Anyone tried Aqua Gems?

[LostAbbott]

Your right T.G I am guessing/hoping. People use kitty litter? That sounds a little gross.

Seeing as how some have commented that my risk is larger than I think. What kind of risk am I looking at going with these instead of cigar specific beads?

[T.G]

Originally Posted by LostAbbott

Your right T.G I am guessing/hoping. People use kitty litter? That sounds a little gross.

Seeing as how some have commented that my risk is larger than I think. What kind of risk am I looking at going with these instead of cigar specific beads?

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means...

You're misusing or misunderstanding what "beads" are. "Beads", in the cigar humidification sense are a solid, rigid, often silica based, humidity control medium that comes in the shape of tiny beads (1/16" diameter or so) that functions as a 2-way humidity control substance - it both releases and absorbs moisture to maintain a certain pre-set humidity level.

Heartfelt is one well established supplier of trusted bead based humidity control products.

Comparing the Aqua Gems to beads is really an apples to oranges comparison.

Aqua-Gems are a super-absorbent polymer gel, not a bead, they just happen to come in a spherical shape. What you should be comparing the Aqua Gems to is other super-absorbent polymer humidification gels found in products such as Drymistat tubes and Humi-Care Crystal Gel jars. Gel humidifiers do work, and can maintain a set humidity, but they are less than ideal for climates where the humidity goes above their "set point" as they are kind of sluggish to absorb humidity out of the air and lower the RH in a humidor. Beads react much quicker to changes and seem to work about equally well/quickly for both raising and lowering humidity.

Now, as for your risk... *shrug* I dunno. Assuming that the aqua gems are in fact non-toxic as claimed, which they probably are, your max risk is the value of the cigars you are humidifying plus the value of the humidor, if something happens that were to contaminate the humidor and make it unusable.

As for the kitty litter, there are some unscented litter "pearls" that are pretty much just silica and because of this and their nature to absorb moisture in the form of cat urine and then slowly release the water to evaporation, there are some who feel that KL is equal to, if not completely identical to, it's cigar bead counterpart and for the cost of about $10 for 7 lbs they are getting exactly the same thing as the cigar beads which are about $30 a pound.

One can spend quite a lot of money on cigars, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of dollars over the years. Why **** around with the unknown and put your whole collection and humidor at risk, just to try and try to save a few dollars, and in this case, aqua gems versus humi-care gel, it really is only a few bucks you are going to save at the most.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by LostAbbott

...Seeing as how some have commented that my risk is larger than I think. What kind of risk am I looking at going with these instead of cigar specific beads?

Originally Posted by T.G

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means...

You're misusing or misunderstanding what "beads" are. "Beads", in the cigar humidification sense are a solid, rigid, often silica based, humidity control medium that comes in the shape of tiny beads (1/16" diameter or so) that functions as a 2-way humidity control substance - it both releases and absorbs moisture to maintain a certain pre-set humidity level.
...

HCM Beads are different from both the Aqua Gems and Heartfelt beads. They are much smaller (about .5 to 1mm in diameter) and are made of clay (rather than a polymer); they absorb as well as release humidity (as does Heartfelt).

The HCM beads can be set to any desired RH. While I am certainly biased toward the HCM beads (Shilala's Beads), both products are good and will do the job for you.

The risk you are taking with your cigars getting moldy by using Aqua Gems is IMHO too great.

Originally Posted by CigarNut

HCM Beads are different from both the Aqua Gems and Heartfelt beads. They are much smaller (about .5 to 1mm in diameter) and are made of clay (rather than a polymer); they absorb as well as release humidity (as does Heartfelt).

The HCM beads can be set to any desired RH. While I am certainly biased toward the HCM beads (Shilala's Beads), both products are good and will do the job for you.

The risk you are taking with your cigars getting moldy by using Aqua Gems is IMHO too great.

In the scheme of things, spending the extra dough on a tested humidity device is just a better idea to know you're cigars are going to be safe. Why spend thousands on cigars only to save 15$ on humidity? At least you asked first

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

HCM Beads are different from both the Aqua Gems and Heartfelt beads. They are much smaller (about .5 to 1mm in diameter) and are made of clay (rather than a polymer); they absorb as well as release humidity (as does Heartfelt).

The HCM beads can be set to any desired RH. While I am certainly biased toward the HCM beads (Shilala's Beads), both products are good and will do the job for you.

The risk you are taking with your cigars getting moldy by using Aqua Gems is IMHO too great.

I use HCM beads as well, my father's humidor uses a Humi-Care jar. His humidity fluctuates anywhere from 69-72 RH... My humidity is rock solid at 65, which is what my beads are set for. Even so, he does not see the advantage, his philosophy is more relaxed about cigars, where as mine, I want everything to be perfect. It all comes down to preference and how anal retentive you get about it.

I have never used Heartfelt beads so I cannot comment, but the HCM beads I got from www.shilalasbeads.com have worked perfectly for me. I plan to purchase some more soon for a 2nd Humidor I just picked up for storing Flavor Infused cigars.

The way I see it, I have about 200 cigars worth hundreds of dollars in cash. Spending 20-30 dollars on humidification that is proven time and time again is a small price to pay. Why risk your cigars with an experiment that will only save you a few bucks.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

HCM Beads are different from both the Aqua Gems and Heartfelt beads. They are much smaller (about .5 to 1mm in diameter) and are made of clay (rather than a polymer); they absorb as well as release humidity (as does Heartfelt).

The HCM beads can be set to any desired RH. While I am certainly biased toward the HCM beads (Shilala's Beads), both products are good and will do the job for you.

The risk you are taking with your cigars getting moldy by using Aqua Gems is IMHO too great.

That's why I said "often silica based" - because I know HCM beads are the exception, but it was getting too wordy to put that in there. Plus, you eventually chimining in with a sales pitch is basically a given on these threads.

BTW, HF beads aren't polymers, the gel is a polymer product.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by T.G

That's why I said "often silica based" - because I know HCM beads are the exception, but it was getting too wordy to put that in there. Plus, you eventually chimining in with a sales pitch is basically a given on these threads.

BTW, HF beads aren't polymers, the gel is a polymer product.

I try very hard NOT to do the sales pitches and I think I am doing alright. I do try to state the facts and let people know that there is an alternative. You are the only one complaining...

As far as I know the Silica products use a polymer coating to set the RH.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

I try very hard NOT to do the sales pitches and I think I am doing alright. I do try to state the facts and let people know that there is an alternative. You are the only one complaining...

As far as I know the Silica products use a polymer coating to set the RH.

I'm not complaining - the implication there was that it was too wordy for me to explain the differences of a singular product, but knew you would fly in and do it for me.

See, it's not about you. It's about me being lazy and not wanting to type up a big technical dissertation on how your product is different.

Originally Posted by T.G

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means...

Inconceivable!!!

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by clintgeek

Inconceivable!!!

Thank you for your contribution to this thread. Your insight has been most useful.

Great review.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Thank you for your contribution to this thread. Your insight has been most useful.

Great review.

It was a line from the same movie (Princess Bride), Bob.