Expert: James Yee - 4/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi James,

I'm back with more questions, the dry Sellecion Pyramides has really bugged me. I'm worried that I wont be able to rehabilitate them. I've introduced the cigars in the humidor when the RH fluctuating betweenis 65-70 and I've employed the 1/4 turn method every 2 days. After a week plus my RH was dropping to 62 so i've charged my humidifier. Now after a week plus my RH is reading 72 to 74. How do i lower it to 70? And now i see bumps on my pyramides.

Regards,
Zain

ANSWER: Hi Zain,

To lower the humidity output in your humidor, you can use either an electronic humidifier that allows you to custom set your desired humidity level, or you can use a Propylene Glycol mixture in your passive humidifier to control the humidity.  (I forget if you're currently using an electronic humidifier or not...)

An electronic humidifier such as a Cigar Oasis unit will let you set the desired humidity level in your humidor.  Most of these electronic humidifers will have digital display and allow you to set your ideal humidity level.  If you are using a foam-based humidifier, you can add a 50/50 mixture of Propylene Glycol (PG) and distilled water to the humidifier and this should create exactly 70% rh.  A PG mixture can take up to a week to stabilize so you may notice the humidity dipping and peaking wildly after adding the mixture to your humidifier.  Don't worry, this is perfectly normal.

If you're already using a PG mixture in your humidor, fine-tune it by adding a few small drops of PG to the humidifier and it should lower the humidity level even more.  Propylene Glycol is available at most cigar stores, tobacconists, pharmacies/drug stores and chemist shops.  It's also available for purchase on the Internet.  Most cigar stores will also sell pre-mixed, single dosage PG humidor solutions that eliminates the need to make your own mixture but it's recommend that you have a small bottle of PG to fine tune your humidity level.

It's also important to remember that Propylene Glycol lasts a long time in your humidor (on average, 2 years) so once you add it, you don't need to add anymore.  Simply add distilled water to your humidifier whenever needed.

Hopes this helps.  If you have anymore questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

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

QUESTION: Hi James,

I'm not sure whether this is critical or not, i've actually introduced 2 boxes (1 box padron 2000 and a box of MC petit edmundo) a week after adding distilled water. After introducing the boxes my rh has been fluctuating 75-77, following your advice i've added drops of PG solution. But it has only dropped by 1% now its 74-76.

Second question, i cant find the marking for the date manufactured for the Padron 2000. Where do i find it?

Cheers mate.
Zain

ANSWER: Hi Zain,

As I mentioned, your humidity level will fluctuate after adding the PG so you should wait a week to see if the humidity has stabilized yet.  If the humidity continues to be 74-76% after a week, add a few more drops of PG to lower the humidity even more.  If the humidity has stabilized at a reasonable level, you don't need to add anymore PG.

In regards to Padron cigars, they (and some non-Cuban cigar brands) don't have any boxcodes or factory production dates printed on their boxes and unfortunately, there's really no way of knowing when the cigars were manufactured.  Hopefully, non-Cuban brands will one day begin writing boxcodes/production dates on their boxes.  This is something many smokers have wanted for a long time.

Regards,
James

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

QUESTION: Hi James,

At last i've got my RH to stabilise around 68-70, I'm extremely happy with that. Now I'm looking to purchase another humidor, I've ordered a western humidor with western humifier. It states that it does not need any chemical solution, just distilled water. Please advise.

Answer
Hi Raja,

Western is a very reputable brand so you shouldn't worry about poor performance as their humidors and humidifiers perform very well.

Many humidifier manufacturers claim you do not need Propylene Glycol but I find this to not always be true with foam-based humidifiers and certain climate regions (ie: extremely humid environments).  What you should do is run your Western humidifier without PG first and see if it creates high humidity.  If it does generate too much humidity, use Propylene Glycol to balance it.  If it doesn't create high humidity, everything is fine and you don't need to do add anything to it.

Regards,
James