Humidor Advice

[Knuck42]

MRN suggests as little air transfer as possible when aging.  While air transfer hastens the fermentation process, it does so at the expense of taste and flavor.  Boxes should be kept closed at all times.  With regard to cello on - cello off... I ain't touchin' it with a 10 foot pole! :horse:

[jessejava187]

Thanks, yeah i thought closed was the way to go, and i will leave celo on if i need the box to stay intact, right now im still getting boxes and trying things out and sitting on the other half of the box.

[jessejava187]

Ok my friends one more ?, so i have heartfelt 70% beads in there like a Pound or a pound and half, my hygro says 68% most of the time but some times in dips to 62%, is it the fact i keep adding boxs to it, and when it does dip i put a small cup of pur water in there in it seems to bring it back up. is in normal and ok to have a 62% to 68% spread? Are my sticks going to live........ LOL  :fro: 

[Knuck42]

Any number of things could be causing the fluxuations in RH.  Adding boxes on the dryer side would absorb some of the RH I suppose.  Could also be a bad seal on the humi, (but if this is the cooler you mentioned in your earlier post, the seal should be pretty good provided you went with a name brand), or the humi being opened too often for too long.

If the humi sits on its own without being opened, does the RH drop?  That would point to a seal problem.  If you open the humi and allow the RH to drop, do you check it again several hours later to see if the RH came back up?  If it doesn't you may need more beads. 

Keep playing with it and I'm sure you'll identify the problem and remedy it.  Please report back and let us know how you do.  Good luck.   

[jessejava187]

OK so i found a wine cooler on craglist, Its 150, please look at the link and tell me if there is anything i should know before pulling the trigger on this.  thanks                                                                                      [url=http://www.wine-refrigerators.geniusgoods.com/wine_refrigerator_42_bottle.htm]http://www.wine-refrigerators.geniusgoods.com/wine_refrigerator_42_bottle.htm[/url]

[jessejava187]

Is the top one on the link

[jasdav16]

I'm not positive but I think that might be a compressor style model which isn't ideal for cigars, you'll get a lot of fluctuations in RH as the compressor cycles on and off.  You're better off with a thermoelectric (peltier based) unit if you can find one.

[Knuck42]

Don't know squat about wine coolers, so I can't help you there.  Sorry.

[SRex]

I've got a compressor style wine cooler and the temp fluctuations are a myth.  Mine varies about 3 degrees (66-68F).

The 2nd biggest issue is getting the setpoint high enough.  I had to unscrew the set-point screw past the stop in order to get mine warm enough.

The other problem with wine fridges is that they have ZERO capacity for moisture absorption.  Any extra moisture condenses and pools in the bottom of the fridge, even with a circulation fan installed.  Mitigation of this moisture is the most important concern with any non-porous humidor (coolers, wine coolers, etc).