Refrigerator as humidor (coolidor)?

**ppovar** · 11-05-2008, 12:11 AM

Would a refrigerator work as humidor? I know coolers do, so i suppose refrigerators do as well.

I was on the electrodomestic shop and saw some of those wine refirgerators. But the plastic smell was far more strong than any cooler.

I was thinking about placing a temperature controller (that turns on and off the refrigerator to keep temperature).

Will this work? Any thoughts?

**logan37** · 11-05-2008, 01:28 AM

Yes, it will work. Just do your research first.

**ppovar** · 11-05-2008, 01:48 AM

This thing can keep humidity, temperature (even raise it) and do air flow.

http://www.e-distri.com/boutique/fic...&code_lg=lg_fr

Won't it be the perfect humidor?

**logan37** · 11-05-2008, 01:57 AM

yeah, it will work fine. Im just saying do your research first. See what other people did when using a wine fridge. Maybe they had issues that you don't foresee.

**ppovar** · 11-05-2008, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by logan37

yeah, it will work fine. Im just saying do your research first. See what other people did when using a wine fridge. Maybe they had issues that you don't foresee.

I tried searching the forum and didn't find anything. That's why i started this post.

Anyway, I'll buy the fridge, experiment and then post here results.

Thanks for the help

**logan37** · 11-05-2008, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by ppovar

I tried searching the forum and didn't find anything. That's why i started this post.

Anyway, I'll buy the fridge, experiment and then post here results.

Thanks for the help

Did you search on Google?

**craig** · 11-05-2008, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by ppovar

This thing can keep humidity, temperature (even raise it) and do air flow.

http://www.e-distri.com/boutique/fic...&code_lg=lg_fr

Won't it be the perfect humidor?

Unforunately, no, because it circulates too much air, so the esters/oils (the flavour) in the tobacco leaves will quickly be lost. Compressor-based cooling also shocks the cigars too much, i.e., on average the temp and RH can be good, but you are beating your cigars to death. If you look at a commercial wine+cigar storage unit that uses the same technology, e.g., vinotemp, then you can see the measures the manufacturer has made to address the above issues for the cigar storage side, while leaving the wine cooler side untouched.

Without modification, that device could be used to store wooden boxes of cigars. Maybe. That's too much money for me to risk, personally.

The wine coolers that use passive solid-state cooling (no compressor) are often converted to store cigars. These only cool; they don't heat or control RH, so that functionality needs to be added or acounted for in the environment around the unit. Also, in these, a small fan, preferably one that doesn't run all the time, is needed, e.g., the one in a Cigar Oasis.

Note that when you search, almost all of the wine coolers being converted to cigar storage are the types that use solid-state cooling - in fact, I don't remember ever seeing the (successful) conversion of a compressor-based wine cooler to a cigar storage unit.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

**Shelby07** · 11-05-2008, 12:04 PM

I agree with Craig - If it has a compressor, stay away.

Most wine coolers here in the US that have been used for conversions use solid state cooling and can be found for around 100 bucks or less. If you're going to dump that kind of money take a look at the temp and humidity controlled humidors available. They not only look better, they probably do a better job than something that has been converted.