subject: Creating The Ideal Environment For Cigars [print this page] While you may believe that purchasing a well-made cigar humidor is the answer to any problems you have with long or short term storage, the real issue is the conditions inside of that lovely cedar box. For example, you might have invested in a very expensive box with dividers and layers, and even places for humidifiers, but if you do not have a clear understanding of the current levels of humidity inside it, then all of your money may be wasted.
Why do they need humidifiers? Tobacco and cedar wood are prone to moisture loss, and if they are to retain their best qualities they will need ongoing access to balanced moisture. The humidifiers use distilled water and a Propylene Glycol formula, also called PG, to slowly add a regular supply of moisture to the air inside of the box. This is all monitored through the use of a device known as a hygrometer. Hygrometers will indicate the current percentage level of the humidity within the box, but they will usually require calibration before being put to use.
Failing to calibrate a hygrometer is usually the reason that it is inaccurate on an ongoing basis, but it is actually a very simple process. It requires a bit of table salt, a clear Ziplock bag, and a small shallow container. The salt is put into the container and it is then dampened with a bit of water. The goal is not to create a saline solution, but is instead intended to just rely on a dampened pile of salt. The container holding the wet salt is put inside of the bag along with the hygrometer, though these do not touch or come into contact. The bag is then sealed shut, along with a large pocket of air, and left alone for a minimum of six full hours.
To calibrate a hygrometer is not rocket science and involves the use of a plastic Ziploc bag, a small and shallow container, table salt, and a bit of water. The salt is added to the container and only dampened with a few drops of water. This is then put inside of the bag along with the hygrometer, and the bag is then sealed along with a large amount of air. This is set aside for a minimum of six hours after which time the hygrometer can be considered stabilized and accurate.
After the six hour time span inside of the properly prepared bag, the hygrometer should read 75%. If it doesn't it should be manually adjusted to this number in order to enable it to properly gauge future environments.
