the problem with the stock pucks is they are just a sponge, so even if you use distilled water you basiclly have a petri dish, and there is no control or leveling of humidity. thr PG, gels, beads are all hygroscopic which mean they all abosorb and release humidity, the compounds used in these products are all balanced to mantain a certain humidty and they act as antibacterial agents too. with just a sponge and water(even distilled) you get none of these qualities.

Cigar.com Humidor Care Guide

As soon as I can afford it I am going to invest in some beads but that might be months away. How would you go about setting beads in a small 20ct humidor? There is no room in it to set a dish or anything else unless I mount it where the puck was.

I usually take the foam out of the casing and replace it with beads in a panty hose foot bundle. That way it hangs, but doesn't fall out if it hangs upside down.

nsezell:

I usually take the foam out of the casing and replace it with beads in a panty hose foot bundle. That way it hangs, but doesn't fall out if it hangs upside down.

I might give that a try. Thanks for the suggestions.

well i broke down and ran off to the local shop today and picked up a new humidification device. Its a plastic tube the size of a corona that is full of the gel/crystal stuff. You simply fill to the line on the tube with water and let it absorb. Just need to go pick up a hydrometer to keep it in check but i think this will work well. (fingers crossed)

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"*** your hat - angles are attitudes."
- Frank Sinatra

One2gofst:

You definately want a hygrometer. As you said you should also use distilled water. Also, did you use PG mixed with the water? If not, the combo of no PG/tap water along with not knowing your RH% is what led to your mold.

One, I just wanted to correct you here. PG does not prevent mold. The pupose in PG is to regulate the release of water into the air. Its not as good as say Beads at regulating RH but it helps. Some of the worst mold I have seen grew on a device saturated with PG. You also have to be careful with PG because if you use it too often it will saturate your sponge and no water will be able to soak into and basically you have rendered it useless.

I'm with most everyone else in here, the beads or crystals/gels are the best way to go. Unless of course you have the room and money to go the cigar oasis route :).

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madurofan:

One2gofst:

You definately want a hygrometer. As you said you should also use distilled water. Also, did you use PG mixed with the water? If not, the combo of no PG/tap water along with not knowing your RH% is what led to your mold.

One, I just wanted to correct you here. PG does not prevent mold. The pupose in PG is to regulate the release of water into the air. Its not as good as say Beads at regulating RH but it helps. Some of the worst mold I have seen grew on a device saturated with PG. You also have to be careful with PG because if you use it too often it will saturate your sponge and no water will be able to soak into and basically you have rendered it useless.

I'm with most everyone else in here, the beads or crystals/gels are the best way to go. Unless of course you have the room and money to go the cigar oasis route :).

Who is this poppin his head up???? Where ya been madster!?

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

phobicsquirrel:

madurofan:

One2gofst:

You definately want a hygrometer. As you said you should also use distilled water. Also, did you use PG mixed with the water? If not, the combo of no PG/tap water along with not knowing your RH% is what led to your mold.

One, I just wanted to correct you here. PG does not prevent mold. The pupose in PG is to regulate the release of water into the air. Its not as good as say Beads at regulating RH but it helps. Some of the worst mold I have seen grew on a device saturated with PG. You also have to be careful with PG because if you use it too often it will saturate your sponge and no water will be able to soak into and basically you have rendered it useless.

I'm with most everyone else in here, the beads or crystals/gels are the best way to go. Unless of course you have the room and money to go the cigar oasis route :).

Who is this poppin his head up???? Where ya been madster!?

Building my munitions back up ... How ya been, tree rat?

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tree rat aye!! them are fighting words.... good, when you going to be back to your 100 posts a day?

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews