Monday, November 29 1999
Q. I just received my first humidor (a Sao Paolo) and box of cigars from Famous Smoke Shop. The hygometer that came with it has a rubber gasket wrapped around it which covers the 5 holes that surround it. Can you tell me if this gasket should be left on or taken off prior to placing it in the humidor, or does it matter?
- Nick in Denver, CO
A. For a humidor like the Sao Paolo, the gasket should be removed to allow air flow, so it can properly measure the relative humidity (RH%) in the humidor. For front-mounted hygrometer type cigar humidors, the gasket is used to hold the hygrometer in place, while recording RH from the back.
Make sure you also calibrate it using the salt test, or by using a Boveda One-Step Calibration Kit, so you know how accurate it is.
