Thread: Cigar preservation: humidors & humidity

Gentlemen,

Many of you have desktop humidors thus I wanted to share with you another great article written by my good friend and expert humidor builder, Marc Andre at Der Humidor in the European Cigar Journal magazine. Not the best translation from the German but very comprehensible.

The article essentially talks about the characteristics of a quality humidor (the importance of having quality wood and materials inside) and understanding the basics of humidity (humidity rises, circulation, etc) to store cigars the best possible way.

Here is the link (page 83): ecj_4_09

Although the article is written by an expert humidor builder who talks in part about his own humidifier, please note that I do not wish to advertise him nor his product(s). Please read the article impartially to get the core point of the article: the importance of using an active system to circulate the air inside any humidors to achieve optimal storage conditions (in avoiding dry/damp areas) and the use of quality materials in the build of a humidor.

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I love ECCJ! I actually have this copy sitting on my desk at all times!

Think i might need to reconsider my humidifying process.

What active hygrometer is in the first picture of the article?

*Edit: It's a hydro case. Aparently, they malfunction quite frequently and Arlin Liss does not like them.

Originally Posted by ZachF88

Aparently, they malfunction quite frequently and Arlin Liss does not like them.

With all due respect, if this is based strictly on the fact that "Arlin Liss does not like them" then this is an unfounded statement.

I am aware of the problem Arlin Liss had with Marc Andre and the Hydro Case. Arlin Liss went on forums and spread his own conclusions about the product.

It was/is his right.

I do not wish to get into the details of things but the "problem" had nothing to do with the functionality and reliability of the Hydro Case. The Hydro Case is patented in Europe but someone somewhere decided to copy it (patent violation). Marc Andre then decided not to ship any of his products outside Europe and did not get back to anyone who bought it outside Europe. It was his choice.

The University of Munich uses Marc Andre's bigger humidifer to humidify part of an accelerator particle, Buben & Zorweg uses the humidifiers in their €30,000 cabinets, Maybach uses it in their car humidors, the Porsche Museum does too, etc. I can go on and on but my point is that his products are the results of years of scientific R&D, not simple trial and error.

Davidoff and Gerber requested his expertise to consult their products but "didn't like" him when his scientific reports showed that their desktop humidors' RH readings had a +/- 20 error margin or that their cabinets had 3 different RH readings.

I would not buy his produts myself if it was a waste of money nor fly him thousands of miles to consult and build me a walk-in humidor.

My intention, with the article, was not to advertise him nor his products. It was to share information on the importance of circulating the humidity inside any humidor in order to store cigars the best possible way.

That being said, anyone with beads, gel or even the mediocre sponges can achieve an active environment by adding fans that move the air around. The total cost would not exceed 10-15$.
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Thanks Robusto, I didn't mean to stir up anything or create a mess.

On a side note, what would you recommend for a fan? I'm having a hard time trying to find a flat cord or a battery operated fan.

Originally Posted by ZachF88

Thanks Robusto, I didn't mean to stir up anything or create a mess.

On a side note, what would you recommend for a fan? I'm having a hard time trying to find a flat cord or a battery operated fan.

There is no stir up, no mess at all. I know the behind the scenes of the story and hence gave your my perspective on the matter. :-)

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About the fan, I edited my post (original sent to you as a PM) as I don't wish to suggest a wrong doing in cigar storage (I am not an expert) but I would essentially suggest to get a small enough fan (http://www.cigarmony.com/hydraelectr...mallhydra.aspx) connected to a timer in order to only operate it a few hours a day.
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I can see the need in a larger cabinet sized humidor, coolidor, wineidor, but not a desktop. If you keep in mind that humidty rises you can easily use passive beads to properly humidify a desktop. I use heartfelt beads in my 250ct. I keep the fully hydrated ones in the bottom shelf and on the lid I keep it 2 slightly filled. I calibrated three hygrometers with a boveda pack and salt test as a backup first. I placed all three in different areas one on the lid and two in the bottom shelf on opposite sides of the humidor. Everyone is locked on 65%. My biggest concern about fans in a small humidor is they generate heat, so they have to be on a good timer.

Originally Posted by dragonhead08

I can see the need in a larger cabinet sized humidor, coolidor, wineidor, but not a desktop. If you keep in mind that humidty rises you can easily use passive beads to properly humidify a desktop. I use heartfelt beads in my 250ct. I keep the fully hydrated ones in the bottom shelf and on the lid I keep it 2 slightly filled. I calibrated three hygrometers with a boveda pack and salt test as a backup first. I placed all three in different areas one on the lid and two in the bottom shelf on opposite sides of the humidor. Everyone is locked on 65%. My biggest concern about fans in a small humidor is they generate heat, so they have to be on a good timer.

Good call on the heat generated from a fan but this is a tiny fan and would not be a source of heat.

Generally speaking, the fan moves the air so you don't have to rotate cigars. It really comes down to how you wish to handle the storage: frequent care or (virtually) worry/maintenance free care.

I have 2 Davidoff desktop humidors ($3000 and $5000) and the top tray cigars are always moist and the lower tray are dryer/harder. It became evident to me that, even in desktop humidors, air should circulate. Especially when you're gone for weeks/months and there is no one to relay the care for you. The best solution is really a cabinet or walk-in with an active system where cigars are not directly in contact with the source of humidity.

+1 on self-regulating beads (Heartfelt, Puck-ifier, etc). Never used them but know people who do and are very happy.

+1 on being set at 65%: smokes better, burns better, exhibits flavors better.
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I hear you on the rotation. What do you think about humidors that have the airflow grates on the bottom of the humidor?