Sticks drying out even at 72%?
- Thread starter DJSkopes
- Start date
funkejj
BoM December 09
Mold!!!! It is even on the band of the cigar if you look close. Plume sparkles as it is crystals formed from the oils. I am to lazy to get up and go downstairs to show a example. But I assure you 1000% that is mold and not plume. If your buddy or local b&m say otherwise then you need to correct them.
Went to a B&M I've never been to before on Sunday and the 85 year old deaf salesman kept telling me about all the "FLUME" on the cigars they have. After seeing that their hygrometers read 72-77% it was a no-brainer that the "Flume" was mold. Pretty sad because he has a HUGE selection of Anejos and Opus X. There was a box of Sharks next to a box of Padron 1926 and the Padrons were full of mold so I'm sure the Sharks will be infected soon.
There's a b&m like that about two hours from me, which stinks because it's the closest one to me. The anejos seem to be particularly prone to molding for some reason, see them moldy at shops when none others are. I have a humi that most sticks in it are starting to plume and the only way I can even see it is with a flashlight at an angle to "light" up the little crystals.
thejavaman
BoM December 2012
What about the cello/no cello question? What's the answer to that one, Craig? LOL.
StogieNinja
Derek | BoM June 2014
You'll be amazing at how much better they are.
Also, as long as the mold isn't in the foot of that stick, wipe it off and smoke it. That white mold is harmless; spores of that are everywhere, it just grows in damp conditions. As long as it's not green anywhere, and not in the foot, you can wipe it and smoke it, no worries.
If you put them as they are in an airtight container, without anything to absorb the extra rH, they're going to stay wet at the current high rH.
First, I'd calibrate the hygrometer. That;s #1.
Then, personally, I'd dust off all signs of mold, then go to your local petstore. Get a bag of 100% silica, unscented kitty litter, and a couple aquarium filter media bags. Fill one of those little mesh bags up with the dry silica, and put it in the humidor, with the divider between it and your sticks.
The silica will absorb the extra rH in the humi and your sticks, and will likely settle at about 65% rH after a couple days. Check after 48 hours, to see where your rH is at, and then check only every 24hrs, no more or you'll get skewed results.
If it continues to drop below that, throw a Boveda 65% pack (check eBay, they're about $4) in there, and it'll stabilize after a day or two. OR, get a bottle of distilled water and a clean, new spray bottle (grocery store, about $3 total), and give the silica a spritz or two of distilled water. For someone new to using KL, I'd recommend the Boveda, but I use a spray bottle now. Check about every 24 hrs, if the rH is lower than 62%, give it another spritz or two, but no more than that.
When it stabilizes and holds around 65% for a couple days, the kitty litter is now "trained" at 65%. Take the boveda out and put it in a ziplock (or leave it in there, either way, but you don't need it anymore). Store the Boveda in case you ever need to do any of this again, but the KL will maintain the rH in your humidor. If the rH ever drops, just pick the bag up and spray a little distilled water on the silica. Two sprays will usually will boost the rH a couple % points, so it doesn't need much. It's really hassle free.
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So reading this. Do you think I should wait until I am done (in 8 more days) with my Boveda seasoning on my HUMI and buy the KL and use a 65% boveda or after seasoning will the 65% Boveda work on its own?
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
There is no clear answer to the cello questionWhat about the cello/no cello question? What's the answer to that one, Craig? LOL.
bdc30
BoM May '11
Skopes I have to hand it to you man. Even though we see these plume/mold threads a hundred times a year here, your response is the best I've seen. Almost unfailingly, the poster argues to the death against the advice of the majority who are telling them it's mold. We have a pretty badass group of guys assembled here, from long time smokers, guys with huge collections, long term agers of sticks and even cigar shop tobacconists. To see newer guys argue against them is very frustrating, and a terrible first impression of their character.
I commend you for the way you've handled this. You'll fit right in 'round these parts.
I commend you for the way you've handled this. You'll fit right in 'round these parts.
DJSkopes: I went home and grabbed a stick with plume on it so you can see what it looks like and then of course enjoyed it for lunch. It looks almost like dust. You can see in the pictures how it's actually all over the cigar but can really only see it in the sunlight. I hope these help you for the future. It's tough to determine plume and most B&M's will not admit that their plume is actually mold.
StogieNinja
Derek | BoM June 2014
Veering off-topic...
The Boveda pack will work fine on it's own. Once the humi is seasoned, take out the 85% bag, and put in the 65% bag. It'll eventually adjust. Dry KL will work a little faster because it is thirstier, but the Boveda should be able to absorb the extra rH as well.
I just like the KL method because in the long run, it's so much cheaper. I've been on the same $10 bag of KL for the last two years, through two different wineadors. Still have about a quarter-bag left, and it's always held my system rock steady at 64%, with almost no upkeep. A spritz of water every couple of months, if that. Haven't actually needed to add water for about three months now.
I can also fit the KL in my wineador better. Bovedas work great in the lid of a traditional humi if you have a holder, but not so well in the drawer of a wineador. The cigar coffins I have with KL in each drawer take up a lot less space.
Hey, I've been wrong before, just ask my girlfriend. But I would rather learn what to do rather than smoke sticks that I've ruined or worse....end up chucking them. I think this is something I'll be into for a long time so I'd like to get onto a good footing. I am going out of the state for a few days so once I get back, I guess I'm going shopping for kitty litter.