Just ordered my first humidor!

[Emperor Zurg]

I'm not sure what type of hygrometer it is other than an analog that comes with it.....

Those are notorious for being junk but nonetheless here's what I do...
1) get a Boveda pack of your desired rh. I'd go with 65% if it were me
2) put both the pack and the hygro in a quart mason jar and screw on the lid
3) put the jar in a dark place where the ambient temp does not fluctuate. Leave it alone for a whole day
4) take the jar out and read the hygro inside it thru the glass, noting how far off it is from the pack rh
5) take out the hygro and let it stabilize to room rh. There's no sense in trying to adjust a moving needle
6) once it stabilizes (hour or so should be fine) adjust so the needle moves the number of points it was off. I.e. if the reading was 61% in the jar with a 65% pack and now at room rh, it's reading 42% then move the adjustment so that it now reads 46%. Do it quickly and hold it in your fingertips. Your hands release moisture you know.
7) repeat the jar test to see how you did and don't sweat it if it's off like 1%. It's close enough at that point.

Now I will tell you a better way...
1) season your humidor using the sponge on a plate for a week
2) put in 2 Boveda packs and your cigars
3) throw that hygro away
4) replace Boveda packs when they get depleted

[Sir Lancerolot]

Those are notorious for being junk but nonetheless here's what I do...
1) get a Boveda pack of your desired rh. I'd go with 65% if it were me
2) put both the pack and the hygro in a quart mason jar and screw on the lid
3) put the jar in a dark place where the ambient temp does not fluctuate. Leave it alone for a whole day
4) take the jar out and read the hygro inside it thru the glass, noting how far off it is from the pack rh
5) take out the hygro and let it stabilize to room rh. There's no sense in trying to adjust a moving needle
6) once it stabilizes (hour or so should be fine) adjust so the needle moves the number of points it was off. I.e. if the reading was 61% in the jar with a 65% pack and now at room rh, it's reading 42% then move the adjustment so that it now reads 46%. Do it quickly and hold it in your fingertips. Your hands release moisture you know.
7) repeat the jar test to see how you did and don't sweat it if it's off like 1%. It's close enough at that point.

Now I will tell you a better way...
1) season your humidor using the sponge on a plate for a week
2) put in 2 Boveda packs and your cigars
3) throw that hygro away
4) replace Boveda packs when they get depleted

Yeah - this is good advice. I wasn't thinking of an analog hygro when I suggested the salt method.

[Bruck]

Advice from Bruck the cheapskate - don't buy any really good cigars until you get your humi seasoned and hygro working reliably.

[FidelCastro]

Your first humidor is a special event and we've all been there. For future edification start saving your money for a wood humidor that holds about
200 - 250. Go for quality because they will last a lifetime and are worth it as they transfer that aroma of cedar to your cigars. The smaller humidor
that we see on the market tend to be made out of cheap inferior press board and while they "can" hold RH for a year or two they tend to degrade
over time. If you are strapped for cash tupperadors are a great source for storage and don't require seasoning and Bovedas are the perfect media to use.

[Almasty]

Well I think I need to invest in a new hygrometer, mine is holding at about 63, will not adjust...it just springs back...

[Almasty]

So I'm slowly losing humidity, down to 60, I placed a little dish with some distilled water and will check again tonight....maybe I just picked up a really cheap humidor?

[Nature]

So I'm slowly losing humidity, down to 60, I placed a little dish with some distilled water and will check again tonight....maybe I just picked up a really cheap humidor?

What are you using as a humidification source?
Could be the humidor isn't fully seasoned? Wood may still be absorbing moisture.

[Almasty]

Just the humidifier that came with it for now, one of those cheap green sponge ones, I also have a little dish of distilled water sitting in it too( just remembered that) but RH is at 58 now.... I've wet the wood down several times

[penna stogey]

Welcome from the Burg