Toulouse 125 count humidor

[aschwaller]

I recently just purchased this toulouse humidor. I wont have it til the end of the month, but I was wondering if anyone has owned one and what they thought about it. Also if there were any step by step guides to seasoning the humidor and calibrating the hygrometer. Any replies will help.

Thanks

 

[aschwaller]

https://www.google.com/search?q=125...CoDA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=775#imgrc=_

 

[tapout]

just use a sponge and distilled water and wipe it down every bit of it Just dont drench it

 

[tapout]

the hydrometer do a salt test bottle cap and put salt and a little bit of water and put it in a zip lock bag for about 24 hours . youtube is ur best friend

 

[Kelvin]

Definitely do the salt test - is it digital or analog? Definitely spend a couple of bucks if you don't have the digital. It's worth it to get an accurate reading - you are going to invest a lot in these cigars - make sure they are smoking great.

I have never wiped down the humidor. Not saying that you can't, I just never have. I just put the humidification device in for a few days until it was at the right RH. I am surprised that we don't have a thread dedicated to this somewhere. Might have to do a little search.

 

[Kelvin]

Check out this thread - scroll down a little bit until you get to dbrad's post.

http://cigarforums.com/cigar-humidors/28302-humidor-bind.html

 

[aschwaller]

Yeah the more ive been reading its a good idea to get a digi. It comes with an analog and ive seen all the salt tests. I didnt know if i should try that first or go straight to the digi. Im new at the humidor. Ive smoked cig's for a while and am going to get into cigars now so i want to get the right information before i regret ruining my new smokes. Thanks for the comments. Also is it ok wipe down the humidor. Ive watched many videos and they all say for seasoning to wipe down the humidor.

 

[Dustinl]

Welcome to the forum!

I'll offer up how I season my humidors.

I don't wipe anything down. I take a shot glass of distiller water and microwave it until it's pretty hot. Not boiling, but just before boiling. It should have steam coming off of the water. I stick that in my humidor for at least 24 hours, and then repeat two more times for a total of 72 hours. This is the way I have seasoned my humidors. Works excellent. I know people who wipe down the insides of their humidors with no problems. On the other hand I have also heard several horror stories about the humidor liner getting warped, or mold forming due to excess moisture. To each his own, I'm not wiping down my humidors.


DL

 

[Dustinl]

I apologize if that sounded stand-offish. That isn't my intent. Just giving you another method to consider. I actually learned the shot glass method from a member on here several years ago.



DL

 

[stealth007s]

That shot glass method is interesting DL. I'll have to remember it.

 

[aschwaller]

Thanks

No its fine. Im somewhat hesistant to wipe down my new humidor just for the simple fact that when you wipe down cedar it expands more than normal wood. I would rather try the shot glass technique. Will i only need one shot glass for the 125 count humidor?

 

[Dustinl]

125 count sounds like a desk top. I think a shot glass or something similar sized would work fine. For my cabinet I used a small glass bowl. Put it in your humidor while it is still steaming. The cedar liner will absorb enough without having to wipe the inside. Any way you go, use distilled water so there are no impurities that could stimulate mold growth.


DL

 

[aschwaller]

And as for a analog or digi hygrometer, what are your suggestions. Should I try out the one that comes with it or get a digital one right away.

 

[Dustinl]

Personally I don't use a hygrometer anymore. I'll explain in a moment.

When first starting out, I went with digital. Using the method that tapout described above, I calibrated the hygrometers (plural because I have four humidors). After a couple of years, I switched my humidification to RH beads. After using RH beads for about a year, I came to trust them and decided that I didn't need to use hygrometers.

Not sure how much effort and money you are planning on putting into this, but if money isn't an issue, you may really want to consider looking into the beads. Actually they are relatively inexpensive.

You can find them here: www.heartfeltindustries.com or www.cigarmony.com. And I think Cigarmony's direct link to their beads is www.getthepuck.com.

I use "the Puck" in my three desk tops and heartfelt in my cabinet.

So the idea is that you buy the beads in the RH that you want. I prefer my cigars kept at 63-65 RH. I purchased 65rh beads. Now my hygrometers were already calibrated correctly. After a couple of years of using 65 beads and seeing my hygrometers constantly reading 64-65, I decided that the beads were indeed working and ditched the hygrometers all together.

I am an obsessive kind of person. Do a search on my posts from 6 or 7 years ago and you will find that I worried a lot about my humidity. Even when it was right, I still worried about my hygrometers. This hobby is supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing. The beads made the worry go away. They are foolproof and they work. I haven't checked my RH in a long time and my cigars smoke perfect. Well to my liking at any rate.

But to answer your question, don't use or rely on an analog hygrometer.

DL

 

[Dustinl]

BTW, thank you for asking questions! It stimulates conversation and is good for the forum.


DL

 

[aschwaller]

ok cool. The guy that works at the local shop said that he uses the beads for humidification and that they work the best. he also said to get a digi right away because the analog ones are usually off. Plus the hygormeter coming with the humidor is displayed on the inside and not on the outside so it doesnt matter for the cosmetic factor. I will just get the beads and digi. Thanks for your help and I will be posting often to get reviews on cigars and asking questions. Im also very obsessive when it comes to things i spend a decent amount of money on so this all helps and is greatly appreciated.

 

[Dustinl]

You are more than welcome! Glad you're here! Keep us posted.



DL

 

[Dustinl]

I got to thinking about salt tests and was about to post another thread in regards to this, but I noticed it is stickied and my question was answered. I believe castlecrest posted the question years ago. At any rate, I'll go ahead and post it in this thread for the sake of discussion.

When I first learned about the salt test, I was told to only use kosher salt. So that's all I've ever used. Granted I don't use hygrometers anymore, just always thought it was interesting and wondered the difference between kosher and regular salt.

Thoughts?


DL

 

[tonygraz]

Perhaps you could use regular salt that was blessed by a Rabbi.

 

[aschwaller]

I recieved the humidor and seasoned it. I put the beads in the humidor and it seems to be reading around 65% humidity on my digi hygrometer. I thought the beads were supposed to keep it at around 70% and dont know if there is a problem keeping them at a lower humidity. I will post pictures when I get off work later.