Expert: James Yee - 2/8/2011

Question
Hey, I purchased a new 150 count humidor a few months back. I spoke with the guy who I bought it from and he taught me how to season it. Using a damp towel I wiped down the wood on the inside of the humidor a few times then taking the wet towel I placed it in a sealed plastic bag and into the humidor to aid in the seasoning process. I continued this process every three days till the analog hygrometer read 70. I was hen informed that the analog meters are straight garbage and to just throw it out I then purchased a crystal humidifier and some pg solution and a digital hygrometer. I placed the new digital meter into the humidor and I can't get it to read above 50. Even using 2 large humidifiers and a shot glass full of the pg solution kept in the bottom of the humidor. I've spoken to the guy who sold it to me and were both stumped. It has a good seal and the wood doesn't appear to be too dry. But I cannot get the humidity above 50. Any hints?

Answer
Hi Alex,

First, salt test the hygrometer to make sure that it’s accurate and working properly.  Take a small dish and mix 1 teaspoon of salt and distilled water.  Add just enough water to make the salt “crumbly” like wet sand.   Place this salt mixture in a Ziploc bag with your hygrometer and let it sit for 6 hours.  After six hours, the hygrometer should read 75% humidity.  If it doesn’t read 75%, calibrate the hygrometer (if possible) so that it reads 75%.  Your hygrometer is now accurate.  (*Digital hygrometers all vary by model and manufacturer so some can be calibrated/programmed while others can’t.  If your hygrometer is not accurate and can not be calibrated, return it to the store for a replacement.)

If your hygrometer is fine, try re-seasoning your humidor but this time, don’t use the PG solution.  PG (Propylene Glycol) is only required if you can’t lower high humidity inside your humidor.  It’s only necessary to use if your humidor’s humidity level is greater than 75% humidity.  (PG is a hygroscopic liquid that restricts the humidity output.  This could be what’s keeping your humidity low.)  

For now, don’t use PG in your humidor.  This way, we can see if the humidity level in your humidor rises at all.  If the humidity still doesn’t rise, then your humidor may be defective.  Once the humidor is fully seasoned, monitor the humidity level.  If the humidity is high, add PG to lower it.  I would recommend purchasing a small bottle of Propylene Glycol and making the mixture yourself rather than using a store-bought, pre-mixed humidor solution.  This way, you can fine-tune the mixture if necessary.  A 50/50 mixture of PG and distilled water (1 equal part PG + 1 equal part distilled water) should create exactly 70% humidity which is perfect.  (If the humidity level is still too high, add a few small drops of PG to the humidifier.  If the humidity is too low, add more distilled water to dilute the PG.)  

PG can be purchased at most cigar stores, chemistry shops and pharmacies/drug stores.

Here are detailed instructions on how to season your humidor thoroughly:

To season your humidor, you will need the following:

-   1 clean, sterilized sponge (preferably brand new)
-   1 clean, sterilized spray bottle
-   Distilled water or bidest water (double-distilled water)
-   1 sheet of plastic food wrap or a small, clear plastic bag such as a sandwich bag
-   The humidor’s hygrometer
-   The humidor’s humidification unit

First, use the spray bottle and spray the entire interior of your humidor with distilled water.  Allow the water to set for a minute before wiping up any excess with the clean sponge.  (Don’t worry, this won’t warp or damage the wood.)  Make sure you spray every inch of the humidor including the trays, dividers, drawers and/or compartments.  

Next, take the humidification device and fill it with distilled water.  Place it in your humidor.  Take the sponge and saturate that with distilled water and let it sit in the middle of your humidor.  Let the sponge sit on a sheet of plastic food wrap or plastic baggie to prevent direct contact between the wood and the wet sponge.  Close the lid now and let the humidor sit for 24 hours.  After 24 hours, check your humidor. If either the sponge or humidification device has lost a lot of moisture and feel somewhat dry, recharge them with more distilled water and repeat the seasoning process.  Once the sponge and humidification are able to sit for 24 hours without losing much moisture, your humidor is done seasoning.

Alternatively, most cigar stores will sell seasoning “bricks” which you just leave inside your humidor overnight and your humidor should be seasoned.  These are usually designed to season a humidor of a certain size so if you decide to use this method, you will need to check the packaging’s fine print and make sure it’s right for your humidor.  Otherwise, you may need two or more seasoning bricks.  Using the spray bottle method that I mentioned however, is inexpensive (especially if you already have all the necessary tools) and allows you to be more thorough with the seasoning process.

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

Regards,
James