Cigar humidity - what's perfect?

I use distilled as well......seems that 70-80 is just fine.

 

70/70 is my understanding. But it is also important to note that I am a firm believer in smoking cigars before temp/humidity become an issue!

 

I would never use distilled water in one of those foam type elements. I used pre-mixed humidor solution. It is PG and water, designed to hold humidity at around 70% all cigar shops sell it. I use beads now, you just mist them with distilled water. They absorb and release moisture to keep everything where it should be. You can buy them in 65% or 70% depending on what you like better.

Anywhere from 60-70 is ok. IMO 75 is a bit too high. I use 65 beads, they keep everything around 67%. It is personal preference.

Go over to cigarweekly.com and look around the forums.

 

I keep mine between 60-65 humidity and 60-70 degrees in temperature using distilled water with three dozen cigars of various types. A digital guage is inexpensive ($20-30) and less hassle than trying to calibrate an analog guage unless you want to keep the appearance and retain functionality.

 

I like to keep mine between 65-70, If I could pick a perfect number and keep it there it would be 67.

 

What is perfect is the exact RH that YOU prefer your cigars to be at.

For aging I do 60 degrees and 74%RH
For cigars I intend to smoke within a couple months. 65 degrees and 70%RH
For cigars I'll be smoking today and the next few weeks. 70 degrees & 68%RH

68% is the perfect RH for a cigar I'm about to smoke. YMMV!

 

Most humidors contain a hygrometer (device used to measure the humidity in the humidor). These devices are rarely right on. When you look at the hygrometer and it reads 70% you really want to know if it's actually 70%.

How to salt test your hygrometer

Take a small container like a bottle cap, and fill it with salt. Make the salt damp with water (don't soak the salt completely). Place the wet salt and your hygrometer in a ziploc bag, and leave for 8 hours. Your hygrometer should read 75%.

You can then either adjust your hygrometer if you are able to, or just remember how many degrees off it is when looking at the display.

You should salt test your hygrometer every 6 months.
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Different cigars 'prefer' different humidity. For me, i find cigarillos like to be around 70% while my larger cigars for both smoking and aging seem to prefer 66%. As for temps, 70F is MAX due to (usually lower quality) cigars hatching beatles as the eggs like hatching at over 70F.

Of course we all have preferences, and certain countries and types of cigars and smokers have their optimum range.

 

AMEN!

I keep mine at 65-70deg and around 70%. I actually took temperature notes around my house to find the most consistent spot and that's where they live.

I have had really good luck with the synthetic HumiCrystals and the cigar-shaped Humistat boosters inserted in the piles. You add distilled water once per month and forget about them.

Thankfully, I havent had any problems with bugs, but it's only a matter of time and I hope that I don't have a really good collection when they do come.

 

use the salt test. enjoythe music is right on. 65% humidity is usually where most cigars taste best in my humble opinion. other opinions vary.

 

70/70 works for me here

 

I wonder if the terrain you live in has an effect on things? Say if you live in FL, vs somewhere like AZ?

 

Of course it will! A humidor that is exposed to dry heat may need to be seasoned much longer than one exposed to humid air such in FL. That is the way my cigar shop explained it to me at least. Do the salt test certainly, but if you really want to be sure on ur humidity go for a digital hygrometer. They can be had for cheap from most shops, well relatively cheap compared to how much you will end up spending on cigars. (; But above all just enjoy your cigars, I found that keeping my own personal humidor was a hassle and have just been buying from a walk in humidor that is down the street from me, just made the whole experience less worrysome in that I didn't have to worry about spoiling the many fine smokes.

 

the ideal humidity for your cigars is 65-72% . 75%+ is pushing it in my opinion, BUT it will bring the oils out to the wrapper and make your wrappers black if aged like that for long periods of time. The best cigars in the world (cuban) are grown in roughtly 75-91% himidity year round.

 

Well it depends on the cigar. The true humidity levels are changes between 68 and 75.

 

My humidor was upstairs in my room yesterday and the temp was at 76 so I put it in the basement and this morning it was 61 I know was the day goes on the temp down there will rise a bit. So whats a better temp for my humidor? If 70 is idea is it better to be higher or lower? humidity is 68-72%

 

As a rule:

The lower the temperature goes the more humidity is required to offset it.

 

My hydrometer was reading 85% after the salt test and is NOT adjustable. As many have said buy a digital hydrometer. I did and it cost me $25, has temp. and humidity and now I know I like my cigars at 68% and 70*, which I never knew!!!!!

 

I just bought one of these... best investment yet... great stuff

http://www.cigaroasis.com/

 

Seriously? That is disgusting... I hope it never happens to me.

 

What do you think if my humidor is 65 degrees but my humidity goes up to 80%. The drymastats i have in there are suppose to regulate at 70, will those allow more humidity if their kept cooler?