RH Circumstances

DrBob's science project was informative and interesting. And then I had questions...

Being in a more humid environment, yet storing sticks in a fermentation chamber set in the mid 60's, which has to lower the humidity a fair bit, especially as it's indoors as well, would it be best to maybe keep bulk sticks in a coolador indoors using 69% RH Bovedas as well as keeping sticks up to bat in tuppadors also with 69% assuming the fermentation chamber (converted chest freezer) will draw a bit of the humidity out, or might 65% Bovedas still be ideal?

I must say I did not like the smokes that sat for long (over a month) with the Xikar 70% solution with a Drymistat tube. I found these closer to 72% RH and saw burn issues a few times.

The issue is that you have to take into consideration the ambient temperature and your RH%.

I mentioned it in another thread, but I'll mention it again here.: 70% RH at 70 F is not the same as 70% RH at 80 F. There is going to be more moisture in the air at 80 F, because warmer air "holds" more moisture VS cooler air. In other words, you're still holding steady at 70% RH, but it's 70% of more moisture!

Were the sticks that had burn issues stored in that fermentation chamber? If so, then yes, I'd try a lower RH. Want me to mail you some 65% Boveda packs? :)

Bovedas are on sale at cigar place right now for %30 off. Good price to try out different RH

@Zeede : Indeed they were stored there as it's the only sub 70* place I have without major complaints here (we've compromised on 74-75*).

I appreciate the offer of Bovedas but I'm thinking I'll see for awhile how 69% does, which has been by far much better so far.

I'll look for the thread in which you talk about temp and RH.

As this house has no vent-a-hood (it was a small 2 bedroom farm house moved and added on to it) I crank the A/C down a few degrees on brew days as I brew indoors (I love the smell so much I sometimes go outside to get it all again!), but we don't mention that around here!

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Originally Posted by Zeede

The issue is that you have to take into consideration the ambient temperature and your RH%.

I mentioned it in another thread, but I'll mention it again here.: 70% RH at 70 F is not the same as 70% RH at 80 F. There is going to be more moisture in the air at 80 F, because warmer air "holds" more moisture VS cooler air. In other words, you're still holding steady at 70% RH, but it's 70% of more moisture!

Were the sticks that had burn issues stored in that fermentation chamber? If so, then yes, I'd try a lower RH. Want me to mail you some 65% Boveda packs? :)

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if your using boveda this wont matter if its 70/70 or 70/80 because boveda adjusts to the moister change from the temperature change. thats why Boveda is so great. literally set it and forget it lol. if your are storing in a environment that is in the 60s @rodwha the boveda will just have to work harder to keep the RH higher in the cooler temp than but it will still be the same RH. in theory a typical tupperdor is not a constant temp because as the day passes there is small fluctuations in temperature. morning and night being cooler and day being warmer. i have seen my temp flex a few degrees but RH never changed with it

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Originally Posted by Demuths1770

if your using boveda this wont matter if its 70/70 or 70/80 because boveda adjusts to the moister change from the temperature change. thats why Boveda is so great. literally set it and forget it lol. if your are storing in a environment that is in the 60s @rodwha the boveda will just have to work harder to keep the RH higher in the cooler temp than but it will still be the same RH. in theory a typical tupperdor is not a constant temp because as the day passes there is small fluctuations in temperature. morning and night being cooler and day being warmer. i have seen my temp flex a few degrees but RH never changed with it

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It will maintain the same Relative Humidity, but there will be more moisture in the air if the temperature is higher. That's why 80% humidity when it's 85 F out like it can be in Florida in the summer feels awful, but if you were to be in a cold environment at 80% humidity it would not feel nearly as humid.

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Originally Posted by Zeede

It will maintain the same Relative Humidity, but there will be more moisture in the air if the temperature is higher. That's why 80% humidity when it's 85 F out like it can be in Florida in the summer feels awful, but if you were to be in a cold environment at 80% humidity it would not feel nearly as humid.

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Relative humidity in the air is what's important when it comes to maintaining the moisture content of the cigars. If you want your cigars to maintain a constant moisture content, then you want a constant relative humidity.

Temperature vs humidity

Very informative. Thanks!

75 degrees is too hot for cigar storage.

*shrug*

It's way warmer than 70 F in the cigar producing countries, most of the time, but at any rate, @rodwha , definitely try some lower RH% and see how you like it!

Where does one get those small Boveda packs? I could easily use one of my long but small tupperwares that hold about 6 sticks.

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Originally Posted by rodwha

Where does one get those small Boveda packs? I could easily use one of my long but small tupperwares that hold about 6 sticks.

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Maybe your local B&M...Mine has them...otherwise, online wherever bovedas are sold.

I'm not aware of a B&M anywhere near me. At best there is a walk-in humidor at the liquor stores. Maybe they'll carry them.

I'm in no hurry though as 69% seems to do me well. I was just curious and figured a little one might be worth it to try in a tuppordor that holds about 6 sticks.

From the map, you don't seem to be all that far, especially by Texas standards, from Austin. There are many good shops there. It also appears that this shop is in Lakeway: The Cigar Room :: Home
To locate shops that carry Boveda packs, you can look here: Retailer Locations | Boveda® Official Site | Find Boveda Here! To shop online, just Google and you'll find plenty of retailers.

Hmmm... I only knew the Cigar Room to be a cigar lounge. I haven't been in there.

Austin isn't too far, but traffic sucks so bad we generally don't go there. We tend to stay in the Lakeway/Bee Cave bubble.