Articles and Information
Cigar Humidor Selection, Set Up & Maintenance
By Edward Brown
When choosing a humidor, make sure to buy one that's somewhat larger than what you expect
to need, or you'll run out of space quick when cigar fever hits or that special box goes on
sale unexpectedly. The typical humidor will hold around 100 loose cigars and will generally
cost somewhere between $50-$100, depending on the manufacturer and materials used. Humidors
that store thousands of cigars are readily available, but don't forget your visa card, they
are very expensive, usually in the $1,500-$3,000 range.
Once you determine the capacity of the humidor you'll need, you can then begin to choose
a model that appeals to you. From experience, most people know what they want in a humidor,
be it glass top, dome, a table design, or a plain old milano, when it comes to the outward
appearance the sky is the limit. The humidors appearance should match and add to the decor
of the room it will reside in, but also match the person that it belongs to.
Setting up a humidor isn't as simple as filling the humidifier with water and tossing in
your cigars. You'll need a solution of Propylene Glycol and distilled water, mixed at a
ratio of 50%/50%. The prop-glycol solution is readily available at most cigar shops. Apply
this solution to the element of your new humidor just once to start, all subsequent recharges
should be pure distilled water only. You should re-up the prop-glycol/distilled water solution
once every couple of years. Never use tap water. The minerals will clog your element and
render the device useless. If the humidor is constructed of solid spanish cedar you can
use a damp cloth to lightly moisten the inside surfaces, giving you a substantial head start
in preparing the box for cigar occupants which are anxious to get in and relax. If your
box is lined, I don't suggest this method, it could cause damage to the wood if it is thin.
Watch the humidity inside the humidor. If it refuses to rise, place a small saucer of distilled
water in the bottom of the box and close the lid. Leave this in until the humidity builds
and reaches 70% or greater. Remove the saucer and watch the hygrometer.
Once it pegs 70% and sustains this reading for 2 days you can slowly begin to add your
cigars keeping a close eye on the humidity. If you suspect a faulty hygrometer test it.
Place the hygrometer in a zip lock type bag large enough to accommodate the gauge and a
small container of salt and water, heavy on the salt. Heavy so much that it makes a sort
of paste. Close the bag and leave it for 6 hours. The humidity reading should be a perfect
75%. If it isn't then throw the culprit hygrometer into the floor and smash it with your
boot, or take it outside and blow it to smitharines with a gun, or melt it in a blast furnace.
The most annoying thing on this earth is a faulty gauge. Do the right thing and make sure
no one else could ever wind up with this demonic barometer. A trip to the vise, perhaps.
The best hygrometers are digital models, because they are always accurate, never needing
calibration. A wise $20 investment in the future comfort of your prized puros.
Once your new humidor is fully loaded with cigars you will need to keep a close eye on
your perfectly calibrated hygrometer. The first weeks and even months of the new humidors
life can be a thirsty time. The inner surfaces are all absorbing moisture and it takes from
the element, which means it will need to be refilled more frequently in it's infancy, less
as it matures and begins to soak in the sweet smell of it's guests.
About the Author
Ed Brown owns and operates Tarheel Cigars Discount Cigar Shop located at http://www.tarheelcigars.com
and can be contacted at admin@tarheelcigars.com
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