Home >> Collecting >> Cigar Collecting

How to Calibrate a Hygrometer for Cigar Humidors

Hygrometers come in analog and digital models. They both have the same function, reading the relative humidity in a cigar humidor. The less expensive analogs have a small adjustment screw for calibration. Cigars keep for many years in a humidor with 65 degree temperatures and 65 to 70 percent humidity.

Things You'll Need

Hygrometer
Dish or cap
Salt
Water
Lidded container
Zip lock bag
Flathead screwdriver
Damp cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Get a small dish or cap and pour 1 tsp. of table salt in the container. A cleaned plastic bottle cap or laundry soap cap works well.
- 2
  Add water to the salt. Use only enough to wet and dampen the salt without dissolving it.
- 3
  Place the salt and water container in a sealed environment. Use a plastic food container with a lid or a zip lock bag large enough to hold the dish or cap with the hygrometer.
- 4
  Put the hygrometer carefully inside the container near the salt solution.
- 5
  Seal the plastic zip lock bag or place the lid over the container. Leave air trapped inside. Allow 7 to 8 hours before re-opening.
- 6
  Take the hygrometer out and read the humidity level. A reading of 75 percent humidity means the hygrometer measures correctly. The salt and water solution always reaches this percentage.
- 7
  Adjust the screw, with a small flathead screwdriver, at the back of the hygrometer to 75. With no setting screw, note the deviation to calculate the humidity in the future. For example, if the humidity measured 65 percent, you know that the hygrometer reads 10 percent less than it should.

Cigar Collecting