The Inside Scoop - Dissection of a "Humidor"

[WaxingMoon]

I have an interested party that wanted me to do a "cut away" analysis of a typical humidor available on a popular e-commerce website.

The interested party purchased this humidor, Cuban Crafters Exotica Ebony/Cigar Humidor 125 count, handed it over to me and said, "Have at it"....

First thing I noticed was the sticker placed on the bottom of the "humidor"...

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/1.jpg

My first impression was.... "shiny" almost to a plastic effect.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02558.jpg

The next thing to come to mind was.... Hmmmm, which one of my tools will get the job. I chose the bandsaw.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02563.jpg

I was surprised at the ease that my saw went through this humidor. I have a harder time just resawing spanish cedar.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02565.jpg

[WaxingMoon]

Ta-Da! The test subject is prepared.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02566.jpg

I had suspected a spanish cedar veneer of about 1/32".... boy, was I surprised. It didn't even have that. I would compare what is being touted as spanish cedar to nothing more than a wall paper type material. So thin, that it didn't even register on my "Incra" measuring tool.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02568.jpg

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02569.jpg

None of the panels were sealed with anything such as silicone. The panels basically just sat in a groove.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02570.jpg

Here's another picture of a cross sectioned piece.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02571.jpg

[WaxingMoon]

Doesn't appear to have a lot of glue on the corner joint...

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02572.jpg

All in all, I guess you get what you pay for. I wouldn't expect this humidor to hold humidity as one would hope that it would. Spanish cedar is the nuts and bolts of a humidor. The seasoning process should take about a week in a properly lined humidor. However, one like this, I would say would be a waste of time to even attempt to season.

Oh, and take a look at the "plywood" bottom tray that came with it.... I will say that the tray sides and the small pieces to effect the "seal" were in fact 1/4" spanish cedar.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Humidors/Chinese/DSC02520.jpg

Thanks for looking....

[EricF]

This should be interesting!

:po

[hammondc]

Cool idea. Not surprised though.

[sevans105]

Yikes! I know I had to Re-seal the tower humidor I got. Front looked great, but back panel was MDF and simply stapled on. Thanks for the dissection and fantastic work on the Humidors you make. They truly are pieces of art.

[Ogre]

Like you said, "You get what you pay for".

[kelmac07]

Not surprised here. Thanks for sharing Ed.

[mahtofire14]

What a great idea! Do you think you'll do others? Would be cool to find out the differences between the price ranges.

[Robulous78]

This is exactly why I am having my humidor custom built... With half inch Spanish cedar inlay, it should trump most readily purchasable humidors on the market.... :tu

Very interesting thread idea... Thanks for posting it...