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Issues Storing Cigars

Canada19

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2022
Messages
16
Hello Everyone,

New member here looking for some help.

I have a beautiful collection of Cubans that is getting ruined, probably worth several thousands of dollars.

For years I kept them in a clear Rubbermaid container, with a shot-glass of distilled water and a digital hydrometer in the container and it worked fine.

Not long ago I bought a two humidors https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08CDFK18T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 And since then I have been having problems.

I seasoned them wiping them down with distilled water and leaving a shot-glass of distilled water in them, once they were holding humidity at 70% for a week I moved my cigars into them. Since then they have been getting rock hard, impossible to suck through. Basically all the signs of drying out. So to find out what the issues was I bought several digital hydrometers in each one to make sure they are accurate.

turned out the original one was reading high, so i increased the humidity, now all three will read between 68-72% throughout the day which seems like that should get rid of the issue, however they are remaining hard and near impossible to draw on.

But that's not it, my romeo y julieta cigars were starting to show very early signs of molding which I caught early and took care of.

I am at a loss for what my issue is, the only thing I can think of now is the temperature changes buy about 10 degrees per day in my office, could it be that the swelling and contracting is causing my issues.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thank you,
 
I think you've got the opposite problem. They're overhumidifed, which is why they won't draw. The mold is the other sign. Dried out cigars (generally) won't get moldy.

Try to bring them down to low - mid 60s and see if that helps.

After you take the shot glasses of distilled water out, head in over to the intro forum and tell us a little about yourself.
 
Have you salt tested (or Boveda packed) your hygrometers yet?
I have around a dozen hygrometers and maybe 2 of them measure the same. The most expensive one is off by 11 points. I salt calibrated two of em and put them all in together. Just sharpie in ÷/- X at the top of all of them
 
I think you've got the opposite problem. They're overhumidifed, which is why they won't draw. The mold is the other sign. Dried out cigars (generally) won't get moldy.

Try to bring them down to low - mid 60s and see if that helps.

After you take the shot glasses of distilled water out, head in over to the intro forum and tell us a little about yourself.
I was smoking a Punch Punch as I made my Original post, and yes it became clear it was over humid half way through it was getting very soggy and gross.

What I find confusing, I purchased some Siglos the other day, they were nice and firm with some squish when pressed, basically perfect, today they are rock hard. Then my Romeos are hard as concrete and when I touch them they feel brittle and crack, so it feels like I am dealing with both issues at the same time
 
I was smoking a Punch Punch as I made my Original post, and yes it became clear it was over humid half way through it was getting very soggy and gross.

What I find confusing, I purchased some Siglos the other day, they were nice and firm with some squish when pressed, basically perfect, today they are rock hard. Then my Romeos are hard as concrete and when I touch them they feel brittle and crack, so it feels like I am dealing with both issues at the same time
The firm feel could be from the tabbaco expanding against the binder as it absorbed to much moisture.
 
Post a few pics of them. Did you dissect any of them and do you still have that PP handy for a possible autopsy? Also, don't assume that since you bought in Cuba that they're not possibly fake. Where did you buy?

Your humidor looks nice and capable enough and the good reviews seem legit. Several pics from multiple angles of your sticks is needed... start with the one you're most concerned about to give us a chance for its survival.

You're in the right place... hang in there hey why don'tcha. 😉
 
Start here:

 
Hopefully the shot glasses are gone unless they are filled with Whiskey. Head over and introduce yourself. You need to get a couple boveda packs. They absorb and release humidity but I doubt they can absorb the amount of humidity you have in your humidors right now. I'd be willing to guess you need no humidification in that box for a while.
 
The firm feel could be from the tabbaco expanding against the binder as it absorbed to much moisture.
I was going to say the same, that and the reason they crack. Due to the expansion and pressure on the binder/wrapper when they swell. 72% is way to high.
 
I was smoking a Punch Punch as I made my Original post, and yes it became clear it was over humid half way through it was getting very soggy and gross.

What I find confusing, I purchased some Siglos the other day, they were nice and firm with some squish when pressed, basically perfect, today they are rock hard. Then my Romeos are hard as concrete and when I touch them they feel brittle and crack, so it feels like I am dealing with both issues at the same time
We don't discuss sources for Cuban cigars here, but is it possible that you got cigar which were not properly humidified to begin with?

A dry cigar will typically draw too easy, a damp cigar will be hard to draw through since the filler and binder have expanded against the wrapper and may even explode.

Do the salt test ASAP to see where your hygros are. Get some Boveda packs to keep you where you need to be.

Edited to add: Very important that you get some colloidal silver because you have probably had your cigars in the perfect environment for mold. Look it up here and you will see how much silver to add to your distilled water to help you avoid losing hundreds of dollars worth of cigars to mold.
 
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Bit of an update here.

Took the cigars out of the humidor for 12 hours, left humidor open for three hours. Humidity has been reduced to what is showing 56%.
Now I have Boveda packs raising the humidity to 62%, waiting on a larger Tupperware container so I can salt test all my hydrometers at once.

As far as an update, I think we have more or less solved it, my smaller cigars, Romeo 1,2,3s are now smoking much better. My larger cigars churchills and Siglos are smoking better but I think they need to dry out a bit more.
 
Bit of an update here.

Took the cigars out of the humidor for 12 hours, left humidor open for three hours. Humidity has been reduced to what is showing 56%.
Now I have Boveda packs raising the humidity to 62%, waiting on a larger Tupperware container so I can salt test all my hydrometers at once.

As far as an update, I think we have more or less solved it, my smaller cigars, Romeo 1,2,3s are now smoking much better. My larger cigars churchills and Siglos are smoking better but I think they need to dry out a bit more.

Great news! You'll get to, and maintain, your sweetspot soon. I would also encourage you to follow-up on what @CigarStone said about the colloidal silver.. especially with all the trial and error. He also was just making a general reminder about Cuban cigars.

Lastly, and I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the devices are hygrometers, no 'd' anywhere. I know it seems odd, but it's something a LOT of people do initially since hydro seems to make more sense.

Hopefully you pulled your sticks back from the abyss after all this.. keep us posted! 👍
 
Just figured I'd toss up a photo of one I'm enjoying at the moment.

The cigar is burning pretty well, not going out, an easy draw, ash is forming nicely and its not getting too hot or soggy.

Just wanted to say thanks for the help so far.
 

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Just figured I'd toss up a photo of one I'm enjoying at the moment.

The cigar is burning pretty well, not going out, an easy draw, ash is forming nicely and its not getting too hot or soggy.

Just wanted to say thanks for the help so far.

That would be a great stick to add to the Today's Smoke 2022 thread.
 
Just figured I'd toss up a photo of one I'm enjoying at the moment.

The cigar is burning pretty well, not going out, an easy draw, ash is forming nicely and its not getting too hot or soggy.

Just wanted to say thanks for the help so far.
Do you dry box any of your sticks before smoking?
 
Sorry, not sure if this is directed at me, as I don't think I said anything about where I got them.
Sorry for the confusion. I was just making sure we didn't step into a discussion of where you bought your cigars.
 
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