick

[Trevor2118]

Can you clarify your definition of mold. Are we talking about a blue / green mold......or a white powdery plume.

In my experience (a single disaster) true mold does not easily "brush off", while plume (or bloom) does.

[VigorishSLC]

» Can you clarify your definition of mold. Are we talking about a blue /

» green mold......or a white powdery plume.

»

» In my experience (a single disaster) true mold does not easily "brush

» off", while plume (or bloom) does.

Definitely not plume. RASS were spots of bluish matter, all on wrapper, fairly easy to wipe off. Punch was white, hairy, left a sticky spot when wiped off.

Only two out of about 40-50 boxes are affected, so I'm wondering if it's more to do with some anomaly in the individual boxes.

[Tampa1257]

Depending on how active your wine coolers are (How often the cooling unit comes on) will make a difference in how much moisture is inside your unit. When the cooling unit comes on, it will typically draw down the RH inside the unit. When the unit is stable, you may notice condensation forming along the back and sides of your wine cooler. If you are suffering mold, bottom line, you have too much moisture inside your wine cooler. You may want to try some "Damp Rid" and may also remove whatever humidification devise you have inside until you get the unit stable. My cooler became so full, that I did not need any humidification, I had to work to remove excess humidity, which sounds like you are going to have to do as well.

[VigorishSLC]

» Depending on how active your wine coolers are (How often the cooling unit

» comes on) will make a difference in how much moisture is inside your unit.

» When the cooling unit comes on, it will typically draw down the RH inside

» the unit. When the unit is stable, you may notice condensation forming

» along the back and sides of your wine cooler. If you are suffering mold,

» bottom line, you have too much moisture inside your wine cooler. You may

» want to try some "Damp Rid" and may also remove whatever humidification

» devise you have inside until you get the unit stable. My cooler became so

» full, that I did not need any humidification, I had to work to remove

» excess humidity, which sounds like you are going to have to do as well.

The cooler in question is full, and I only use beads. It's very stable now that we are in winter as the cooling unit never kicks on. Over the summer though it was on several times a day and Rh fluctuated a bit, but never really outside of 60-70%. Thanks for your input, Tampa.

[smokum]

You may

» want to try some "Damp Rid" and may also remove whatever humidification

» devise you have inside until you get the unit stable. My cooler became so

» full, that I did not need any humidification, I had to work to remove

» excess humidity, which sounds like you are going to have to do as well.

Tampa I am in the same boat with a very full Aristocrat. I have to work to keep the RH at 65% by using Damp Rid. Damp Rid will actually draw it down to 60% so I incorporate a very small humidifierin the box which works off the Aristocrat controller. Damp Rid is good stuff.

[El Presidente]

» Only two out of about 40-50 boxes are affected, so I'm wondering if it's

» more to do with some anomaly in the individual boxes.

Out of interest can you give me the box codes of the two affected. Wouldn't be the same month of production by any chance? If it is I will expand a likely theory.

[VigorishSLC]

» » Only two out of about 40-50 boxes are affected, so I'm wondering if it's

» » more to do with some anomaly in the individual boxes.

»

» Out of interest can you give me the box codes of the two affected.

» Wouldn't be the same month of production by any chance? If it is I will

» expand a likely theory.

Punch are TPX JUN 05 and RASS are POS MAR 06. I got both of them before I found you, El Pres.

[Mel39]

» Opened a dress box of RASS today to find several sticks on both layers with

» a little mold.

Sorry to hear of your mould problem Vig. Yep we spell it different over the pond.

I'm surprised that I don't have that problem with all the moisture in my wine cooler. My problem is getting the RH up.

DampRid? Never heard of it but just found it on sale in the UK after a Google.

Is this the stuff?

DampRid Moisture Absorbers

Hang these amazing moisture absorbers wherever you have a problem with damp – wardrobe, bathroom, basement, garage and even the car.

The pleasantly fragranced pellets drink up loads of moisture, getting rid of musty smells; and you can actually see DampRid working, because water is collected in the bag beneath. Once opened, effective for up to 6 weeks. Well worth every penny.

Wendy recommends

"A neat and very effective way to deal with damp."

£19.99

If so, isn't the "pleasantly fragranced" a problem where cigars are concerned? Plus if they only last for 6 weeks, it works out pretty expensive.

Refilled my wine cooler cabinet today and switched it off this morning. When I got home this evening, temperature had reached 80'F but RH was fine at 65%. I think that is what I am going to have to live with and get a timer fitted to just turn it on occasionally.

I checked all my boxs and found some had split a little at the foot so I really must try and keep the RH correct and hang the temperature. I've also been misting my boxes and the few cedar pieces and was warned that mold may be a problem. I have added a little Propylene Glycol to the distilled water in the spray bottle and wonder if that may help with preventing mold as it is antibacterial.

Mel39

[El Presidente]

» Punch are TPX JUN 05 and RASS are POS MAR 06. I got both of them before I

» found you, El Pres.

Were they near each other in the humidor and was the Punch worse?

[VigorishSLC]

» » Punch are TPX JUN 05 and RASS are POS MAR 06. I got both of them before

» I

» » found you, El Pres.

»

» Were they near each other in the humidor and was the Punch worse?

They were on same side of humi, though were on different levels. Punch was of a much different character. One significant white fluffy blotch...left a sticky residue when wiped away...only on one stick, though.

RASS affected a few sticks in one side of the box, seemed much "drier" as if growth had been retarded/arrested.

[El Presidente]

I doubt you have a serious problem. Wipe...and dry box the cigars for a day or so before returning.

I suspect the mould came from the factory and came initially from the Punch box which was rolled more than likely on a pouring rainy humid summer Havana day with all the windows in the factory open. Your cigars already had a few spores when you purchased them and they have simple "expanded".

***it may have been helped by 70% RH...

Wipe, dry and keep an eye on it to ensure it does not return. Mold can be rather resilient but slow to spread.

[marco polo]

I had a humidity problem with my wine cooler at first, but I added

one bucket of damp rid and 1 lb of beads and it stabilized it

out to about 65-68 % ( of course it drops when the compressor

kicks on). :-)

[VigorishSLC]

» I doubt you have a serious problem. Wipe...and dry box the cigars for a day

» or so before returning.

»

» I suspect the mould came from the factory and came initially from the

» Punch box which was rolled more than likely on a pouring rainy humid

» summer Havana day with all the windows in the factory open. Your cigars

» already had a few spores when you purchased them and they have simple

» "expanded".

»

» ***it may have been helped by 70% RH...

»

» Wipe, dry and keep an eye on it to ensure it does not return. Mold can be

» rather resilient but slow to spread.

Thanks a ton for the info, Pres. I kept an "eye" by firing up a Punch today!

[smokum]

Mel...of course do NOT use the fragrance stuff..that would be a disaster.