| Maintaining Proper Conditions in a Humidor |
| Articles - Lifestyle |
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It is interesting to note that both cigars and humidors are crafted from organic materials that react to environmental conditions. For example, the cigar is full of cut tobacco leaves and wrapped up with a full leaf as well. The cigar humidor is built from decorative wood, and lined with soft cedar. The cedar and the tobacco leaves will both lose their moisture if the right level of humidity is not available. This means that properly using humidors requires them to first be balanced and completely humidified before any cigars can be safely added.
It is interesting to note that both cigars and humidors are crafted from organic materials that react to environmental conditions. For example, the cigar is full of cut tobacco leaves and wrapped up with a full leaf as well. The cigar humidor is built from decorative wood, and lined with soft cedar. The cedar and the tobacco leaves will both lose their moisture if the right level of humidity is not available. This means that properly using humidors requires them to first be balanced and completely humidified before any cigars can be safely added. People who use humidors will usually have a few that are not in active service. This means that they are empty and are not being monitored for their levels of humidity. Before putting such a box back into service, the owner is going to have to re-season it and ensure that the wood lining the box is in good condition. It is significant to note that the cedar wood lining the humidor is very soft and prone to losing its moisture rapidly. If you place cigars into a humidor which has not been in use, the wood is likely to pull some moisture out of the cigars, and a balanced environment will be very hard to obtain. The solution is to first use the right equipment and accessories to get the box into working order, and only then should the cigars be added. The best tool for measuring the condition of the box is the device called a hygrometer. This will indicate the current dew point inside of the humidor, and the ideal level is around 70%. To resolve this issue the owner must leave the box empty of cigars, but put the hygrometer and the humidifier inside of it. They must then leave the box closed for several days and make periodic checks on the hygrometer reading. If it is unchanged after a day or two they may need to rebalance the mixture in the humidifier to allow evaporation to happen a bit more rapidly. This is done by changing the percentage of the PG (Propylene Glycol) to distilled water by small increments. Usually it is a 50/50 mixture for ongoing hydration, but if the wood is completely dried out, this mixture could be shifted to a bit less PG to allow more water to escape. Once the box has reached a 70% level for a few days, the humidifier should be returned to the 50/50 mixture, and cigars can be safely added for short or long-term storage. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Dave Sabot is the owner of an online specialty butane lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including triple torch lighters, Dave also owns a premier online cigar humidors store. |