quote:
Originally posted by csaltz22:
Can you have to big of a humidifier? I bought a little 4oz gel jar for my little tupperdoor I lined with cedar sheets, which holds about 30-40 or so cigars. I was reading 78-79%RH at 66F this morning after letting it sit over night. Could my humidifer jar be to big? I only have 8 cigars in it right now so maybe that is the problem.
Depends largely on the medium used for humidification, from what I've experienced.
For the silica GEL, it is (obviously) possible; the medium is capable of putting off more humidity faster than the PG solution can absorb it back in. This makes it harder to hold equilibrium. I've found that overfilled silica gel tends to exhibit the property more, since the gel becomes a solid chunk, rather than gel with air voids traveling through and around the cubes.
For a container that size, you might be better off using two of the Drymistat tubes instead, if you insist on using a silica gel material for humidification. At about $6 each if you shop carefully, that'd be an affordable solution as well. Or, you can allow the gel container to dry out considerably before putting it back in, so the gel 'cubes' can reform and air voids can be allowed to 'tunnel' through the container, providing for more contact surface area with the air.
If you want very large reservoir humidification ability, then you should switch to beads instead; they are much faster and more accurate at controlling humidification/dehumidification rates. (they can absorb moisture almost as fast as they put it out in most cases) The initial cost outlay is higher, but with the accuracy they can maintain, a larger volume of beads won't affect the RH level, just maintain it for a longer period.
www.heartfeltindustries.comDavid has been a treat to purchase from on multiple occasions for me, and many others.
Oh, and consider this as your obligatory "Don't bother, buy a larger humidor" warning.
E.
