How to Calibrate a Hygrometer

Digital  or Analog  hygrometers are used to measure humidity levels inside of humidors. Digital hygrometers are usually more accurate and reliable than analog. Regardless of what kind, it is important to maintain a humidity level of 68% to 72% inside of a humidor to properly preserve and age cigars. In order to monitor and adjust the humidity level inside of your humidor, the reading on the hygrometer must be somewhat accurate (plus or minus 2%).

How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer

Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and add a few drops of water (not enough to dissolve the salt).

Put the cap inside of a baggie or plastic container along with your hygrometer, and seal the bag.

Wait 6 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without opening the bag (or immediately after removing). If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no adjustment is required.

If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75% by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room conditions cause the reading to change.

If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity (e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity level of 65%).

Hygrometers should be tested at least once a year, and recalibrated if necessary. When I tested two of my analog hygrometers at the same time (see photo), the cheap plastic one measured 12% under while the better chrome model measured 2% over. Although I recalibrated both models, I plan to replace the cheap one with a new digital hygrometer. If you invested in a good humidor, do not risk storing and aging your cigars improperly by relying on a cheap or faulty hygrometer.<

How To Restore Dry Cigars

It has happened to all of us at one time or another. You simply forgot about that nice box of stogies you had in the trunk of your car for 3 months...well, hopefully not that long. I always get asked what you can do to restore dried cigars.

The most important thing to remember is that restoring a dried cigar takes time--lots of time and patience. Don't be in a hurry to get the job done.

Step 1:

Put your cigars in a non-humidified humidor. If this doesn't exist, then you can use a Ziploc bag with some holes poked in it. You want to bring the cigars to a steady humidity level that is much less than 70 percent. Let them sit in this environment for about 2-3 days.

Step 2:

Dampen a fresh, clean sponge with distilled water. Place it inside the Ziploc bag, and allow it to sit there, not touching any cigars, for at least one more week. This will slowly add humidity to the cigars at a rate that will prevent the wrappers from bursting.

Step 3

After two weeks, your cigars should start to look a lot healthier. Put them in your charged, maintained humidor at this point. Don't smoke them yet. Let them rest for while. I would suggest a month or two, just to make sure things are back to normal. Then you can feel free to smoke to your heart’s content.

This has taken me some time to perfect, and i still play around with it from time to time, however following the above steps will increase your chances of resurrecting that dried out cigar..