Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 7/3/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a relatively new humidor which has been at 70% for a couple of weeks now (with only 1 or 2 cigars in it), by the way it holds 125.  I bought a new box of Avo's and put it into my humidor (humidifier has PGP in it).  After a couple of days the humidity went down slowly to about 58%.  I bought the gel humidifier to accent my other and it hasn't helped after 3 days.  I was going to try an open container of distilled water, but don't want to overdue it.  What should I do to get the humidity back up??  I have another box of cigars on the way.

ANSWER: Craig,
Well, that's a tough question. Its very unusual to put cigars in a humidor and have the humidity go down. Answer a few more questions and lets try to figure this out. First, what brand of propylene glycol solution are you using, or did you make it yourself? Second, by gel humidifier are you referring to a Madeline Crystal humidifier? Last, what type (analog or digital) of hygrometer are you using, and what brand is it? Without seeing the humidor or knowing all the details, my first inclination is to think the hygrometer is giving you false readings, which is pretty common with the cheap hygrometers that come with many humidors. One other option might be that when you first received the humidor you wiped it down with water and put enough moisture in it to make the hygrometer read 70%, and now that the excess moisture in the wood has evaporated the reading has gone down. In my experience, it is very hard to humidify dead air space (2 cigars in a 125 cigar humidor creates a ton of dead air). The fact that you were able to get the hygrometer to read 70% with so few cigars in the box is suspect.
Anyway, let me know what equipment you have and I think I can help  you solve this problem.
Thanks,
Bill

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

QUESTION: I am using Madelaine, Inc. Propylene Glycol and you are right, the gel is the Madeline Crystal humidifier.  The hygrometer is analog and is built into the humidor so I cannot tell what brand name.  It is about 3" in diameter.  It is the San Souci Display Humidor from CheapHumidors.com.  My next shipment of cigars just showed up, so now it has about 55 in it right now.  I really appreciate your help.
Craig

ANSWER: Craig,
Madelaine products are the best on the market - great humidifiers, good PG solution, I really trust them. I'm sure you've already done this, but take a look at the lid of the humidor and make sure it is not warped. Next, try tapping on the hygrometer and see if the needle indicator moves up or down. I'm willing to bet that the indicator was stuck somewhere around 70% and when you put the first box of cigars in it a slight jarring of the humidor caused it to become unstuck. I'm telling you that I see these problems all the time. So heres my solution: send me your address and I'll send you a Madelaine digital hygrometer no charge. I'm convinced that if the humidor is sealed tight the only problem you have is an inaccurate hygrometer.
Bill

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

QUESTION: Bill,
The seal on the humidor is very good, so you are right it would lead to the hygrometer.  Thank you so much for your input and generosity.  My address is 21406 N. 33rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027.  
Craig
ANSWER: Craig,
Just checking to see how the Madelaine Hygrometer I sent you worked out for you. How is the humidity in your box now?
Bill

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

QUESTION: Hey Bill, funny you ask... I placed the new Hygrometer in the humidor about two to three weeks ago.  The hygrometer matched the one I had within +/- 1%.  (The problem is that the humidity was in the upper 50s.)  I added a small open top container of distilled water to the humidor and the humidity slowly rose to about 63-64% and leveled (both hygrometers).  This leads back to the humidor, but you can feel the seal when you open and close it.  It seems very good.  Is it bad to keep that open bowl of distilled water??  Should I add another humidifier?  I checked to make sure the two humidifiers (one regular and one the gel) have sufficient pg.  I'm stumped.  What do you think?
ANSWER: Craig,
Honestly, I'm stumped too. If the humidifier you are using is big enough for the size box you have, has plenty of fluid in it (are you using the propylene glycol solution? - I don't remember, and the box stays closed most of the time, I don't know what else you can do. The ultimate question is how are the cigars reacting - drying out, staying just right or getting too soft? Any chance the Avo's you put in it were dry and are eating up humidity? Has the level risen over the last few weeks while they were in the box (before you put the jar in it)?

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

QUESTION: Bill,
Before I put the Avo's in the humidity was right at 70%.  It went down once I put the new box in and after almost a week I got nervous and bought the gel.  After a couple of days I didn't notice much of a change (if any) so I added the jar.  I guess the Avo's could have been a little dry, but I didn't notice then.  All in all, the cigars look, feel, and smoke great.  I guess that's the important part.  I just don't  want to find out too late if the humidity does swing too far out.  I am using propylene glycol.  Should I take out the distilled water dish and rely on the two humidifiers that I have??

Answer
Craig,
I'd take the water dish out. An open container doesn't regulate itself, so you could actually over-humidify the cigars. You also have the chance of a spill, not to mention the dish is taking up space you could be using for more cigars! My suggestion is take it out and check the cigars every 2-3 days. If they start drying out, I don't know what to tell you except to put your dish back in. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Bill