Cigar Geeks

Members Lounge => Humidors and Storage => Topic started by: Smoky82 on 04/20/2017 12:50 PM

Title: Humidor issue
Post by: Smoky82 on 04/20/2017 12:50 PM
Hey all.

New forum member here.  I have a Craftsman Bench Taj Mahal 110 count. I have used the wipe-down seasoning method twice. I also have a digital hygrometer that I calibrated with a with Boveda calibration kit. No matter what I do I cant get this thing above 65% ever. I have tried the dollar bill test and it seems fine. I have tried the sponge,
Xikar crystal sticks and Jar, and now i've started with the Heartfelt beads.  Still the humidity hovers around 58%. I'm at a loss here. Ive been messing with this for a year now and i'm about to just toss the humidor and get a cooler. Any advice would be appreciated.

Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: DonM on 04/20/2017 01:45 PM
I would suggest recalibrating the hygrometer
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: Smoky82 on 04/20/2017 01:53 PM
QuoteDonM - 4/20/2017  1:45 PM

I would suggest recalibrating the hygrometer

Unfortunately I just did that. Its spot on :(
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: Jackal on 04/20/2017 04:28 PM
What method did you use to calibrate?
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: Rebecca Silverwolf on 04/20/2017 09:42 PM
QuoteJackal - 4/20/2017  5:28 PM

What method did you use to calibrate?

He used the Boveda kit, according to the original post.
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: BewareDaPenguin on 04/20/2017 11:21 PM
60 is a little low but not toss out the humidor low, there might be a sealing issue where it's leaking somewhere it sounds like. If there's a key lock it or try setting something heavy on the lid to see if that helps. I had a humidor a while ago that would leak out of the lid, I never had to use the lock on mine for years but once I started it worked again, the wood must have swelled & contracted enough times to warp the section where they meet. Just a suggestion as I had a kind of similar problem with my 100 count a few years back. Good luck :smoker:
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: Cfickter on 04/21/2017 07:07 AM
Here are a couple of thoughts

If you have another humidor with a hygrometer you feel is working try swapping them out.  Put the reliable one in the new humi and the new one in the old and then compare.  Who knows you might have a defective hygrometer

Another suggestion, and this might make a few people cringe, is to take a very high grit numbered sandpaper, like 150 to 300 and very lightly sand the cedar, then using a lint free cloth wipe out the inside.  this will possibly open up the pours of the wood and allow for better absorption.
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: toby2 on 04/21/2017 08:12 AM
been having issues with a Boveda kit myself. it's saying all my hygrometers including the non-adjustable ones are 6 points off. when i checked them against my work hygrometer, a Fluke 971, they were 4-6 points off after setting them with the Boveda kit. I'm so confused! :biggrin:
Title: RE: Humidor issue
Post by: 05Venturer on 04/21/2017 10:16 AM
QuoteSmoky82 - 4/20/2017  12:50 PM

Hey all.

New forum member here.  I have a Craftsman Bench Taj Mahal 110 count. I have used the wipe-down seasoning method twice. I also have a digital hygrometer that I calibrated with a with Boveda calibration kit. No matter what I do I cant get this thing above 65% ever. I have tried the dollar bill test and it seems fine. I have tried the sponge,
Xikar crystal sticks and Jar, and now i've started with the Heartfelt beads.  Still the humidity hovers around 58%. I'm at a loss here. Ive been messing with this for a year now and i'm about to just toss the humidor and get a cooler. Any advice would be appreciated.

First question is "How are your cigars smoking?"
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: DonM on 04/22/2017 05:47 AM
Quotetoby2 - 4/21/2017  12:12 PM

been having issues with a Boveda kit myself. it's saying all my hygrometers including the non-adjustable ones are 6 points off. when i checked them against my work hygrometer, a Fluke 971, they were 4-6 points off after setting them with the Boveda kit. I'm so confused! :biggrin:

I had problems with accuracy using the Boveda kit as well.....
Title: RE: Humidor issue
Post by: DonM on 04/22/2017 06:11 PM
Quote05Venturer - 4/21/2017  2:16 PM

QuoteSmoky82 - 4/20/2017  12:50 PM

Hey all.

New forum member here.  I have a Craftsman Bench Taj Mahal 110 count. I have used the wipe-down seasoning method twice. I also have a digital hygrometer that I calibrated with a with Boveda calibration kit. No matter what I do I cant get this thing above 65% ever. I have tried the dollar bill test and it seems fine. I have tried the sponge,
Xikar crystal sticks and Jar, and now i've started with the Heartfelt beads.  Still the humidity hovers around 58%. I'm at a loss here. Ive been messing with this for a year now and i'm about to just toss the humidor and get a cooler. Any advice would be appreciated.

First question is "How are your cigars smoking?"

Agree with this one, if your cigars are smoking well, forgetaboutit??
Title: Re: Humidor issue
Post by: bstessl on 04/22/2017 07:21 PM
Hop on over to the newbie thread and introduce yourself, we'd like to know a bit more about you.

I had an issue with a humidor a few years back that didn't seal just right at the hinge, tightened a screw and it was perfect.  That could be a possibility, if the seal seems good, I like the sandpaper idea