High Humidity and 65% Beads

[davidl]

Hi Guys,

A couple months ago I bought a pound of 65% RH beads (heartfelt). The issue is, that ever since then, I seem to have a problem with getting my RH to where I want it - 65%. The RH seems to want to stay around 68-69%. What's more, if I put my caliper III hygrometer directly in the zip lock back where the beads came in, along with about half a pound of beads, the RH will stay at 69% -and that's without any watter added...meaning the beads are all white.

I believe my hygrometer to be accurate, I tested it against another, and even changed the batteries.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

[bob25]

Do a salt test on the hygro for 24 hours to see its accurate.

How much time is the hygro stayed in the zip lock bag with the beads?

[davidl]

Interesting enough the hygrometer manual says not to do a salt test...I left the hygrometer in the bag for about 15 hours. I also tried it with an Xikar hygrometer and got the same reading.

I am thinking maybe the wrong beads were packaged into the 65% bag?

RH in the room is usually around 60% (during the last few weeks).

[CanuckSARTech]

Interesting enough the hygrometer manual says not to do a salt test...I left the hygrometer in the bag for about 15 hours. I also tried it with an Xikar hygrometer and got the same reading.

I am thinking maybe the wrong beads were packaged into the 65% bag?

RH in the room is usually around 60% (during the last few weeks).

That does sound like a likely explanation - wrong beads. I'd contact them and see what they say.

And/or, just see Mark (cigarmony.com) for your RH Beads instead - great stuff, and colour coded packages, so no mix-ups with wrong beads.

[kcheek]

One of my coolidors is a 100qt that I use a pound of 65% HF beads in.

I keep two calibrated hygrometers in it and they both always read 67-68%.

I'm actually happy they run a tad higher than the 65% and would assume all beads have a tolerance that they run with in. Maybe yours run just a bit higher, or they were indeed labeled wrong, but I would think they would get that part right.

[thechenman]

One thing to keep in mind also is that the hygrometers most of us use also has a +/- 2% margin of error. While 68 and 69 are a bit above that level, it really isn't that far off. Also...it's possible that your beads are oversaturated. Beads give off, but also absorb moisture. But if they are fully saturated they cannot absorb moisture out of the air. It could be that you need some more beads, or at least need to dry out, to some degree, the beads you are using now.

I've also found that at times vendors ship cigars a bit overhydrated. I always assumed they did that as a precaution as the cigars would be in mail transit for a few days to a week. There have been instances though when I've introduced new boxes to my cooledor/humidor, where the humidity level spikes up a bit.

Finally, I would ask how full your humidor/cooledor is. It is much easier to maintain humidity when the humidor/cooledor is more full than empty. If you don't have enough cigars, fill the empty space with empty cigar boxes. I would say to keep it at least 75% full. The wood from the humidor and the cigars themselves should also help you in stabilizing your Rh.

[davidl]

One thing to keep in mind also is that the hygrometers most of us use also has a +/- 2% margin of error. While 68 and 69 are a bit above that level, it really isn't that far off. Also...it's possible that your beads are oversaturated. Beads give off, but also absorb moisture. But if they are fully saturated they cannot absorb moisture out of the air. It could be that you need some more beads, or at least need to dry out, to some degree, the beads you are using now.

I've also found that at times vendors ship cigars a bit overhydrated. I always assumed they did that as a precaution as the cigars would be in mail transit for a few days to a week. There have been instances though when I've introduced new boxes to my cooledor/humidor, where the humidity level spikes up a bit.

Finally, I would ask how full your humidor/cooledor is. It is much easier to maintain humidity when the humidor/cooledor is more full than empty. If you don't have enough cigars, fill the empty space with empty cigar boxes. I would say to keep it at least 75% full. The wood from the humidor and the cigars themselves should also help you in stabilizing your Rh.

You raise a few good points.

While I was not able to calibrate the Caliper III hygrometer because the manual says not to do a salt test, I was able to calibrate an Xikar hygrometer, and match up both hygrometers to a third one - and all three had the same RH reading. This lead me to believe that my Caliper III was indeed accurate.

I hear what you're saying re vendors shipping cigars out too moist. I recently ran into this with my last two shipments. My Vegas Robinas Famosos are still un-smokable after a 6 weeks in the humi - crazy draw problems. Interestingly enough, it was after I introduced these "wet" cigars into the humi, that I started having problems. This is also the same time that I started using beads. 68% RH makes most of my cigars too tight on the draw.

The beads are completely white - which leads me to believe that they are not over saturated. It is also the reason I tested the beads alone, without cigars, by putting the hygrometer into the zip lock back that the beads came in.

I am pretty sure that the beads are simply the wrong ones.

[thechenman]

That being the case, you should definitely contact the vendor and get some replacement beads exchanged for the ones your currently have. Good luck with this...hope it works out soon.

[Deodato]

Hey David - did you get anywhere with Heartfelt? I've also put a pound of their 65% beads into a 45-litre cooler and my calibrated hygrometer consistently measures 68-69%. Strange!

I thought it might be because my boxes were a little moist from their old home but it's been a couple of weeks and still 68% - even returning to that after I open and close etc. Hmm... thoughts? Experiences?

[davidl]

Hey David - did you get anywhere with Heartfelt? I've also put a pound of their 65% beads into a 45-litre cooler and my calibrated hygrometer consistently measures 68-69%. Strange!

I thought it might be because my boxes were a little moist from their old home but it's been a couple of weeks and still 68% - even returning to that after I open and close etc. Hmm... thoughts? Experiences?

Yes - thanks for reminding me to update the thread. Turns out the cigars I had recently bought were very moist, and were causing the high humidity. As per why putting the hygrometer directly in the bag did not show good results, I am not 100% sure, but it is probably due to humidity seeping into the back from the atmosphere.

Contacting Heartfelt was very pleasantly surprising. They started by mailing me a boveda calibration unit on the house, all the way to my residence in Israel - just to ensure my hygrometer is indeed accurate.

All in all, my cigars have dried out (to 65%), and the humi is at a solid 65% RH all the time. I am extremely happy with the beads. Chenman - you were absolutely right with your assessment .

[Deodato]

Cheers. I'll give it some more time and report back. Good chance mine are a bit moist too.