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Switching to 62% Bovedas

Capn_Jackson

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Hello all, your friendly neighborhood Cap’n here. As I’ve posted on here a few times, I’ve been enjoying my wineador for the last few months. I’ve been monitoring the hygros over the change in seasons, and have an update. The wineador is full of 65% Bovedas, but the hygros I have on each shelf have consistently read around 67%, or occasionally even 68% rh, in every seasonal temp from winter to now 105 in the daytime. The great thing is I haven’t plugged it in once, and the humidor temp never surpasses 70 degrees even in the middle of the afternoon. Thing is, I’m trying to keep the RH down around 64 or so. Going to switch to 62% Boveda, and hoping that, given the differential I currently have, the RH inside will hover around 64%. Ive heard that a lot of people use kitty litter but I don’t want to use both that and Boveda. Maybe just the lower Boveda will do the trick.

For those of you with a medium cabinet (28-32 bottle sized wineador), what is your preferred Rh and how do you keep it there? I have sworn by Boveda since I started using it about ten or eleven years ago, and it always nailed the Rh down tight in my desktop humidors. This wineador, being airtight, might just like creeping a bit higher than the bags are supposed to be.

Thoughts?
 
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I keep 69 in mine but I keep a 100 count desktop stocked with no humidifier. It stays 62 ish.

in my mind the smokes smoke better around here at lower than in the summer. In the winter I like themin the high 60s. I have maybe 20-30 Cubans I keep 62 percent always. They’re all gifts from other forum members

hate the idea of switching back and forth between 69-65 or 62 bovedas so that’s my setups in my audew and a couple coolers

just packed with 69 bovedas
 
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Your only question should be...."how are my cigars smoking". Are you making a change because the hygros are telling you to or are you making a change because your cigars are smoking wet?

In my opinion 70 degrees is a bit warm for long term storage so before changing Bovedas I'd turn on the cooler. Living in the swamp I shoot for 65/65 for NCs and 63°/62% for Cubans
 

Texican

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In my wineador, I use 65% Bovedas, which yield 65-67% RH and my sticks smoke great. This is with the temp on the unit set at 65 degrees. When I had tupperdors, 65% Bovedas usually got me 69-70% RH which negatively impacted smoke quality so I switched to 62% Bovedas which helped. I say do it. But to @Boudie 's point, might want to try plugging it in and then seeing where that RH settles.
 

Capn_Jackson

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Your only question should be...."how are my cigars smoking". Are you making a change because the hygros are telling you to or are you making a change because your cigars are smoking wet?

In my opinion 70 degrees is a bit warm for long term storage so before changing Bovedas I'd turn on the cooler. Living in the swamp I shoot for 65/65 for NCs and 63°/62% for Cubans
Smoking a little too wet. I’ve also got my old desktop holding about 63% Rh, and I use it as a Drybox. The ones right out of my wineador smoke too wet. They’re still enjoyable, but my palette doesn’t get all the complexities, usually, if they’re that high. The exception would be my Padrons. They seem great still at the 67% Rh, but everything else, too wet to me.

I haven’t plugged the unit in yet, because I’ve heard compressor coolers can do a number on humidity. That said, many guys use them regularly with no problem. I just know my luck with these things, and I would be “that guy” who either dripped condensate all over his sticks or ended up with 30%- wide humidity swings:LOL:
 

Texican

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Smoking a little too wet. I’ve also got my old desktop holding about 63% Rh, and I use it as a Drybox. The ones right out of my wineador smoke too wet. They’re still enjoyable, but my palette doesn’t get all the complexities, usually, if they’re that high. The exception would be my Padrons. They seem great still at the 67% Rh, but everything else, too wet to me.

I haven’t plugged the unit in yet, because I’ve heard compressor coolers can do a number on humidity. That said, many guys use them regularly with no problem. I just know my luck with these things, and I would be “that guy” who either dripped condensate all over his sticks or ended up with 30%- wide humidity swings:LOL:
Oooooooh, it's a compressor. Ok you might be on to something then leaving it unplugged. When my tupperdors were in a compressor wine fridge, even set to 67 degrees, the temp would swing so wildly down into the high 50s and back that RH would shoot up to 80% and there would sometimes be condensation just as you mention.
 

Capn_Jackson

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Oooooooh, it's a compressor. Ok you might be on to something then leaving it unplugged. When my tupperdors were in a compressor wine fridge, even set to 67 degrees, the temp would swing so wildly down into the high 50s and back that RH would shoot up to 80% and there would sometimes be condensation just as you mention.
:oops:
There is a popular gif of Danny DeVito shaking his head and saying “Nope.” Insert here, haha
 
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Yea, you may as well be using coolidors if it's a compressor unit. At least you can move them to the coolest part of your house. In my frigerators I keep most of my cigars in weather sealed tupperware with Bovedas and just control the temp of the units. Absolutely no problems. My NewAir is set at 64 degrees and has been dialed in for several years.
 

Capn_Jackson

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Yea, you may as well be using coolidors if it's a compressor unit. At least you can move them to the coolest part of your house. In my frigerators I keep most of my cigars in weather sealed tupperware with Bovedas and just control the temp of the units. Absolutely no problems. My NewAir is set at 64 degrees and has been dialed in for several years.
I think I’ve found the coolest spot, or at least, the coolest spot where my wife is okay with me keeping it haha! It’s in the closet of my studio/office so that works. I’ve considered using an InkBird thermometer so that the unit can cool, and the inkbird would shut off the power once it reaches 64 degrees or so. Just worried about the stability of the unit being forced to do a hard shutdown so many times.
 
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I think I’ve found the coolest spot, or at least, the coolest spot where my wife is okay with me keeping it haha! It’s in the closet of my studio/office so that works. I’ve considered using an InkBird thermometer so that the unit can cool, and the inkbird would shut off the power once it reaches 64 degrees or so. Just worried about the stability of the unit being forced to do a hard shutdown so many times.
I haven't noticed any issues with a "hard shut down" on the fridges. That was a concern when I started but so far it hasn't been a problem.

The Inkbird will keep the unit from getting to cold but you're still running a compressor so I'm not sure what your humidity will do.
 
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I am a big fan of kitty litter and have maintained my Wineador RH for nearly 8-9 years with a total investment of $10 those many years ago. I use a 170 btl Wineador and use 8# of KL from top to bottom in aquarium tie string bags. If I decide to change the RH a couple of points, I give them an extra spritz or two of distilled about twice a year. It's simple to dial it in. KL is absolutely the closest thing to care free that I have used, period! Bovedas (too expensive) and they do eventually need replaced or recharged which takes a few days. Heartfelt beads (works exactly like KL but much more expensive). I have kept my cigars at 62-64 for many years with minuscule fluctuation.

But do whatever works for you Capn. If you like what your gettin, keep doin what your doin.
 

Rupe

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I wanna learn this kitty litter method
Here is the Kitty Litter "how-to" I have posted in the past...

First off you want to make sure that you start with the right type of KL. It needs to be the crystal type and unscented. Personally I use Mimi litter ($4 for 4 pounds at WalMart) but others have had the same result with the Equisicat brand. Just make sure that it is the crystal style and unscented. Update: These brands may no longer be available.

Next you will want to choose the right container. Some people have used nylon stockings or filter media bags to hold it but I have heard a complaint or two regarding dust if you do it this way. It is also a little bit harder to hydrate so what I have found is the best container is a shallow plastic Tupperware style container. In my one cooler I used plastic switch boxes (the type that you would use if you are putting a switch or outlet into your house) but the reason for this was that they fit perfectly into the empty space I had . The ones I use for my other cooler are the smaller containers that lunch meat came in originally. Sandwich size Gladware containers are also a great option. Basically any shallow plastic container will work.

Fill the containers with the KL about 1/2" to 1" deep. A little deeper than that will not hurt however the key is not to have a ton of KL but rather to have as much surface area exposed as possible. then distribute the containers at various locations. For a wineador I would say that you would want to have a couple of containers on the bottom and one or two on the top. if you have space one in the middle would not hurt but if you have some sort of circulation setup in your wineador it probably is not necessary.

Now to hydrate the KL. My suggestion is to go to WalMart and buy a spray bottle. I found one in the housewares section by the ironing supplies for around a buck. Fill the spray bottle with distilled water and spray the water over the top of the KL that is in your container. From my experience, the KL is generally about 60% RH out of the bag and that you can raise the humidity by 1% for every 1-2 spritzes. in other words if you want to get your humidity to 65% (for example) start by spraying each of your KL containers 5-7 sprays. Now strategically place the containers in the wineador. Let it sit for at least a day and see where the humidity is. If you need more humidity, give it a few additional spritzes. if you accidentally over humidify, just add a little more KL from the bag to bring it back down and let it sit another day. I have found that by doing this you can dial it in to the % you want within 2-3 days.

Important things to consider

- Make sure that your hygrometers are properly calibrated. This sounds basic but many people forget to take this important step.
- Make sure that your spaces are as full as possible. Spanish cedar and cigars will help to regulate your humidity. if you have a lot of empty space you can fill it with empty boxes from your B&M. If your space is empty it will be harder to keep a constant RH.
- When placing your Spanish cedar trays or empty cigar boxes inside, make sure that they are "seasoned". I have seen it happen more than once where someone has put dry boxes or trays into their cooler or wineador and it has made it very hard to stabilize their humidity.
 
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Here is the Kitty Litter "how-to" I have posted in the past...

First off you want to make sure that you start with the right type of KL. It needs to be the crystal type and unscented. Personally I use Mimi litter ($4 for 4 pounds at WalMart) but others have had the same result with the Equisicat brand. Just make sure that it is the crystal style and unscented. Update: These brands may no longer be available.

Next you will want to choose the right container. Some people have used nylon stockings or filter media bags to hold it but I have heard a complaint or two regarding dust if you do it this way. It is also a little bit harder to hydrate so what I have found is the best container is a shallow plastic Tupperware style container. In my one cooler I used plastic switch boxes (the type that you would use if you are putting a switch or outlet into your house) but the reason for this was that they fit perfectly into the empty space I had . The ones I use for my other cooler are the smaller containers that lunch meat came in originally. Sandwich size Gladware containers are also a great option. Basically any shallow plastic container will work.

Fill the containers with the KL about 1/2" to 1" deep. A little deeper than that will not hurt however the key is not to have a ton of KL but rather to have as much surface area exposed as possible. then distribute the containers at various locations. For a wineador I would say that you would want to have a couple of containers on the bottom and one or two on the top. if you have space one in the middle would not hurt but if you have some sort of circulation setup in your wineador it probably is not necessary.

Now to hydrate the KL. My suggestion is to go to WalMart and buy a spray bottle. I found one in the housewares section by the ironing supplies for around a buck. Fill the spray bottle with distilled water and spray the water over the top of the KL that is in your container. From my experience, the KL is generally about 60% RH out of the bag and that you can raise the humidity by 1% for every 1-2 spritzes. in other words if you want to get your humidity to 65% (for example) start by spraying each of your KL containers 5-7 sprays. Now strategically place the containers in the wineador. Let it sit for at least a day and see where the humidity is. If you need more humidity, give it a few additional spritzes. if you accidentally over humidify, just add a little more KL from the bag to bring it back down and let it sit another day. I have found that by doing this you can dial it in to the % you want within 2-3 days.

Important things to consider

- Make sure that your hygrometers are properly calibrated. This sounds basic but many people forget to take this important step.
- Make sure that your spaces are as full as possible. Spanish cedar and cigars will help to regulate your humidity. if you have a lot of empty space you can fill it with empty boxes from your B&M. If your space is empty it will be harder to keep a constant RH.
- When placing your Spanish cedar trays or empty cigar boxes inside, make sure that they are "seasoned". I have seen it happen more than once where someone has put dry boxes or trays into their cooler or wineador and it has made it very hard to stabilize their humidity.
Great post Rupe! The only thing I would have said if I had posted the KL method is that I checked to see where the RH was before I adding any distilled so I could begin to learn how much a certain sprays of RH made. And then I just add using those calculations when I need to add some DL. That number depends on how much KL surface area you have. I have some in bags spread throughout and an 11x14 aluminum cookie sheet for a lot of surface area. 8# of Mimi's is what I have in mine.
 
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