Expert: James Yee - 3/2/2011

Question
Hi James,
I recently asked you about these packs. Now I have 2 (75%) in my desktop humi (25-50). RH wont exceed 67% (it stays at this RH evenly). I don't know the country of origin of this humi is but people at boveda seem to think that some chinese ones loose a tremendous quantity by its bottom.

So, should I re-season my humi? How will you suggest I do that? Do i place all my cigar in tupperware with the packs while i re-season?
Thanks in advance...

Answer
Hi Fede,

Yes, some humidors (specifically mass-produced ones) do not have a moisture barrier and this will allow humidity to seep out through the wood; usually through the bottom as it's the only area on a humidor that is not lacquered.  Some leather-bound humidors also experience this problem as the humidity will pass through the wood and be absorbed into the leather.  Re-seasoning your humidor will boost the low humidity.  Once the humidity level is back to normal, normal use of the humidification device (your boveda packs) will maintain the humidity level.

Before you season your humidor, you should first salt test your hygrometer to make sure that it's accurate and working properly.  With analog hygrometers, the slightest bump or jolt can actually knock the hygrometer needle out of sync.  For digital hygrometers, a weak battery can give off an inactive reading.  To salt test your hygrometer, take a small dish and mix a few small drops of distilled water with a teaspoon of salt.  The water/salt mixture should be crumbly; like wet sand.  Place this mixture inside a Ziploc bag with your hygrometer and let it sit for 6 hours.  After 6 hours, the hygrometer should display a humidity level of exactly 75%.  If it doesn't, calibrate your hygrometer so that it now reads 75%. Your hygrometer is now calibrated.

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 baggie
- The humidor’s humidification unit

First, move all your cigars to a Tuppeware container with your boveda packs.  Tupperware containers are airtight so don't seal the lid tight.  Just let the lid rest closed but loose and this will allow your cigars to breathe.  Next, 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, the water 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, fill it with distilled water and place it in your humidor.  If you have a bottle of 50/50 pre-mixed humidor solution, you can use that instead.    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 humidifier can sit overnight without losing much moisture, your humidor will be ready.

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 answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James