My First Humidor
 

I think I'm finally ready to take the leap, I've put it off since I have cigar shops so close, but now I want to be able to buy things when I see a deal on them, and be able to store them properly.

I've heard great things about cheaphumidors.com and am looking at buying this humidor from them. http://www.cheaphumidors.com/p_small...rs_HUM-25.html

Any experience? Says 20-50 cigars, and I would get rid of the foam for some beads.

Re: My First Humidor
 

I would think about the size. They are talking 20-50 Coronas, also not counting the beads and a digital hygro.

Re: My First Humidor
 

its a start probably way to small as a a lot will say here but I would watch this http://www.cigarbid.com/Category/Merchandise/ and get something bigger for a good price not to mention you can get a 20 count for 7-10 dollars and later on when you get the 500 count cabnit you can use this as a travel humidor

Re: My First Humidor
 

I bought a 50ct and after a month, it's not going to be big enough. I know it can be a lot of money to spend up front for something that may stay "empty" for a while, but I'm already looking at 100-200ct humis now. :D

Re: My First Humidor
 

Go Big or Go Home!!

As is the case with most things, size does matter. I would put money on you needing a bigger humi within 6 months.

Re: My First Humidor
 

You really would be surprised on how small that humidor will be. Like Bill commented, with your beads and Hygro you prolly couldn't fit many more than 20 sticks in there. It sounds like enough but trust me it isn't!
I purchased three 20 counts before I bought a 100 count. I can only fit about 70 cigars into the 100 count. I recently purchased a 48qt cooler to keep the rest and grow my collection.
After I get a few boxes I will need a bigger cooler.
It is a slippery slope, be prepared.

By the way I won a 20 count humi for $11.00 on Cbid!
I also won one with 9 cigars for $22.00:tu

If you join the NST thread your humi will likely be packed!

Re: My First Humidor
 

I've been smoking for less than a year and I already own 2 humidors, a 20 count(my first) and now a 150 count. I'm contemplating whether to get a 150qt cooler or a big cabinet humi. I'm having to use tupperware to hold cigars right now.

my point being this, buy about 10 times bigger than you think you will need.

Re: My First Humidor
 

I would say at least a 150+ humi or go with the cooler. My humi is nice, lasted me about 8 months. I set up the cooler about 2 weeks ago. I may have room for one box now.

Re: My First Humidor
 

I would look at something like this http://www.cheaphumidors.com/p_HUM-400FL-IMP.html You will fill your humidor up quicker then you realize.

Re: My First Humidor
 

That doesn't seem to bad for the price.

Re: My First Humidor
 

http://www.cigarbid.com/Auction/Lot/...-300-Capacity/
Going for less here

Re: My First Humidor
 

I have one like that too and then I was given a bigger one. Looking at an even bigger one now.

Re: My First Humidor
 

Thats definitely worth that price.

Re: My First Humidor
 

That's not bad considering it has trays and everything. Not exactly pretty, but looks like it would do it's job well if it closes well.

I wouldn't do a 50 humidor, I would be looking at 100+

If I weren't looking to build my own soon, I'd probably buy one of those big ones.

Re: My First Humidor
 

That will be really nice for work. You will need a much bigger one for your stash at home.

Re: My First Humidor
 

Just get a cooler. Or two. :tu

Re: My First Humidor
 

Alright, I understand everyone on the size issue. To be honest though, if I fill this up and feel the need for more, I'm going to head straight for a cooler and this can be used to keep the cigars that are ready for smoking. I guess from a simple quality standpoint is what I'm asking about this humidor.

Re: My First Humidor
 

Spoken like a true Scholar... :tu

Re: My First Humidor
 

Check out this sale

http://www.stogieboys.com/deals-and-...okinweeklydeal

Re: My First Humidor
 

I'm not too convinced those seal well. I had a small 20 count like that (never used it, somehow it was laying around the house...I didn't buy it) It slammed shut.

You're probably better off just starting with a cooler, I wish I had. Oh well.

Re: My First Humidor
 

Be careful on the Cigarbid. I filled my 150 count way too fast and now I have to buy the cooler. I guess we all end up there.

Re: My First Humidor
 

:tpd:
Coolers save you money for the important things in life, buying more cigars...:r

Re: My First Humidor
 

I started with a twenty then I bought a 150 and with in days it was full, then several others, and others...now I'm designing a large cabinet....arrrrrgh....just go bigger!.......now...before its to late.

Re: My First Humidor
 

With everyone moving up where are all these smaller 20-50 count humidors going?

And I know yall keep saying go bigger, and I will, eventually...

Re: My First Humidor
 

The problem with the majority of these humidors is it's hit or miss on whether the seal will be any good. I started with a cheap little 20 count that had an excellent tight seal. I decided to upgrade from that to a 100 count. That one leaked big time. I sent it back (yay Amazon return policy!) and went with a 300 count. That one sealed pretty well except along one side. I fought with it for 3 months, dried out some sticks in the process, and finally faced the fact that it was crap. At that point I went with a 70qt cooler and I have not looked back since. It holds humidity rock-solid and you can't beat the volume for the price. Right now it's pretty much stuffed to the gills and I'm debating getting another (larger) cooler. I really wish I had started out with coolers sooner.

Just to let you know, all three wood humidors I had can be found at cheaphumidors. I have no doubts that other examples of the exact same models seal with no problem at all, but the reliability is not great on the Chinese-made boxes.

Re: My First Humidor
 

Around here, they hoard and/or give stuff to friends.

If you can, you might want to check out your local shops and see what they have in stock. You'll pay more, but since you can inspect it you can see if it looks like it's got a good seal.

There are many ways to check for a good seal, and even some ways to try and improve the seal.

When I'm at a store, I lift the lid and let it drop. It should "huff" shut and actually slow down as all the air gets huffed out by the lid closing. Some people take a dollar or a piece of paper, and close the lid on it. A tight lid should pretty much not allow you to slip that dollar out.

If the lid is close, but not really well sealed, you can cause it to swell by brushing some distilled water on the "lip" that is supposed to seal the lid to the body of the box. Some people will flip out about this, and for good reason...as it's easy to warp the wood and make your seal worse...so it's up to you if you go this rout to tighten up a box.

As mentioned, a good sized tupperwear is an excellent, inexpensive humidor. You can use this till you find the right size and model of wood humidor that you like. Make sure it's got a good seal, get yourself a hygrometer (Walmart has one for $8, it's big and bulky, but both mine were accurate to within 2%), and get yourself some way of humidifying like the Cigar Mechanic Beads, Heartfelt Humidity Beads, or Shilala clay beads.

I would also finish up my Tupperware humidor by putting some Spanish Cedar in it, which you can get for free or cheap from your local cigar shop in the form of cigar boxes. Just break up the boxes and use the pieces for dividers/spacers, whatever. The wood will help maintain the moisture and help season/age the cigars, so they aren't simply living in a plastic box.

I'm sure if you Google Tupperware humidor, you'll get a lot of articles and even some videos on you tube to clarify what I wrote here.

I hope that helps!