Thread: Cigar smoker help, first humidor question

I just got a never used second hand humidor and I'm not really sure how the humidifier works, the ends screw open and have green sponge type stuff in them.
My question is what do I put in here? I'm worried that just filling it with distilled water or propylene glycol will just leak out. Any one got a humidifier like this?

Nope. Until I eventually humidified a walk-in closet for my sticks, I just used Rubbermaid boxes. Every month or so I would flick some droplets of water from my hands onto the lid of the Rubbermaid box. They were airtight, so very little was required to remain at 65 %.

Most humidors have something on the lid for humidity but I have yet to use any of them.

My understanding of these are that you soak them with Distilled water, allowing the excess to drip away.
I used something similar in the case of my guitar, and never had any leakage.

Soak sponges in distilled water, squeeze out excess. Place back into holder&you're set. Keep an eye on gauge. Should be good for at least a month or so. Depends on where humidor is stored. Hope this helped. Have fun & burn one for me.

Most humidors have a sponge in them for humidification. If you are going to use it, you need to use a mix of propylene glycol and distilled water to keep it from molding. Most of us that keep humi's dont use those, they are problematic and prone to molding which will ruin a humidor. You can get glycol 'beads' in jars that work much more efficient. Any online cigar shop, or your local brick and mortar store will carry them. You just refill them now and then with distilled water and they keep everything at the correct humidity.

Humidifiers - Cigars International

Dave, keeper of 2000 cigars..

Originally Posted by souschefdude

My understanding of these are that you soak them with Distilled water, allowing the excess to drip away.
I used something similar in the case of my guitar, and never had any leakage.

Yes - was just going to say the same thing.

For my guitars, I have a container that fits between the strings of the guitar. Inside the insert is a sponge. What I do is soak the sponge in water, squeeze off the excess, place it back in the container, and between the strings of the guitar.

+1 to souschefdude

First make sure that you have a nice hygrometer in the humidor, calibrated.

Then if you are going to use the built in humidifier fill it with a premixed solution from any cigar shop. I've heard the green foam is not great. you can also rig your own humidifier.

I use unscented crystal cat litter in a shallow dish. I sprayed the surface very lightly with water and humitity stays at 70% for several months now. I keep my cigars in a Rubbermaid.

Humidify the humi first for a week before loading with cigars. Always try to keep half full at least.

Michael

Thanks for the replies!
Maybe I should specify a little,
the 'sponge' is like the green stuff florists
use to put flowers in.
However, the piece is remove able so I
suppose I'll just test it outside the unit.

I'll report back!

there are different materials that work well, I use the crystals. look for xikar products, all top notch and they back their stuff up with great service. I use their solution exclusively.