Coolidors
 

I have done some searching here on threads about coolidors, but I am still slightly confused. I would like to start buyin some boxes, but cant at the moment bc of only havin a desktop humi, so I considered a coolidor. However, from what I have been reading, it seems just way to simple. Buy cooler, buy beads, and then fill with cigars? Is it really that easy, or do I need anything else, like to line it with spanish cedar or anything? Also, once I make this coolidor, I wont be fillin it to the brim with boxes of cigars right away, so there will be a good amount of empty space at first. I will only be buyin a box here or a box there, so is this goin to be a problem? Also, what do you guys do with singles and fivers in the coolidor?

Thanks

Re: Coolidors
 

That's the program. You can pick up empty boxes from your local shop for singles storage. Also, empty boxes will fill the extra space and help stabilize the Rh but they are not necessary. It will just take a bit longer for the Rh to stabilize without empty boxes.

Re: Coolidors
 

Most boxes have spansih cedar in them so if your keeping them in those then you will be fine. Spanish cedar is an aid for keeping humidity but if you buy beads then you should be fine in this area as well as long as there is a tight seal in the cooler.

You can go to a local B&M and get some empty boxes usually for free and keep singles in there. Or you can buy some trays to keep those in.

Most work goes with getting the smell out of the cooler and keeping it at the right humidity and proper place to store. No need to fill the whole thing butthats just wasted space :r

Edit: looks like i just type slow

Re: Coolidors
 

Yup...it's that simple. :tu

Re: Coolidors
 

Yep, it's that easy. Be sure to wash the cooler out first to get out the plastic smell. I have never had any rh problems with a partially full cooler.

Re: Coolidors
 

Thanks for the quick responses guys. Any particular brand of coolers you guys recommend?

Re: Coolidors
 

Coleman Xtreme, igloo & rubbermaid all work great.

Re: Coolidors
 

It really is that easy. You can buy cedar trays for singles, or as other have suggested get empty boxes from your local B&M. I was given a bunch of the cedar inserts out of old boxes from another BOTL and I keep them in my cooler. I use an open tuperware container for singles when I run out of space in my destop humidors. :2

Re: Coolidors
 

thanks guys. appreciate all the info

Re: Coolidors
 

:tpd: And don't forget some Shilala Beads available here in the Nut House.:tu

Re: Coolidors
 

Some people prefer a model that has slots molded inside, which makes it easier to "build" shelves of cedar by simply sliding properly cut pieces into said slots. Some people get the ones with wheels, which make it easier to take to herfs and whatnot . . . and always insure that, at this herf, you have enough cigars to smoke and share, enough space to pack your "bombs", and, most importantly, always have some place to sit. :r

Re: Coolidors
 

Thats what I have been tryin to make a decision on also. I have been using heartfelt beads for about a year in my desktop, and they have performed quite well. However I notice alot of people on here rave about the Shilala beads, thus I have been tryin to determine if it is worth the extra money for the Shilala beads or just stick with heartfelt. Thoughts?

Re: Coolidors
 

Oh and I have also been wondering if you guys add anything to the lip of the cooler for a better seal, or do these coolers seem to do just fine by themselves?

Re: Coolidors
 

Some people use some foam weather seal strips, but most of the coolers I have used seal rather well and didn't need it.

Re: Coolidors
 

If a cooler has that bad a seal it should be returned. Testing a cooler is just like testing a humidor. Drop the lid and you should hear the air "whoosh" out from the edges. It should not slam down. Or if you suspect a leak, use a flashlight for a light test. Painters tape can be use to fill the gap, but no cooler should ever need weather strip to seal. :2

Re: Coolidors
 

Heartfelt are good beads and good people for sure. Shilala beads seem to take a bit less maintenance and the bagging is very nice. Can't go wrong with either one.:banger

Re: Coolidors
 

It is easy! Ive been using mine for 5 years now and every time I look into buying a large humidor I think of all the cigars I could buy:D Have fun shopping and remember to get a big one you will fill all that empty space fast!

Re: Coolidors
 

Thats what I have been thinkin. I have been usin my desktop for about a year, and I have come to the conclusion that this is something I enjoy very much and want to move further with it. That means more cigars and I want to start buyin boxes. I kept thinkin about a cabinet, but then I think about all the money that could go towards the cigars themselves by goin with a coolidor. I'm a 22 year old electrical engineer and live in an apartment by myself. I have no one I need to impress with a cabinet. Coolidor will be just fine.

Re: Coolidors
 

I Have 3 Cooolers & Have Had For 3 years. They Work Great With 1 Of Shilala's Largest Bag Of Beads In Each One; Much Steadier RH Than Any Of My 4 Desktops!:tu

Re: Coolidors
 

I got one of these from Walmart to store my singles & 5 packs (only cost about $6). It takes up a bit of room, but helps keep everything organized in my coolidor. Buy boxes if you can, and like others have said, check with a local B&M, usually they're more than willing to give you old boxes. I like to take the tops off mine and let the air circulate.

(Humidity is a little high, but it was a pretty hot and humid day here today)

Re: Coolidors
 

I am really digging that device you have for you singles:)

Re: Coolidors
 

Heartfelt all the way. A man needs a bead he can pour water on.

Re: Coolidors
 

While you are single is the best time to get the cabinet . You can budget for it easier now then in 15 years with a wife and kids soaking up your cash . You're only young once , take advantage of it !

Re: Coolidors
 

Hi all,

I recently set-up a coolidor, and I was hoping on some advice...

In my haste to get the thing set-up, I didn't clean the inside of the wine fridge at all. Having done some reading since, I learned that the new plastic smell that coolers and fridges generally have can be pretty bad for you cigars (in terms of them soaking up the odour).

Re: Coolidors
 

Just take out your smokes and store them in ziplocks or tupperware, they will last up to a week without any need for humidification. Wipe down the inside walls with a new damp sponge and baking soda. Let it dry for a few hours with the door open, then put your smoked back. :2

Re: Coolidors
 

(Sorry about the above, hit enter accidently before I was done...)

Hi all,

I recently set-up a coolidor, and I was hoping for some advice...

In my haste to get the thing set-up, I didn't clean the inside of the wine fridge at all. Having done some reading since, I learned that the new plastic smell that coolers and fridges generally have can be pretty bad for your cigars (in terms of them soaking up the odour).
I opened the coolidor to find that it did have a slight plastically smell. I removed all cigars (which were all in their original boxes), and wiped down the inside of the fridge with a cloth and a little distilled water - the smell still remains, though only very slightly. My cigars are now back in the coolidor.

I'm worrying about whether I should again, get the cigars out, but this time clean it down with water and a little washing up liquid. I've read that if I do this, I'll have to then re-wash it with just water to ensure that the smell from the detergent doesn't get into the cigars, and then leave the coolidor off and open for a few hours while it dries fully. Firstly, if I have to use distilled water for all of this, I'm confident that there won't be much left in the bottle , and it was quite hard to come by. I'm also anxious that my heartfelt beads may be affected. If I leave them out in my house, will they absorb impurities from the air? If so, can this be avoided by putting them in a zip-lock bag?

The cigars have only been in the coolidor for about 3 days, I smelled a few of them, and couldn't pick up a scent of the plastic on them, which I'm taking as a good sign - I'm yet to smoke any though...

Sorry if there is already a post on this topic, I have searched, but to no avail.

Any advice will be much appreciated!

Thanks.

Re: Coolidors
 

I believe you can use tap water and detergent to clean the cooler as long as you let it air dry before adding the cigars and beads. :2

Re: Coolidors
 

Would maybe an older Coleman metal type cooler be better than say the newer all plastic things?

Re: Coolidors
 

Thanks for that. So, is detergent a bad idea then? Should I be in a hurry to get the cigars back out of the coolidor, or can I leave them over-night? Will smells be absorbed that quickly by the cigars??

Re: Coolidors
 

Either will work fine. The metal ones do have a latching system, but most of the newer plastic coolers seal extremely well without.

Re: Coolidors
 

No rush, overnight is fine. Detergent just adds an extra step as you will need to rinse out the detergent. Be sure and use a new sponge so you dont get any smells from an old sponge. Just sprinkle the damp sponge with baking soda, dont scrub too hard just wipe it down and it should be fine.

Re: Coolidors
 

I just used soap and water with mine. Never smelled any plastic in the first place...certainly don't smell it now.

Re: Coolidors
 

good tips. I'll need this info pretty soon if all goes well.

Re: Coolidors
 

When I set up my old cooler and vino I just wiped it down with water and soap then Dried it real good and left the door open for a day.

After a day I put 2 boxes of arm and hammer baking soda in there to absorb the smell if by for a few days.

Then removed everything threw beads in waited a day or two and put the smokes in.

Never had a issue ever.

Re: Coolidors
 

OK, I've washed down my fridge with some warm water and some bicarbonate of soda. It still seems to have a faint odour of plastic/rubber - I'm going to let it dry fully over-night, and then put a small plate with some soda on it in the fridge for a few hours. If that doesn't clear the smell, then screw it, it'll have to do!

Re: Coolidors
 

:tu Sounds like a plan! Its unlikely the faint smell will ever get into your cigars. We are all just a bit anal when it comes to our babies. :banger

Re: Coolidors
 

Another fan of the coolidor checking in. Much happier with my igloo than my desktops. Have you checked your local grocery store? If you need more it might be worth a shot.

Re: Coolidors
 

I eventually managed to get a litre bottle from from a model-train company. I had tried chemists, hardware/motoring shops, petrol stations, supermarkets (grocery stores as well) with no luck. The bottle I bought ended up being about £9 with postage - would've lasted for ages if I hadn't cleaned my fridge with it, but there's still a fair bit left so it's not the end of the world. I'm not certain, but it seems that distilled water is harder to get hold of in the UK, than in the States...

Re: Coolidors
 

Wow, no kidding! We can get distilled water just about anywhere here...

Guys, this is a great thread. I'm not single in an apartment, but am married with kids (read: no money!) so I'm gonna go the coolidor route!

Re: Coolidors
 

Re: Coolidors
 

i read somewhere that if you boil filtered water or something along those lines its the same as using distilled. might be able to Google it and find something in case you need water in a bind. for me im not gonna try to make distilled water when i can walk down the street to the store and grab a gallon for under a buck.

Re: Coolidors
 

Agreed, why would anyone want to short cut? Unless you are MacGyver.

Re: Coolidors
 

Only had a brief look, but it seems really expensive. I like the idea of getting an 'at home' distallation kit, but for 150 quid I think I'll pass. £9 every couple of years seems fine to me... Who knows, in 16 years I might be kicking myself for not having splashed out on the kit. :)

Re: Coolidors
 

The cost per 10 litre plastic container is £10.99 + VAT – but we offer discounts for customers purchasing more than four containers.

They may sell smaller bottles as well, give them a call.

Re: Coolidors
 

Can you get De-Ionized water? It's similar in purity.

In a pinch, you can use reverse osmosis purified water, but the problem is that the purity of RO water can vary greatly by the equipment used to produce it. Some of the larger, higher pressure systems are very close to distilled in purity, but some of the lower pressure or poorly maintained rigs can leave quite a bit of impurities in the water. Another thing to watch for is bottled RO water that states "Minerals added for taste", while I doubt that these minerals will affect your cigars in anything but an extremely long exposure (many, many years), they might plate out on your humidifier.

Re: Coolidors
 

According to the guys at Heartfelt, purified water isn't good for their beads. You can pick up purified water from pretty much any chemist in London, but it's not guarenteed to have it's trace elements (like calcium etc.) removed...

Re: Coolidors
 

Resurrecting this thread from the dead.....Mike that 1st pic, it looks like your smokes are in baggies...is this true, and I am surprised this actually works and no one blasted you.....anyone else wanna chime in, is this a good one to use for singles? If yes, I'm getting one...and I think I am def gonna go the coolidor route.

Re: Coolidors
 

FYI Wal-Mart is having a sale on their 120qt coleman coolers right now

Coleman 120qt cooler

Re: Coolidors
 

Don't look like they are in baggies to me. Just their own cello. However, there is nothing wrong with storing your cigars in baggies in a cooler. Common practice, really.

Re: Coolidors
 

And with this container? Would you advise to store singles in there?