Purchased a used humidor
VegasFrank
Posts: 18,152 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Cigar 101
So I got a humidor for Christmas. It said that it held about 25 cigars, which is really about 5 Churchill's LOL. So I purchased 75 count humidor, but after a couple of online buying binges, that one is full now too. So I was looking for something bigger. I came across a unique antique looking humidor on OfferUp. Guy wanted 35 bucks for it.
Yes, I know I know. But it has a xikar digital hygrometer, so I figured what the hell? If this box is a **** at least I still have the hygrometer. By the way here's a picture of the box.
It's about 12 by 18 by 9. Should hold hundreds of cigars easily.
So I got a brand new sponge and some distilled water and wet down all of the insides, including the tray. I did not moisten the top of the box because it's obviously not Spanish cedar. I know there are varying series about whether you should do this, but I decided to. I then put about a cup of water in the bottom and I closed the lid.
After about two hours, the RH was under 40%. Yes, I know that I'm not supposed to open the lid again, but since I suspected this thing of not being a very good humidor, I figured I'd check it out. By the way, the RH in my house is about 15%. I live in Vegas.
Clearly, this thing won't hold humidity. I only took a shot because I thought maybe if I got the wood full of moisture, it would expand and start holding humidity. Obviously, that's not going to be the case. I mean, I'll check it out in a few days to see if it starts climbing back up, but I'm not optimistic.
Here are a couple of close-ups showing how the lid sits on the box. It's easy to see that there is a gap. I saw this when I purchased it, but I took a chance anyways because of the price.
so I'm thinking that rather than **** with silicone or trashing the whole thing, I would have fix a rubber seal to the outside edge sort of how a refrigerator works. I'm sure I could find one narrow enough to fit and the lid is heavy enough that gravity would ensure it actually seals, and I wouldn't have to make any mods that would require woodworking skills. A black one would let it blend right in to the rest of the piece so you wouldn't even notice it.
is there anything that I'm not thinking of? Is there a big downside to doing it this way? Also, was wondering if I should get some Spanish cedar planks and a fix them to the underneath inside of the lid.
I really want this thing to work. First, it's huge. Secondly, I think it's really cool, but most of all, my wife really hates it. She says it reminds her of a baby coffin.
Thanks!
Yes, I know I know. But it has a xikar digital hygrometer, so I figured what the hell? If this box is a **** at least I still have the hygrometer. By the way here's a picture of the box.
It's about 12 by 18 by 9. Should hold hundreds of cigars easily.
So I got a brand new sponge and some distilled water and wet down all of the insides, including the tray. I did not moisten the top of the box because it's obviously not Spanish cedar. I know there are varying series about whether you should do this, but I decided to. I then put about a cup of water in the bottom and I closed the lid.
After about two hours, the RH was under 40%. Yes, I know that I'm not supposed to open the lid again, but since I suspected this thing of not being a very good humidor, I figured I'd check it out. By the way, the RH in my house is about 15%. I live in Vegas.
Clearly, this thing won't hold humidity. I only took a shot because I thought maybe if I got the wood full of moisture, it would expand and start holding humidity. Obviously, that's not going to be the case. I mean, I'll check it out in a few days to see if it starts climbing back up, but I'm not optimistic.
Here are a couple of close-ups showing how the lid sits on the box. It's easy to see that there is a gap. I saw this when I purchased it, but I took a chance anyways because of the price.
so I'm thinking that rather than **** with silicone or trashing the whole thing, I would have fix a rubber seal to the outside edge sort of how a refrigerator works. I'm sure I could find one narrow enough to fit and the lid is heavy enough that gravity would ensure it actually seals, and I wouldn't have to make any mods that would require woodworking skills. A black one would let it blend right in to the rest of the piece so you wouldn't even notice it.
is there anything that I'm not thinking of? Is there a big downside to doing it this way? Also, was wondering if I should get some Spanish cedar planks and a fix them to the underneath inside of the lid.
I really want this thing to work. First, it's huge. Secondly, I think it's really cool, but most of all, my wife really hates it. She says it reminds her of a baby coffin.
Thanks!
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Where did we put that thread on ****ed up humidors @Amos_Umwhat
PS it helps to turn on the flashlight.
You said,.... "By the way, the RH in my house is about 15%. I live in Vegas."
15% is a huge deficit to your long term success. Even if you get it seasoned right to start with, in that 15% environment, your wooden humidor will be continuously un-seasoning itself from the outside in. Give up now.
Mr. Maguire: I want to say one word to you, Benjamin. Just one word.
I know, You're a big dog and I'm on the list.
Let's eat, GrandMa. / Let's eat GrandMa. -- Punctuation saves lives
It'll be fine once the swelling goes down.
I guess it's more about the journey than the destination for me LOL. I'm a sucker for pain.
Opened the humidor on Friday and the humidor was 63 percent. Sponge on top shelf was dry and just about all of the distilled water in the bottom was evaporated.
So I bought some weather stripping at home Depot. How to play around with where to put it in what quantities to put it etc. Re wet the SC, resoaked the sponge, and refilled the water cup.
Checked in the morning and the rh was 75. Time to let it sit for a week again and see how it's holding.
Couple of questions if you don't mind:
Although the shape of it is tapered, the actual container inside goes straight down and I assume that there's an air gap in there. If so, is this going to be a problem or is there a way to solve it?
Was wondering if I should seal the seams of the Spanish cedar with some food grade silicone or if this would not help at all or cause it to warp and become unusable.
The whole box is made of a hardwood, looks like Birch, with a veneer. the inside of the lid is not lined with Spanish cedar. Should I affix some on?
Wish I could get my hands on it. Maybe do a flashlight test again with my one million lumen flashlight, maybe tap on it here or there, and while your back is turned, maybe smash it to bits. Problems solved
Although the shape of it is tapered, the actual container inside goes straight down and I assume that there's an air gap in there. If so, is this going to be a problem or is there a way to solve it?
I'm not sure what you could do about it but, tap on the wood inside to see if it sounds like there is a void.
Was wondering if I should seal the seams of the Spanish cedar with some food grade silicone or if this would not help at all or cause it to warp and become unusable.
Maybe. It shouldn't warp it any. But then again, I have zero experience with silicone sealant.
The whole box is made of a hardwood, looks like Birch, with a veneer. the inside of the lid is not lined with Spanish cedar. Should I affix some on?
I wouldn't add anything to the lid. However, the bottom of the humidor, the floor, may be thin. Most of them are but rest on their bottoms flat. Yours is elevated and if the 'floor" is thin or has a weak seam that could cause problems.
After it dried out, I did a dollar bill test and found the tight seal on the back (who doesn't love a tight seal on the back) was no longer so tight (ask my wife, same thing happened to her after I met her). I had to peel some weather stripping and replace it with painters tape. Dollar bill test was much more consistent all the way around.
Instead of messing with any food grade silicone, I decided to go to the Nevada hillbilly route and I lined the bottom underneath side with flex tape. I figured that any smell that the flex tape has, which is powerful, would not seep into the inside of the box. So far I'm right.
Humidity check after 24 hours was 90%. After about 5 days it was 75%. Good news is that there was still water in the container at the bottom. I let it sit for another few days and came back and it was still 75%. Confidence growing.
Checked again this morning and it was still at 75%. In the interim, I had been humidifying a bundle that I got from an auction site using 72% boveda packs in a tupperware. These suckers had started off dry, but the tupperdore had been sitting it's 71% for the last couple of weeks, so I put my humidification in the coffin and loaded up these 20 cigars in the bottom.
Checked a few hours later just now and humidification is at 70%. So far so good. If we are still holding tomorrow, I will load up a few more.
Thanks @WaterNerd @deadman @dirtdude @Rhamlin, and of course Mr @Bob_Luken for the advice...sorry Bob, you're going to have to look somewhere else for your firewood.
Coolidor.
Desktop humis are nice, but really, none of them do a great job at holding humidity.
Besides, opening and closing them doesn't help.
Besides my tower and overflow tupperware, there is only one desktop humi I use.
And it only holds cigars I plan on smoking soon.
This one.
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
And if my smoking humidor should drop drop as low as 62% that’s all the better for smoking. Promotes an even burn with no relights required and is, all in all, a fine RH level.
Besides, it's always good to have a little extra in the desert. We go through stretches where the RH is in the single digits. I'm sure that'll drop me down to the low 60s in the summertime. If it's a little higher during the rainy season, I can live with it as long as it stays under 75. I rarely have to worry about smokes going out on me because I smoke them what is probably considered too quickly.
Edit: RH has been in the thirties and forties over the last week. Right now it's 29% in my living room.I don't think 70 is too high right now but I could be wrong.
I opened that sucker up and it looks identical to mine on the inside. It's full of remote controls and other stuff, and it's only being used as a decoration.
I threatened my wife was buying it from the establishment if she didn't let me run my moist-n-aire in the tower LOL..