Expert: James Yee - 1/26/2012

Question
QUESTION: Thanks for you great info ..

But i do have a questions for you my cigar humidor is a wine cooler with temperature varies from 16 to 17 Celsius !
I do have a credo Hygrometer it shows me 73 F !
*Its calibrated

Its been like this for almost a year .
Lately i saw some changes in my cigar which i didn򴠬ike at all !

First i saw some white spots on my cigar !
Usually on the head !

Than i checked a box which i saw in it an insect very small one white !
I checked with an cigar aficionado he replied me that they're harmless they usually eat the glue in the band !
I wiped them of its been a week i didn't noticed including one

Btw i use propylene glycol with distilled water plus Crystal !

Than several cigars that i smoked the draw was poor !
SO now certainly i can tell u that im depressed since i do have more than 15 boxes of cuban limited edition cigars in it !

Please my friend be kind to reply to my question
Warm regards

ANSWER: Hi Anthony,

The white spots on your cigars means that the humidity is too high or you have too many cigars crowding your humidifier.  Please check to see that your humidifier is creating 70% humidity (67%-73% humidity in your humidor is acceptable).  

If your humidifier is producing the correct amount of humidity, then check that you do not have too many cigars placed near the humidifier.  If you have too many cigars stacked near the humidifier, this will NOT allow the humidity to flow properly through your humidor.  The cigars closest to your humidifier will also develop extra moisture and this causes white spots (mold) to appear.  Arrange your cigars so that they do not crowd your humidifier.

Temperature is OK as long as it is not higher than 74 degrees Fahrenheit.  (If the humidor temperature is 75 degrees F or higher, tobacco beetles will appear.)  If your wine cooler is 16-17 celcius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) and you don't want the temperature to be so low, turn off the wine cooler refrigeration unit.  

If the natural temperature in Lebanon is very hot and you want the wine cooler on to cool your cigars, you can use an electronic timer so that the wine cooler only turns on a few times everyday.  This will keep your cigars cool but not keep the wine cooler too cold all day long.

The small white insect could be a tobacco mite which are harmless.  Tobacco mites do not feed on cigars.  Tobacco mites are VERY small and white in colour.  Check your cigars to see if they have any holes.  If you find some cigars with holes, it is a sign that you have tobacco beetles and your humidor temperature is too hot.  Tobacco beetles are usually brown in colour.  Make sure your humidor temperature is not higher than 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.8 celcius).

If you find holes in your cigars, put all your cigars in the freezer for 3 days to kill any tobacco beetles hiding inside your cigars.

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

Regards,
James

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

QUESTION: Dear James ,

I'm Very thankful for your kind reply .

Concerning the wine cooler its build electronic !
I regulate it to 18 C .
In winter the temperature drops down to 13 14 C
So the wine cooler stops to work !

Concerning the humidification system !
Its not build in so i only put 2 humidifier one with crystal 50% Propylen Glycol 50 % Distilled water !

And second one distilled water but i don't fill them !
Cause the wine cooler it keeps minimum of 70 F

Usually my humidity varies from 70 to 75 %
But when i touch my cigars they are cool great and soft !

Perhaps by Attaching a picture will make some things clearer for you my friend :)


Another question i usually feel that when the cigars are a bit firm
they do smoke better !!


I'm really ashamed to take from your precious time !


Warm Regards,
Anthony

Answer
Hi Anthony,

Your humidity level is good.  As you mentioned, your cigars feel cool, great and soft so you don't have to worry about the humidity level.  As long as your humidity level is fine, a colder humidor temperature is not a problem.  Humidor temperature is only a problem when it gets too hot (23.8 Celcius or higher).

If you are worried that some of your cigars have a poor draw, rotate your boxes every 3-4 months inside your wine cooler.  (Take your cigar boxes on the bottom shelf and move them to the top shelf.  Move top shelf cigar boxes to the bottom shelf.)  It will also help to rotate your cigars inside the cigar boxes every 3-4 months.  Rotating your cigars will improve aeration and draw.

You should also move your hygrometer closer to the top shelf of your wine cooler.  This will let you know if the humidity is circulating properly throughout your humidor and reaching the top level.  If the humidity level near the top of the wine cooler is lower than the humidity level at the bottom, arrange your boxes so that there is a small space between each box.  This will allow the humidity to circulate more easily throughout your wine cooler.

I hope this helps.  Don't be ashamed to ask me questions. I'm happy to help. :)

Regards,
James