Seasoning a humidor with boveda packs.

[oooo35980]

So the cedar could end up drying out my cigars as it saturates, and not just the Boveda packs, it makes sense. I have some god awful cigars I got from the nex I think I'll throw them in and see if they dry out, thx guys.

[jluck]

Originally Posted by oooo35980

So the cedar could end up drying out my cigars as it saturates, and not just the Boveda packs, it makes sense. I have some god awful cigars I got from the nex I think I'll throw them in and see if they dry out, thx guys.

Why not just trash the cigars and season it correctly? Why start a thread asking for information, getting needed info and sage advice then come back with..." I'll just do it my way anyway".
When you do get some quality cigars are the going in this unseasoned humidor?

[oooo35980]

Originally Posted by jluck

Why not just trash the cigars and season it correctly? Why start a thread asking for information, getting needed info and sage advice then come back with..." I'll just do it my way anyway".
When you do get some quality cigars are the going in this unseasoned humidor?

I have a good many quality cigars, they aren't going in until I'm satisfied it is safe to put them in there. But I also like to experiment, so I'll be checking to see if Boveda packs can regulate RH while at the same time seasoning the humidor. Is the bowl of water necessary for 2 weeks, or can you wipe down the inside of the humi a few times and be OK? Will the Boveda packs do both? I don't know and haven't heard any convincing data either way. I'm not asking for sage advice on how to season a humidor, I am asking if anyone has a good reason this will not work.

Here is the idea.

1. Boveda packs have moisture, which will add humidity to the inside of the humidor, the cedar will absorb said moisture until it can no longer do so, resulting in "saturation" ie "seasoning". Over time.

2. Boveda packs regulate RH to a specific number, meaning the inside of the humidor will stay at that Rh, making it safe to store cigars inside the humidor while the wood "seasons". It will be necessary to keep a close eye on RH because it is possible the Bovedas will run out of moisture before the wood reaches saturation

I'm not calling into question the traditional seasoning method, I am just curious if, given the advent of fancy RH packs, beads, etc, is taking the wood to complete saturation before putting anything in the humidor really necessary? In a couple weeks I'll take out the Bovedas and see if the humidor retains a stable RH, if it does and my crappy cigars aren't dried out, then I will have my answer.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by oooo35980

...is taking the wood to complete saturation before putting anything in the humidor really necessary? ...

That is what seasoning is. Otherwise you are just using the humidor as a box and you would be better off with a Tupperware container.

[bobarian]

http://www.bovedadirect.com/products....cfm?ITEM_ID=5

Brilliant, just brilliant.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by bobarian

http://www.bovedadirect.com/products....cfm?ITEM_ID=5

Brilliant, just brilliant.

Agreed that these are a good thing -- but the OP wants to use the 69% packs with his cigars...

All I can say is good luck... You're going to need it...

[oooo35980]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

That is what seasoning is. Otherwise you are just using the humidor as a box and you would be better off with a Tupperware container.

It will be like a box until the cedar absorbs all the moisture it can from the bovedas, then it should behave like any normal humidor. If my thinking is correct it should behave like any other humidor that was seasoned without cigars in it. Only it was seasoned with cigars in it. Question is, will it hurt the cigars, I'm just asking if there are any huge problems in my logic, or anything I overlooked.

[jluck]

Originally Posted by oooo35980

It will be like a box until the cedar absorbs all the moisture it can from the bovedas, then it should behave like any normal humidor. If my thinking is correct it should behave like any other humidor that was seasoned without cigars in it. Only it was seasoned with cigars in it. Question is, will it hurt the cigars, I'm just asking if there are any huge problems in my logic, or anything I overlooked.

I believe you cigars will absorb moisture first and act as a tobacco flavored sponge. Do it I'm curious.

[oooo35980]

Originally Posted by jluck

I believe you cigars will absorb moisture first and act as a tobacco flavored sponge. Do it I'm curious.

You might be right, but the Bovedas should keep humidity below 69% so properly humidified cigars won't absorb an inordinate amount of moisture, since the wood is drier it will absorb all of it, to about 69%. Then the Bovedas should keep the RH stable, my main concern is whether 69% packs will season the wood sufficiently.

We shall see.