Humidor Question

**SuperChuck** · 09-19-2005, 07:12 PM

That's starting off small? I could fit my girlfriend in that thing. :)

You MAY (personal preference, of course) want to get a smaller 40-100 stick humidor (or tupperdor) to start out with. I say this only because you're going to want to try out a lot of different products before you start buying boxes...

I've been in this hobby for about 6 months and I'm just starting to find cigars I'd like to buy boxes of ('course, that means I'm looking at getting a large humi or coolidor...).

**BigMacFU** · 09-19-2005, 07:56 PM

Godfather, I'm not claiming any arrogance in being more experienced, only claiming the fact that I'm more experienced. The reason getting a regular humidor is mediocre advice is because I've seen this happen on this and other boards many times. People get hooked on the hobby. It's like when you're a kid and you start collecting baseball cards, you start off with a small little book that can hold 30 cards in an acid free plastic, then you start getting more the more you participate in the baseball card loving community. Well, the man has found his way on to cigarsmokers.com community and it's a great community. He'll probably start getting involved with trades, box-splits, etc... Buying the humidor in the mean time is a waste of money plain and simple. I can spend 60 bucks on a cooler, beads, and some spanish cedar and hold 5 times as much as any humidor for that amount of money. Who cares about the look when I'm looking for a place to store my new cigars and have a bunch to tupperwares set up to hold the overflowing smokes. And don't tell me size is a reason, I live in a closet in NYC, I know about having to squeeze things in.

The fact is godfather, it's not arrogance, it's simply advice from somebody whose been around. Next time you want to throw the arrogance label around think twice and just don't say anything. The community is here to try and help people avoid "mistakes" or wanton spending of money. Just because you decided to do a humidor, you don't have to feel that my response is an attack on you. You should have gone with a coolidor too, trust me, I know because I had the same stupid idea when I got into cigars, that I'd be fine for a while with a 150 count humidor, and that it would hold plenty. Then I met awesome BOTL's like ggiese, coventry, sarge, diesel, jaewing, alexgtp, etc.... I've got way beyond what a 150 count can hold and thank goodness for my coolidor. No longer do I have to take out half my cigars to get to that one I wanted tonight.

Sorry for all the extra words here stogster, but godfather made a mistake by calling someone more experienced who is just trying to help out arrogant. You just don't throw around ad hominem attacks on this board unless the facts are on your side. All i was doing was trying to help you avoid the same mistake I've made and have seen many others make. If you're going to be involved with a great cigar community like the one here on cigarsmokers.com and others like at cigarpass.com, then be ready with a big coolidor, because there are too many generous people out there with lots of cigars.

**Mazeman** · 09-19-2005, 08:02 PM

Stogster,
Holt's is having a nice sale on selected Savoy humidors.
The red and blue ones are 40% off (large size is regularly $180, now $108). Check it out to see if you like the style or if it's right for you.

**Stogster** · 09-19-2005, 08:33 PM

you guys have been a great help. and i apologize for any turmoil that has risen from this post. the El diablo humidor I had mentioned a view messages ago here is looking like what i'm going to go for. i completely understand and also fully trust what i hear about having a cooler to store everything but as a preference of mine i enjoy the look of a nice humidor over a cooler. from what i hear odds are i will end up with a cooler to store everything eventually anyways but i still only see that far ahead in the future.

I would really appreciate some opinions about the Eldiablo humidor and possibly some reassurance that it wont be a poor choice or if its a piece of

humidor and i am simply unable to tell.

El diablo

Sorry for the continuous humidor nagging (im new to all of this and rely on the wisdom of all of you veterans)

**godfather** · 09-19-2005, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by BigMacFU

Godfather, I'm not claiming any arrogance in being more experienced, only claiming the fact that I'm more experienced. The reason getting a regular humidor is mediocre advice is because I've seen this happen on this and other boards many times. People get hooked on the hobby. It's like when you're a kid and you start collecting baseball cards, you start off with a small little book that can hold 30 cards in an acid free plastic, then you start getting more the more you participate in the baseball card loving community. Well, the man has found his way on to cigarsmokers.com community and it's a great community. He'll probably start getting involved with trades, box-splits, etc... Buying the humidor in the mean time is a waste of money plain and simple. I can spend 60 bucks on a cooler, beads, and some spanish cedar and hold 5 times as much as any humidor for that amount of money. Who cares about the look when I'm looking for a place to store my new cigars and have a bunch to tupperwares set up to hold the overflowing smokes. And don't tell me size is a reason, I live in a closet in NYC, I know about having to squeeze things in.

The fact is godfather, it's not arrogance, it's simply advice from somebody whose been around. Next time you want to throw the arrogance label around think twice and just don't say anything. The community is here to try and help people avoid "mistakes" or wanton spending of money. Just because you decided to do a humidor, you don't have to feel that my response is an attack on you. You should have gone with a coolidor too, trust me, I know because I had the same stupid idea when I got into cigars, that I'd be fine for a while with a 150 count humidor, and that it would hold plenty. Then I met awesome BOTL's like ggiese, coventry, sarge, diesel, jaewing, alexgtp, etc.... I've got way beyond what a 150 count can hold and thank goodness for my coolidor. No longer do I have to take out half my cigars to get to that one I wanted tonight.

Sorry for all the extra words here stogster, but godfather made a mistake by calling someone more experienced who is just trying to help out arrogant. You just don't throw around ad hominem attacks on this board unless the facts are on your side. All i was doing was trying to help you avoid the same mistake I've made and have seen many others make. If you're going to be involved with a great cigar community like the one here on cigarsmokers.com and others like at cigarpass.com, then be ready with a big coolidor, because there are too many generous people out there with lots of cigars.

BigMacFu,

I appreciate you taking the time to clarify what you meant by your post. It is pretty common for words to be taken out of context and with all honesty, this quote:

"...if you decide to refuse good advice, then mediocre advice is go with cubancrafters not thompson."

made it seem like I was being 'talked down' to with your choice of wording with that last sentence because you were more 'experienced' than myself (and I don't disagree you are more experienced).

I see your advice and point to the OP...but again, it's a difference in opinions. All opinions should be respected the same and it's up to the original poster to make his decision on what's right for him.

It appears what is right for him is to take the suggestion of buying a humidor, and if he agreed with you that would be fine with me.

Again, thanks for taking the time to clarify your post and I can see that your intentions were NOT to 'talk down to me,' but that is how I INITIALLY viewed it. You do give good advice and I've appreciated the responses to my threads that I have posted in the past.

Have a good rest of the evening! I'm heading to the beach to read my book and smoke a stoagie.

**Mazeman** · 09-19-2005, 08:23 PM

Stogster,
To simplify the argument between BigMacFU and godfather; If all you're looking for is the least expensive way to store a large number of cigars, then the coolidor can't be beat.

If you'd like to store some cigars stylishly, and be able to tastefully display them in your living room for yourself and guests (and not need to pull out a Coleman when offering a cigar), AND you really don't think you'll you'll amaas more than 100 cigars in the foreseeable future (unlikely), then a humidor is the way to go.

My bet is you'll land up having both (like me). So the only question is which one you get first.

One final option, that provides both style and storage capacity, is this.

**Baron Porthos** · 09-19-2005, 08:36 PM

I went with the cigar top humidor as well. You have to decide based on your preference. I like having the humidor. Access is easy and I am not buying boxes yet. Still trying to figure out what is going on first. The people here are generous with advice and cigars. Don't get caught up in who has the biggest ring guage stuff. And whatever you do don't go on www.cigarbid.com until you know how much a month you want to spend. I stick with 5 packs and samplers. You can pick up great deals there. Hence I have a small coolidor as well and am working on the wife for a large one for a christmas present. The cigars seemed to come in fast for me and I was educated about the benefits of letting cigars rest before smoking them. So then you need to plan for long term storage or smoke faster.
Good Luck and Welcome aboard

**Mazeman** · 09-19-2005, 08:58 PM

I wish I could help you with the El Diablo question, but I don't know anything about the brand.

What I can tell you is that it'll be bigger than it looks. With a 300 cigar capacity (that's 12 boxes) it's a monster. Make sure you have a place to put it. Double check the dimensions.

**8-5-8** · 09-19-2005, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mazeman

Stogster,
If you'd like to store some cigars stylishly, and be able to tastefully display them in your living room for yourself and guests (and not need to pull out a Coleman when offering a cigar), AND you really don't think you'll you'll amaas more than 100 cigars in the foreseeable future (unlikely), then a humidor is the way to go.

Mazeman makes a good point... I'm of the opinion that a nice humi is something we should all have, as dragging a cooler out of a closet to offer cigars to guests loses a bit of the class we associate with our hobby. A coolidor is an excellent thing to have, when you get to the point of owning several boxes of cigars, and even when you pass that point, I think having a nice humi out on a table stocked with some of your finest is good for show as well as convenience.

And I'll go ahead and throw out my recommendation for cubancrafters... excellent product at an excellent price, fast shipping too.

bigpoppapuff · 09-20-2005, 12:03 PM

humidor
A humidor is any kind of box or room with constant humidity (and often, temperature as well). Humidors are usually used to store cigars. For private use, small wooden or acrylic glass humidor boxes for a few dozen cigars are appropriate, while cigar shops often have walk-in humidors, sometimes covering a whole floor. Humidors of all sizes use hygrometers to keep track of the humidity levels.

Quick tips to maintain your humidor. Get one that has Spanish cedar, or get some for any plastic humidors that you may be using. You don't have to buy any, cigar shops should have some cedar blocks that come with most cigar boxes. They are usually thrown away since they have little use to the cigar shop after the box has been sold. Spanish cedar is good to have while aging your cigars for three reasons. The cedar holds more moisture than most woods, it will help you maintain your humidity. Second, the cedar aroma will impart itself on your cigars if you age them long enough. That is also why some cigars are wrapped in cedar planks when you buy them. The blender knows that this will give his cigars an extra deminsion in flavor. Last, the sap of the Spanish cedar wood repels tobacco beetles. These pinhead sized bugs can eat through cigars like a buffet. Another way to combat these beetles is to make sure your humidor does not get hotter that 75 degrees F. The beetles will hatch at around 80 degrees F.

If you have trouble keeping your humidor around 70% humidity, the ideal level, then try to fill your box close to the rim. You can either get more cigars or as above, get some Spanish cedar blocks. They will help take up space and age your cigars. The more empty space exists in your humidor, the faster your humidification device will dry out.

Each humidor has to be seasoned after being bought or having been dry for a while. Take a moist cloth and wipe down the interior to remove any dust. Then place a shot glass or an container of similar size in the humidor and fill it with water. Keep the humidor closed overnight. If the water is gone or mostly gone, then repeat for another 24 hours. When it seems as thougth the humidor is not absorbing anymore humidity, you can place your cigars in the humidor. Remember, your humidifying element or "sponge" does not keep the cigars moist. The wood in the humidor does that. The humidifying element keeps the wood itself moist. If you have dry cedar in your humidor, then you will have dry cigars also.

**godfather** · 09-20-2005, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by bigpoppapuff

humidor
A humidor is any kind of box or room with constant humidity...

Go Wikipedia! For those of you that don't know, wikipedia is a great online encyclopedia resource.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidor

**SuperChuck** · 09-20-2005, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by bigpoppapuff

Each humidor has to be seasoned after being bought or having been dry for a while. Take a moist cloth and wipe down the interior to remove any dust. Then place a shot glass or an container of similar size in the humidor and fill it with water. Keep the humidor closed overnight. If the water is gone or mostly gone, then repeat for another 24 hours. When it seems as thougth the humidor is not absorbing anymore humidity, you can place your cigars in the humidor. Remember, your humidifying element or "sponge" does not keep the cigars moist. The wood in the humidor does that. The humidifying element keeps the wood itself moist. If you have dry cedar in your humidor, then you will have dry cigars also.

I think I read once not to wipe down the humidor. I think there's a danger of the wood warping...

And when he says water, he means DISTILLED water (available atmost pharmacies), not tap water...

**godfather** · 09-20-2005, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by SuperChuck

I think I read once not to wipe down the humidor. I think there's a danger of the wood warping...

I've heard that too....but I've also heard this point argued. What is the true statement here? :)

Maybe we need a poll here? :)

**basil** · 09-20-2005, 01:37 PM

Regardless of the quality of a box, if you do too much too fast, you could shock the wood into some kind of warp. A little at a time, without trying to test the outer limits is good. Wiping down your cedar liner with a damp (not dripping wet) cloth will allow some expansion in the wood. If you find the rh still too low, do it again; let the wood take on the water at a rate that will not alter its shape.

That being said, a cheap box that warps easily was prob going to lose its seal pretty quick anyway.