Beads... What's up with them?

[McPhenius]

Since I am still new to cigars and the forum, I am just learning about the beads. But I am curious. Some say "just get beads and toss your hygrometers" others say you still need a hygrometer.

I have a 200 count desktop humidor, what type of beads would be good for that? Online I have seen them at 70% and 60%. I assume this means what the humidity will stay at. In south Florida, which is the best for me? Should I go with a 150-300 count size bead unit? Even if I have less than 150 cigars in my humidor?

If I go with a beads thing, will I need to have my humidifiers in my humidor still? Lastly, I assume the beads are easy to take care of, but how do you know when you need to recharge them and do you simply use distilled water in them?

Thanks

 

[Sunward]

there is a search option, on the top task bar. try viper or heartfelt- he even has instructions.

 

[Gumbeaux]

Since I am still new to cigars and the forum, I am just learning about the beads. But I am curious. Some say "just get beads and toss your hygrometers" others say you still need a hygrometer.

I have a 200 count desktop humidor, what type of beads would be good for that? Online I have seen them at 70% and 60%. I assume this means what the humidity will stay at. In south Florida, which is the best for me? Should I go with a 150-300 count size bead unit? Even if I have less than 150 cigars in my humidor?

If I go with a beads thing, will I need to have my humidifiers in my humidor still? Lastly, I assume the beads are easy to take care of, but how do you know when you need to recharge them and do you simply use distilled water in them?

Thanks

I'd recommend a hygrometer. Better safe than sorry, and with it, you're 100% sure of when you need to recharge the beads.

As for the % humidity, that's all personal preference. From what I've read on here, most folks like 65%. I like 70% personally.

As for quantity, I'd go with as many as you have room for. The more you have, the less frequently you have to recharge. Plus, if you need to split them up later when you add a second humidor, you can do so without ordering more beads. I wish I had gone that route initially.

The beads are extremely easy to take care of and work as advertised. They actually change colors as their humidity drops, so you know when to recharge if you don't have a hygrometer.

 

[viper139]

Since I am still new to cigars and the forum, I am just learning about the beads. But I am curious. Some say "just get beads and toss your hygrometers" others say you still need a hygrometer.

I have a 200 count desktop humidor, what type of beads would be good for that? Online I have seen them at 70% and 60%. I assume this means what the humidity will stay at. In south Florida, which is the best for me? Should I go with a 150-300 count size bead unit? Even if I have less than 150 cigars in my humidor?

If I go with a beads thing, will I need to have my humidifiers in my humidor still? Lastly, I assume the beads are easy to take care of, but how do you know when you need to recharge them and do you simply use distilled water in them?

Thanks

I'd recommend a hygrometer. Better safe than sorry, and with it, you're 100% sure of when you need to recharge the beads.

As for the % humidity, that's all personal preference. From what I've read on here, most folks like 65%. I like 70% personally.

As for quantity, I'd go with as many as you have room for. The more you have, the less frequently you have to recharge. Plus, if you need to split them up later when you add a second humidor, you can do so without ordering more beads. I wish I had gone that route initially.

The beads are extremely easy to take care of and work as advertised. They actually change colors as their humidity drops, so you know when to recharge if you don't have a hygrometer.

Excellent answer......I agree.

 

[Gumbeaux]

Glad I got it right, but I left out one thing.

Order your beads from Viper. I did and the transaction was flawless. He runs a first class operation. Everyone on here will agree.

 

[mingkou]

I bought beads about 3 weeks ago and they are perfect. I have a 150 count humidor with 3 sawed-off 20oz soda bottles as containers. Before the beads were in it I had two hygrometers giving readings from 58-72% depending on a variety of circumstances. Since then, they have both been at exactly 65% and haven't budged at all. I have half left that I will use on whatever comes next in terms of storage. I wouldn't worry about screwing up on recharging them or anything like that; they are practically fool-proof.

 

[McPhenius]

I picked up a small jar of the crystal gel and my wife brought up an interesting point. Although not worth the effort, but neat nonetheless.

She said it looked like the same absorbant gel that is used in baby diapers. Being that we have one in diapers, she took one (dry and new) and opened it. Then she put water on the dry stuff and it expanded into a gel.

She insists it's the same stuff. I told her not to quit her day job.

Is she right?

there is a search option, on the top task bar. try viper or heartfelt- he even has instructions.

I have visited Heartfelt. But I did a search of Viper Beads and I see alot of topics and read some of the "props" for them. I couldn't find a web address for them though.

 

[Strayvector]

I picked up a small jar of the crystal gel and my wife brought up an interesting point. Although not worth the effort, but neat nonetheless.

She said it looked like the same absorbant gel that is used in baby diapers. Being that we have one in diapers, she took one (dry and new) and opened it. Then she put water on the dry stuff and it expanded into a gel.

She insists it's the same stuff. I told her not to quit her day job.

Is she right?

there is a search option, on the top task bar. try viper or heartfelt- he even has instructions.

I have visited Heartfelt. But I did a search of Viper Beads and I see alot of topics and read some of the "props" for them. I couldn't find a web address for them though.

Look at viper139's signature tag in his post above. Click the provided link.

 

[McPhenius]

Look at viper139's signature tag in his post above. Click the provided link.

So it's the same as Heartfelt Ind. I already have them book marked, so the term "Viper Beads" is not the name of the beads. I found the bead tubes and beads by the pound on his website.

 

[viper139]

Some have come to call them Viper's beads as my nickname is Viper139. They are actually Heartfelt Beads.