Expert: M J Robbins - 2/17/2010

Question
QUESTION: M J -

   I received a new humidor for Xmas; I'm eager to get my fledgling collection into it. The humidor came w/ an analog hygrometer, which according to salt test works ok.  I've since bought a digital anyway. Also came w/ a humidifier, but with pretty poor directions as to what to do with it.
   I originally placed a shot glass of water inside, and left it for weeks.  Never saw a humidity reading above 30%.  A couple of weeks ago I bought a bottle of PG solution. Again, given poor directions provided, I just poured drops into the humidifier unit until I felt some heft. I've left the humidifier w/ shot glass of water inside for over a week.  Humidity reading from the digital seems to be holding steady at 43%.
  That reading is too low, isn't it? And if true, what's up with this humidor?  What can I do to get the humidity up to ~70%?
  Thanks -

ANSWER: The humidor should be fine but most humidors come under humidified I change the humidification in every humidor I sell.
The analog hygrometers are inaccurate - you can reset them but like a watch that loses time every day they will move off again.
The digital should have cost at least $20 hope you did not buy a cheap one tell me which one and where you got it to determine the quality.
PG brings DOWN the humidity keeps it stable and inhibits the growth or mold.

Humidity should be 70% RH at 70 degrees.
How big is the humidor and measure the humidity device for me?
Do you see anything online that is comparable that I can look at or send a pic?
But without looking #1 put in a bigger humidity device - I like the Boveda pillows also put them right on top of the cigars and it helps bring up humidity and keep everything perfect.

Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mike -

    Thanks.
    Don't have it with me now, but the humidor is ~ 12 x 8 x 8 in. Two drawers deep. The humidifier device provided is a black plastic cylinder, perhaps 3 in diameter by 2 in deep w/ perforations in the top.   Again, the provided directions were poor - basically said go get some PG and pour into the humidifier, but no info on how much, where to pour, etc. I've also had a shot glass w/ water in there for several weeks now. Again I don't have the meter in front of me, but it was $29 from a reputable dealer at Fair Oaks mall so I'm guessing it's probably ok.
   So I should take out the humidifier cylinder w/ the PG, and just leave the shot glass in there, correct?  Of course, that's what I'd done before I bought the PG and it didn't seem to be working...
    Thanks again -

    JHK

Answer
1 round disk might be to little humidification and you could use 2 on the top lid of the humidor.
Usually a large humidor like this comes with a brick like humidity device that is 7"x3"x1.5" and even then you need humidity for each shelve.

2 Drawers break up the humidity and also tell me this is a big humidor.
You need much more humidification + humidity for each shelve.
Buy 4 Boveda 72% pillows and place 2 on the middle shelve and 2 on the bottom along with your humidity device on the top lid. The Boveda pillow should be placed right on top of the cigars.
Boveda pillows around $16 + shipping. Probably replace them every 3 months?

Fill the humidity device with distilled water PG lowers humidity.
Put only distilled water in the Humidity device, PG every 6 months to inhibit mold growth - put the device face down in a bowl and fill the bowl till it is 1/2 way up the device and let the water soak up into it. After just 30 seconds the bowl of water should disappear into the device and when it is full, it should be heavy like a brick. Some devices do not work right off the shelve because they have a shelve life and if it was sitting too long it won't absorb enough water. Put water in once a month or when RH goes down 7% or more.

Take the glass of water out and do not put it back. Moisture falls because of gravity so the moisture from a shot glass just falls down right next to it. If you put cigars next to a shot glass the ones up close will get too moist and even breed mold while the cigars a few inches away will be too dry. Please forget this option.

Hope this works.

Good luck and this is just the way the humidor market is - I have been completely re-outfitting humidors for 20 years as none come set up right. ALL the humidors I sell need to be refitted and I always include all the upgraded devices and Boveda pillows in the sale. I get customers that bought elsewhere or got gifts like yours and work with it on a daily basis.

Mike