So as is common place during my frantic morning rush out the door for work, I am hit with the decision as to what to enjoy during my hour long commute. So I open up my humi and am instantly thinking that it was a Rocky kinda day! Reaching in, I start to think about a good friend at work who has never experienced a Rocky Patel, and so in the hand come 2 beauties. Getting ready to toss them in to my inside coat pocket, I start to notice something.
My once box pressed robustos were starting to round out and were noticeably "puffy" at the foot. Looking at my other rockys, I observed the same thing. I read on the forum before that this is often caused by over hydration, but that is what is puzzling me. I am having a very hard time keeping my humi at 70%. In fact, even if I recondition it, within a day or two, it is down to 60-62% and stays there. I am using humi gel packs, as well as just purchased a new humidifier, but it doesn’t get to 70%. So, is it possible that my beloved stogies are soaking up all the moisture before it goes into the wood? And if so, how can I remedy this...as I only have 8 rockys left, but I also just tossed in a box of Fuentes.
P.S. I was too embarrassed to hand over a misshapen stick to my friend, so the pipe hit the road with me this morning instead.
Well my Hygrometer is digital, but the instructions *which I no longer have* did not indicate a means to recalibrate it. But even sitting at 62%.....I am dumbfounded as to why they are getting puffy. I am just glad that it is on the rockies vs the new box. It just means that I will have to finish them up before my new box arrives next week
This puffy cigar trend is going to be the new thing, you're gonna be the first pirate!!
In all seriousness. Do a salt test to check accuracy of your hydrometer. Get a tupperware container with a tight seal and a small dish. Mix salt and distilled water so it has the consistency of paste and seal it inside with the hydrometer. Check in a day or so. The salt/water mixture will create an RH of exactly 75%. So whatever your hydrometer reads, that is how much, if at all it is off. I.e. if it reads 68% you are 7% low and your 63% reading is actually 70%.
I used to have the same "problem" until I did the test and discovered that my 64% reading was actually 71%.
Originally posted by Squirrel502: Well my Hygrometer is digital, but the instructions *which I no longer have* did not indicate a means to recalibrate it.
Try the salt test (use the search function), then you'll know what correction to apply mentally, when you read your hygrometer - it should read 70%, so if it doesn't add or subtract the difference to your actual reading.
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam
Posts: 1031 | Location: New England | Registered: August 03, 2007
Originally posted by dstokely: Yea the salt test is good, and SubChop, not that I'm on your case today but shouldn't the hydrometer read 75% in the salt test and not 70%?
Yes
Posts: 1435 | Location: CT | Registered: November 01, 2007
How big is your humidor? Sounds like you have only 8 sticks in there? If it's a big humidor, having only 8 cigars might cause the reading to be off.
Yeah also if you put your cigars in a bigger humidor they begin to grow just like fish in a bigger tank.LMFAO!
bahahahaha that one got me good SHEEPSHEAD BAY, I'm going to put my trinidad reyes in a humidor all by itself now, hopefully when I check up on it in a week it'll be the size of a Monte A. Now wouldn't that be sweet?
"Is that a Churchill cigar in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"
Originally posted by dstokely: Yea the salt test is good, and SubChop, not that I'm on your case today but shouldn't the hydrometer read 75% in the salt test and not 70%?
You're probably right, I was shooting from the hip (too lazy to pull up that thread)
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam
Posts: 1031 | Location: New England | Registered: August 03, 2007
