Quote Originally Posted by GreatBazunka View Post
Hi everyone. I am new here and wanted to drop in to ask a few questions about a humidor that i am trying to build.What i want to do is this. I have a wooden side table that has a drawer in the bottom of it. I want to convert that drawer into a humidor. It is a pretty big size and i would like to take advantage of that space. Here are my plans and you guys tell me if there sounds like there are any flaws in them. So the drawer is your normal pull out drawer. I want to get some wood and put a lid on it with hinges and a handle. then i was thinking i should line the inside with Spanish cedar veneer. Install a hygrometer and humidifier and that should be all i need. My main questions are should i use only wood glue for the fastening of the lid or can i use nails to hold it more securely? Also, is a cigar shelf on the inside a necessity or just a convenience? I am trying to not get too extravagant right now since i don't have alot of cigars. If it is just a convenience then i could always add one later if i felt it necessary. Let me know what you think.
It's my day to be nice around here. Sorry I didn't respond sooner.

Can you do the above? Sure. Use the wood glue. Just let the drawer air outside for a few days to eliminate the wood glue odor. Personally, I'd clamp those veneers on after you glued them to the inside of your humidor. I don't quite understand the whole 'lid' thing on top of the pull-out drawer. I just can't picture it. So when you pull the drawer out, you then have to lift a lid on top of the drawer? I'm also not clear on the cigar shelf. I mean, not all humidors have shelves - this seems like a purely aesthetic feature.

Should you do the above? I don't think so. Think of a humidor as a small micro-climate. It's purpose is to keep a square area of space a certain humidity level. In order to do that, you'll need a container that has the ability to lock that humidity in as best as possible. Coolers conveniently fit this need very well - because coolers are inherently designed to keep their contents cool (another micro-climate), they're ideal candidates for humidors. They might not be sightly or even convenient, but it sure makes financial sense.
Wooden drawers, on the other hand, aren't necessarily good for making micro-climates. There are probably too many places for the moisture to escape. You could theoretically try to seal the edges of the drawer, but will it be worth it? Additionally, humidors do best when they are at least half-full. If you have a large drawer with only a few cigars in there, all the sealant in the world won't help those cigars.

I hope this helps.