Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)

[joetownhound]

I have a HygroSet round adjustable digital hygrometer that I've tried to Calibrate using the salt test. I've followed the instruction of using a bottle top filled with salt that is damped and not soaked. After leaving it for 6 hours to started and then over night the highest I could get it to read is around 38 and 39%. I have turned the dial both ways and still the highest is 38 or 39. Can anyone tell me how to set it or do I have to buy another one. The one that I have it the one picture here http://www.cigarmony.com/index.asp?P...PROD&ProdID=81

[bobarian]

Joe, Your salt may not be we enough. You want a slurry, wet but not a solution of dissolved salt. Salt test a minimum of 24 hours. If you think the hygrometer may be bad, wrap it in a moistened paper towel for a few hours and it should read near 100%.

[rack04]

I recently pulled a 300 ct humidor out of retirement. During it's 9 month retirement it sat completely empty. Due to my immediate need for this additional space I was only able to season it a couple days. I have 8 oz of 65% humidity beads and the hygrometer has been calibrated. The humidor has approximately 200 cigars in it. I've noticed that I can't reach humidity levels above 58%. Last night I went as far as to wipe down the inside of the humidor with distilled water. This helped raise the humidity to 65% but this only lasted a couple days. I think this humidor is soaking up moisture like a sponge because it sat for such a long time empty. Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by rack04

I recently pulled a 300 ct humidor out of retirement. During it's 9 month retirement it sat completely empty. Due to my immediate need for this additional space I was only able to season it a couple days. I have 8 oz of 65% humidity beads and the hygrometer has been calibrated. The humidor has approximately 200 cigars in it. I've noticed that I can't reach humidity levels above 58%. Last night I went as far as to wipe down the inside of the humidor with distilled water. This helped raise the humidity to 65% but this only lasted a couple days. I think this humidor is soaking up moisture like a sponge because it sat for such a long time empty. Any thoughts?

I broke a 50 count humidor out of retirement a few months ago and it took about three or four rounds of seasoning before it held humidity. I didn't put cigars in until it held humidity for a few days. Good luck

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by Beer Doctor

I broke a 50 count humidor out of retirement a few months ago and it took about three or four rounds of seasoning before it held humidity. I didn't put cigars in until it held humidity for a few days. Good luck

Originally Posted by rack04

I recently pulled a 300 ct humidor out of retirement. During it's 9 month retirement it sat completely empty. Due to my immediate need for this additional space I was only able to season it a couple days. I have 8 oz of 65% humidity beads and the hygrometer has been calibrated. The humidor has approximately 200 cigars in it. I've noticed that I can't reach humidity levels above 58%. Last night I went as far as to wipe down the inside of the humidor with distilled water. This helped raise the humidity to 65% but this only lasted a couple days. I think this humidor is soaking up moisture like a sponge because it sat for such a long time empty. Any thoughts?

I have found that the best way to properly season a humidor is to simply place a bowl of water in the humidor and leave the lid closed for 7-14 days.

This ensures that the wood has absorbed it capacity of water vapor and will hold humidity properly.

I do not recommend wiping down the wood directly with water as this may cause the wood to warp, possibly ruining the seal.

I hope this helps

~Mark

I have a wooden humidor that keeps fairly good humidity but it only holds about 50. I was wondering if I could use a water tight plastic box like the ones you use on a boat to keep things dry. Anyone ever tried it?

[68TriShield]

Originally Posted by BrokenSkeg

I have a wooden humidor that keeps fairly good humidity but it only holds about 50. I was wondering if I could use a water tight plastic box like the ones you use on a boat to keep things dry. Anyone ever tried it?

A good zip lock bag will work fine. A air tight container isn't the best for storage.

I have been givin a Donatus Solingen germany cutter. I am trying to find out how Do I sharpen this thing? Do I have to dismantle it? and if so how do I go about doing this? Any info on this would be great. who would have thunk there is so little info for such a great cutter.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Sherlockholms

I have been givin a Donatus Solingen germany cutter. I am trying to find out how Do I sharpen this thing? Do I have to dismantle it? and if so how do I go about doing this? Any info on this would be great. who would have thunk there is so little info for such a great cutter.

Does it look something like this?


The blade isn't removable.

You could disassemble it by knocking the pivot pin out, but that could destroy the cutter and might require access to a machine shop to properly reassemble.

FWIW - Solingen isn't part of the company name, it's the city where the company is located. Many manufacturers of high quality steel knives, tools and cutlery have been located there for many hundreds of years, and some of the best steel in the country comes out of there. It's both a pride thing and stamp of quality - it's not just German steel, it's steel forged in Solingen, Germany, a step above. All the steel forging companies located in that city stamp Solingen Germany on their product to show it's (superior) origins.

That is exactly what it is. Thanks for the info on what Solingen is. I have been doing some searches on it and have came across allot of sites that make knifes, scissors etc. as well. Well, I was thinking of finding a way of knocking the pins out but that would be a major pain. Is there a way to sharpen the front blade through the V-cut slot? I have seen these cutters go for quite a bit of money, you would think there would be some way to sharpen them. Thanks again for the info T.G.!