Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 10/16/2007

Question
QUESTION: I bought a small wooden humidor a 50 sponge hygrometer by Mandelaine.  I like it and it suits my needs.  I used PG solution and seasoned it per intruction but it constantly reads 73%.  Room temps between 68 and 78 degrees and room humidity 53 to 69%.  With or without cigars it reads 73% on my Caliber III digital hygrometer.  Any suggestions would be great.

ANSWER: Josh,
If the room temperature is varying, then the temperature in the humidor is varying with it. The gauge reads relative humidity - humidity level relative to temperature, so your humidity reading should be varying as the temperature goes up and down. I think you have a problem with your gauge. Try a Madelaine digital gauge - I've found them to be very accurate. If your local tobacconist doesn't have them order from our web site at www.finckcigarcompany.com
Thanks,
Bill

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

QUESTION: Thanks for the advise...however I think I may have left out valuble information.  The humidity level does change when I take it out of the humidor and measure room humidity (thats how I know the room humidty is 53-69%) so it is not stuck at 73% but goes back to 73% when put in the humidor.  It varies and when I open the humidor, ie it drops accourdingly.  However maybe it is just miscalibrated so that 73 is 70?  Thanks again.  Josh

Answer
Josh,
If it reads a constant 73% regardless of the temperature I'd still be a little suspicious, but it may be ok. I'm not very familiar with that brand of hygrometer, but even the Madelaine brands can be off 1-2%. As long as your cigars are ok I wouldn't worry about it. If they start getting "spongy" then the box is over-humidified, but that is very hard to do, especially with a good quality humidifier like Madelaine. I don't know what to tell you except keep an eye on the cigars and see what they do.