Humidor Question

[8-5-8]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[mithril]

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? :)

i think it is an acceptable thing to do, but you run a higher risk of warpage.

[bigpoppapuff]

if you don't wipe down the wood,you're not prepping the humidor......you're not doing enough to cause any kind of warping....

....new sponge...distilled water...wring the sponge out...wipe down all exposed spanish cedar...

[Jonsey5484]

I wiped down the inside of my humidor a couple of times when I first got it. It never warped. I have not had a single problem with it either. It maintains humidity great. I only have to refill the humidifier every couple weeks.

As for the Humidor Vs. Coolidor...I have both. I started out with a nice humidor that bought. I wanted something for the living room that people would notice. I keep the cigars that I plan on smoking the soonest in there. Just recently I have set up a coolidor. This is only temperary since I am in the process of building a very large humidor. Again, I want something that looks nice that people notice. If someone askes me to see my cigar collection, I hate rolling out the Igloo Cooler. I did not want to spend $500 on a large humidor, so I am building one myself. Estimated cost: $60 in material and a couple of weeks of time. It has not been difficult so far. I just found a design I liked on the net and got the demensions. I made a blueprint and this weekend I will cut the wood and put it together. Then next week, I will put the finsihing touches on, stain the outside, and get the spanish cedar mounted inside. It has been fun so far.