i have a humidipak for doing the calibration. is this reliable? never done a test
....depends on the age of the humidpak, unless it's one of the ones meant for hygro calibration. The salt test is easy to do and dead accurate if done right:
Plagiarized from a post Mark @ Cigarmony (N2Adventure) made with my observations / comments added:
How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer:
1. Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and
add a few drops of distilled water - NOT enough to dissolve the salt,
just enough to moisten it. You want the slurry to be thick and pasty.
-> I use a shot glass as it's easy to see how much salt / water you have in there.
2. Put the cap inside of an air tight zip lock or plastic container
along with your hygrometer. Then seal the bag or container
(Tupperware works well).
-> I have always "double bagged" my tests in two zip lock bags. That or a mason jar seems to work best.
3. Wait 24 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without
opening the bag or container (or quickly open the container and check
if the container is not clear).
-> At least 12 hours, no more than 24
If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no
adjustment is required.
If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75%
by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done
immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room
conditions cause the reading to change.
If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then
you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference
between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual
humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer
test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get
inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity
(e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity
level of 65%).
....there you have it. Easy to do and works every time.
But....if you're getting up to 75 / 75 or more with your RH and temps, wrapper splitting is easy to imagine.
I'll say it one more time - RH is a
personal preference so use / smoke what you like best.
Good luck - B.B.S.
