Cigars/humidification
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Question
Hi James, I have a humidor that is about 12"H X14"D X20"W. I have a cigar oasis keeping it humified and working very well. I live in Alberta and in the winter months the air can get quite dry (26%). My question is ,to keep from adding water to the oasis I have had a rectangular humidifier sitting on the bottom of the humidifier and the oasis on the middle shelf (there are 3 levels), is this fine or will it mess with the oasis? Also I have a digital hygrometer and sometimes it will read 60 and then it will read 68, I also have a cheap one that I have calibrated and it seems to read a pretty steady 68. The oasis is set at 70, and whenever I check it is within 1 or 2 tenths of 70 so in your opinion is the oasis is the one to go by?
Hi Grant,
More frequent humidity loss during the winter months is pretty common and rather than adding a second humidification device to your humidor, it's best to just refill your main humidifier more frequently. During winter, it's not uncommon for people to recharge their humidification devices every two weeks or even every week. Adding a second humidification device could raise the humidor's humidity to dangerous levels. Even if the environment air is very dry, adding a secondary humidity source to a humidor of your size can easily cause mold to grow.
I would personally stick with the Oasis and not use the other humidification device.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask.
Regards,
James
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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