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Wineador Humidification?

thejavaman

thejavaman

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So, as many of you know I got bombed a wineador. :dunno: Since then, I've been researching how to humidify it properly. I see that many guys are using a combination of beads (HCM or Heartfelt) AND Boveda packs. I guess my question is why? Why do you need to use both? Could I theoretically use just one or the other? I emailed HCM the make/model/dimensions of my new wineador & they said that they recommend me using 3 lbs. of their beads ($150.00 worth) and nothing else. I emailed Bovdea and they said to use 2-3 Bovedas per 250 cigars and nothing else.

So which is better and more importantly WHY? I've pretty much excluded Kitty Litter as an option as I just don't know enough about it to trust my stash to it. I obviously don't want spend more than I have to and I just want to make sure I'm doing it properly. I already have probably 20 or so Bovedas fully charged (I recharge them myself) in ziplock bags waiting to be used, but I just don't know if I could use them and nothing else. So, guide me in the right direction please....
 
mwlabel

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My wineador is protected by nothing but HF beads. I think I have ~2 lbs in their mesh bags, one of their large tubes, and some tiny one that I used to keep in a desktop.

My fridge is very, very full, and stays steady at 65-66. I'm not sure how relevant the number of sticks I have is, but figured it's another data point.
 
Monsterdg

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I have HF beads only, I think I'm at about 2#or so with a couple of oust fans. I can't recall a build using both.

I use boveda in my desk top & tupperdors.
 
Jfire

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1lb of HF in 3 different vinos. 28,28 34ct. All u need. And I've been rocking the one since 08. Same 1lb of beads. Save your money and either go with the kitty litter or HF. If your using the TE cooler on the vino just grab 2# of beads.


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Btw I've let oust fans go dead for months and have seen no negative change I'm humidity ranges at different levels / heights of my vinos.
 
thejavaman

thejavaman

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jolietilfire said:
1lb of HF in 3 different vinos. 28,28 34ct. All u need. And I've been rocking the one since 08. Same 1lb of beads. Save your money and either go with the kitty litter or HF. If your using the TE cooler on the vino just grab 2# of beads.


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Btw I've let oust fans go dead for months and have seen no negative change I'm humidity ranges at different levels / heights of my vinos.
Click to expand...
Only 1 lb.? Man, the HCM guy is way over quoting me saying I need 3 lbs. then! So you'd trust your stash to KL, JFire? Maybe I'm overthinking it and have an unwarranted bias against KL for some reason. I guess if it holds RH, that's all the matters. My wineador is a NewAir AW-280E with internal dimensions of 17 x 20 x 28.8 inches if that makes a difference.
 
Chief StrongLeaf

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I use 12 boveda packs intermingled throughout my new air 28.
its chocked 3/4 full of boxes and singles. No fans an minimal space used.
I think some combine hf and boveda to reduce the frequency of adding/evaporating water from the beads. $00.02
 
MoJo

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i use hcm beads and boveda packs. The boveda packs are mainly just for my piece of mind, to me they ensure the hcm beads stay at 62rh and also to help distribute the humidity. I trust boveda packs more than my digital hygrometers (I have a few and all give me different readings in the same place). The reason I use HCM beads over HF or KL is primarily due to the reduced maintenance (never have had to recharge them, but the boveda packs kinda ensure i dont need to) and no risk of over humidifying the beads and having a spike in humidity (that issue is easily avoidable though).
 
pbibby

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MoJo said:
i use hcm beads and boveda packs. The boveda packs are mainly just for my piece of mind, to me they ensure the hcm beads stay at 62rh and also to help distribute the humidity. I trust boveda packs more than my digital hygrometers (I have a few and all give me different readings in the same place). The reason I use HCM beads over HF or KL is primarily due to the reduced maintenance (never have had to recharge them, but the boveda packs kinda ensure i dont need to) and no risk of over humidifying the beads and having a spike in humidity (that issue is easily avoidable though).
Click to expand...
This exactly
 
wantacigar

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thejavaman said:
So, as many of you know I got bombed a wineador. :dunno: Since then, I've been researching how to humidify it properly. I see that many guys are using a combination of beads (HCM or Heartfelt) AND Boveda packs. I guess my question is why? Why do you need to use both? Could I theoretically use just one or the other? I emailed HCM the make/model/dimensions of my new wineador & they said that they recommend me using 3 lbs. of their beads ($150.00 worth) and nothing else. I emailed Bovdea and they said to use 2-3 Bovedas per 250 cigars and nothing else.

So which is better and more importantly WHY? I've pretty much excluded Kitty Litter as an option as I just don't know enough about it to trust my stash to it. I obviously don't want spend more than I have to and I just want to make sure I'm doing it properly. I already have probably 20 or so Bovedas fully charged (I recharge them myself) in ziplock bags waiting to be used, but I just don't know if I could use them and nothing else. So, guide me in the right direction please....
Click to expand...
do the Boveda's still regulate the labeled RH after recharging?
 
Rupe

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Kitty litter works just fine and keeps my stash at a very consistent RH. I use KL in my coolers and it is Extremely low maintenance. Basically the KL is around 60% out of the bag and you can dial it in by misting it with a spray bottle. (1-2 sprays will bring it up 1%) Over the past 18 months I have had to re-mist it a total of 4 times to bring it back up to 65 so hardly any maintenance at all. Send me a PM if you would like more specifics.

Oh.... and cost wise I bought 4 pounds for $4 and still have 3 pounds left.
 
mwlabel

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Might want to consider HOW you'll be using the new vino. If it's mostly long term storage, closer to 1# should be fine.
If you like to get crazy and use it as your every day humi, like I do, having the extra beads will compensate for frequently opening the door.
 
mdwest

mdwest

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thejavaman said:
mdwest said:
mwlabel said:
My fridge is very, very full.
Click to expand...
Not for long... You're about to have lots of free space lol...






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Click to expand...
That was my first thought as well. LOL :rolling:

Dave, you're a KL guy, right? Break it down for me, bro...
Click to expand...

I use both passive and active humidification...

Ive got an Oasis XL at the bottom of my cabinet...

plus a little over a lb of KL..

and probably half a dozen 65 bovedas...

I travel so much.. I like having redundant systems.. if one thing fails.. Ive got something else in there to fall back on..

The Oasis helps to keep the KL hydrated.. I almost never have to spritz, spray, etc.. About once a week or so Ill hear the Oasis turn on for a little bit... and thats it... I just refill the Oasis resivoir maybe once every 6 weeks? and Im done...

It also helps with RH bounceback after I open the cabinet door... it will usually kick on for maybe 5-10 seconds after I lock the cabinet back up.. and have me back at 65% RH in less than a minute..

the boveda's are just my insurance policy against over humidification... if I get a temp spike (power goes out in the middle of the summer???).. or the oasis goes nuts on me while I am out of town.. theyre in there to absorb anything over 65%... (the KL will absorb also.. but will maintain a higher RH if it gets too saturated)...

Im probably overkilling things on the RH side of the house.. but I already had a dozen or so bovedas laying around when I first built the cabinet... and was already running KL in my wineador.... so I just transferred everything over..

I traded some sticks here for the Oasis XL..

Been running this set up close to a year now I guess.. so far so good... no problems at all.. and super, super low maintenance.. I just make sure the Oasis is topped off anytime I am getting ready to leave town... and am completely worry free for the next several weeks/months...
 
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