My wife bought me my fist real humidor (I was using a plastic ziplock tub that worked, just not very pretty), a beautiful 100 capacity size with an old world map motif. I've seasoned it by wiping it down with distilled water and letting it sit. I stocked it with all of my 25 cigars and have put in two Boveda 72 pouches. So here's my question, the pouch says it is good for 25 cigars, is that number for the number of cigars currently in the humidor, or for the capacity of the humidor itself? I do have two more pouches ready to add if the number is based on humidor capacity.
IIRC, the rating is for the capacity of the humi, not the number of sticks actually in there. But, that said, I have never gotten a real humi to calibrate properly. But, I've had terrific luck with cigar jars and humi sticks. They are practically idiot proof.
Do you have a hygrometer?The humidor should come with one and if not you can buy one on ebay I got a digital one for 4$... Do a salt test to calibrate it and you are set
Salt test and calibration complete. Here are some pics. The smell of the Spanish cedar and tobacco is fantastic!
The most trouble free way that I've found to keep my sticks correctly humidified is to get a set of humidity beads. They do a good job or keeping the humidity stable...you can pick 65% or 70%, based on your personal preferences. Worry free and last a good long time. I would also recommend a digital hygrometer, when you decide to upgrade to beads. The analog ones have a tendency for large variances. Great looking humidor by the way.
That is a lovely humidor, although I first read it as humidifier, so I was a tad confused when you put cigars in it.
Thanks. I would have preferred a jar of the beads, but they had sold out (I went in the day after Christmas) and all they had were the Boveda pouches. I'll exhaust these, then get some beads.
Something to consider. I've never used Boveda before. Any issues with placing a pack directly on top of cigars, or even cigars on top of the pack? Or is it best to prop 'em up along the sides?
I think best not to have direct contact between the Boveda and the cigars,but I'm not an great expert. I have mine on the bottom, a thin grilled-type sheet of plastic between and then the cigars. I'm sure you can find your own setup.
I always keep some popsicle sticks/ tongue depressers in mine. I would put the across the top of a row of cigars, paved apart from each other. the idea being to allow air flow. if no-one in the house to disturb, ie kids. I've puta shot glass of water in the box.
First - get rid of the plastic humidifier - much more problems than they are worth. If you use it, the thing WILL eventually fall and possibly damage your cigars. Ask me how I iknow...! You can use the Boveda packs, but go eith 69%. Or... use Heartfelt or HCM beads. I have both beads in my wineador and use Boveda 69's in my desktop humi - about your size. BTW - you can recharge the Boveda packs when they dry out.