Cigar Caddy Custom Trays

[DonnieW]

I love my Cigar Caddy's to death. Those of you who own Caddy's know their pros and cons, so I won't dwell. Personally, the only thing I dislike about the Caddys are their foam trays. They certainly have form and function, but handling them is another story. They're flimsy and can be a challenge to shuffle or pass around. Looking at some of the comments in " What do you DISLIKE about your Cigar Caddy?" thread, I realized there were a couple other things I wish the Caddy had. While I've got my lighter and Palio on me all the time, it would be great to have a backup lighter and cutter in the Caddy. So with a VERY rare quiet day, I got to work and built myself some trays.


The ubiquitous Cigar Caddy:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/DonnieW/Cigars/Caddy_30ct.jpg



The stock foam trays:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/DonnieW/Cigars/Caddy_30ct_foam1.jpg



Custom made 1/4" Spanish Cedar Trays:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/DonnieW/Cigars/Caddy_30ct_trays.jpg



The bottom:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/DonnieW/Cigars/Caddy_30ct_trays3.jpg



The middle:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/DonnieW/Cigars/Caddy_30ct_trays2.jpg



The top is all business :D:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/DonnieW/Cigars/Caddy_30ct_trays1.jpg



The trays are fitted and relieved to the Caddy so that they don't move around, just the same, the foam on the top stays in place to add a little down-force. While I've found the sticks are perfectly fine moving around a bit, I have some foam 'bumpers' that will go on the inside of each cigar slot. I have a small tube of beads that fits in one of the cigar slots which provides plenty of humidification. Overall I've officially lost 3 cigar slots, but am happy to have traded that for the cutter and lighter section. More importantly... I now have STURDY trays and my Cigar Caddy has never smelled better.

:ss Donnie

[TXRebel]

Nice work :tu. Hope you are ready to start making them for other BOTL :D.

[stevieray]

Nice work :) How much weight do the trays add to the caddy?

[Cigar Caddy]

I want one!

[DragonMan]

Nice work Donnie!! :tu :tu

I see you haven't smoked the Distinguidos yet. :ss












http://smilies.vidahost.com/games/ff/ff6/espers/bahamut.gif

[DonnieW]

Nice work Donnie!! :tu :tu

I see you haven't smoked the Distinguidos yet. :ss

http://smilies.vidahost.com/games/ff/ff6/espers/bahamut.gif


:D Actually, that RyJ is ALSO yours - thank you. See what kind of guy I am... I only use my friends cigars to show off my wares. (sorry Bear... I smoked the Trinidad you gave me!!).

[dunng]

Very nice! :ss

[white_s2k]

Wow, that is awesome. You creative guys make me sick! :D

[Cyanide]

Hey Donnie...

The other forum is down. Didn't realize you posted at both. Did you answer the question regarding where you got the wood? Maybe throw down the answer here. Geez, I am getting all confused riding both forums. Ah, but its great lurking with twice the range.

Cheers

Cyanide

[Vitis]

That's just amazing. Being extremely un-handy, it blows my mind to see people build stuff that they visualize. The rest of us have to buy whatevers available even if it doesn't truly meet our needs. Very sweet. congrats

~Vitis

[MajorCaptSilly]

I am impressed, intrigued, & interested.

MCS

[TOB9595]

Your design and workmanship is enviable.
WELL DONE!!!

I am envious
Tom

[alley00p]

Donnie, awesome work!! :tu

I feel the same way you do about those dang foam inserts, but I don't have the time to build trays... so I'll just be stuck with what I have for the near future! :(

Maybe this spring when it'swarm enuf to get into the garage and near my saw I'll have a chance to build something like you did!

:dance::dance::dance:

[Darrell]

Very nice craftsmanship. :tu

[elderboy02]

Holy heck! That is nice! I am officially jealous. Good work! :tu

[DonnieW]

Nice work :) How much weight do the trays add to the caddy?

Good question, it added about 1-1/2 pounds. Fully loaded it feels 'beefy' and solid, but not at all awkward.


Hey Donnie...

The other forum is down. Didn't realize you posted at both. Did you answer the question regarding where you got the wood? Maybe throw down the answer here...

I use Exotic Woods in Burlington, ON. Excellent quality and decent prices.

[Smokin Gator]

Those are really sweet!! Great job.

[gettysburgfreak]

wow, those are absolutely beautiful, really nice work.

[icurrie]

Donnie, those look great. Nice work buddy.

[Opusfxd]

Those look sweet!!!

[groogs]

That is lookin very good. I think I may have to build some custom trays of my own in the near future.:tu

[TravelingJ]

that is beautiful work, and great pictures to show it off! Now just sit back and wait for the orders!

[hotreds]

That's just amazing. Being extremely un-handy, it blows my mind to see people build stuff that they visualize. The rest of us have to buy whatevers available even if it doesn't truly meet our needs. Very sweet. congrats

~Vitis

Yup- I couldn't even make an ashtray in shop!

[Parshooter]

Great looking trays. Do you have foam on the bottom of each tray, to protect the cigars from the tray above?

[shilala]

Beautiful job, Donnie!!! :tu

[gettysburgfreak]

Great looking trays. Do you have foam on the bottom of each tray, to protect the cigars from the tray above?


I wondered that too. It looks like he built the lip a little higher than the height of a typical cigar so the tray above it would rest on the sides of the wood and not hit the cigars.

[DonnieW]

I wondered that too. It looks like he built the lip a little higher than the height of a typical cigar so the tray above it would rest on the sides of the wood and not hit the cigars.

All the sides sit flush with the tray above. The top tray is of course covered by the foam in the lid. The other two are not. Frankly there isn't enough movement of the cigars to worry me about padding top/bottom and sides. My only concern is lengthwise (ends) with the cigars, if a short cigar is in a long slot, sure it can move around if carried the wrong way. I've got foam 'bumpers' on either end for that purpose but after three trips, I haven't noticed anything wrong with my cigars.

For those that asked me in PM: The bottom tray will take a 64 x 7.5" cigars; the middle tray takes 60 x 7.5"; and the top tray 54 x 5.5".

[mikeyj23]

They look great!