New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I finally started reworking my big old display humi.
I got this thing a few years ago from Quaker Steak and Lube in Cranberry, PA. That's a Pittsburgh suburb. I brought it home, added fans, four of those little oasis humidifiers, and tons of cold cathode light tubes. Everything was controlled by an awesome control center that looked like a stack of cigar boxes. Lift the lid and there were all the control switches for everything.
The cold cathodes sucked. They were flaky and didn't like to work, or half the tube lit, or they didn't work at all. The humidifiers needed filling constantly cause it leaked like a sieve.
So I picked up an Avallo Accumonitor system and a big bunch of t5 flourescents, a plug bar and tons of silicone. So far I just tore her apart and sealed her up. Today I'm going to stain the fan bar so it matches the humi and mount the plug bar and try to figure out where I'll hide the computer power supply that powers the fans.

Here's a pic of the old girl before the tear down...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/cbbd2a95.jpg

and here's a pic as she sits now...
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/47adfc4b.jpg

I'll post updates as she goes. If you guys want detailed pics on the fans and lights and stuff, I'll show you how I did that stuff, too. :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

very cool good luck with the leaks

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

This looks nice Scott, looking forward to the updates.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Very cool Scott, good luck.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I'm excited about seeing her all slap full up of cigars. I'm going to try to do some sort of inventory when I fill her up, just so I can guage how insane I am.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

That will be one badass cabinet!
Good luck, keep us posted with pics!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Here we go. :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Gonna go ahead and subscribe to this one. Best of luck! :tu
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

& It begins... :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Stoked to see how this project comes along. She's a beaut! :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Wow very cool Scott. I cant wait to see it all filled up. :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Nice project Scott, can't wait to see the progress!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Scott, I had no idea you could pick up a humi from a Quaker Steak and Lube! First of all, I love that place and there are none out here neary Philly, second of all I didn't think they even sold cigars! Either way that is a awesome pick up and I would love to see how it progresses! I am in the market for a nice sized humi myself so PLEASE keep me posted if you see anything more out that way.

Even though you are having to put some work into that thing it should be well worth it in the end! :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Looking Good, Brother!:tu Thanks For The Pics! :)

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I found this thing on Craigslist a few years ago, Ken. It had been in the Quaker Steak and Lube when they opened, along with a great big cigar locker. They moved away from that idea and had the humi and locker in storage. I went and took a look and dragged the humi home. I lived about an hour and a half northeast of Pittsburgh at that time.
You should keep an eye on Craigslist. Stuff like this shows up on there a lot. :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Very cool project! I'm looking forward to what you do with it!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I loved her before and look forward to the updates on the update!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

nice work scott!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

nice project

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Not in my area :confused:

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I had to take the fan bar down and take it apart to stain it.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/685be77b.jpg

Back where she goes...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/57e17c71.jpg

Now the plug bar. You can see where I caulked all the seams in the humi, they aren't quite set up yet.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/8e34e07d.jpg

Mounted, caulked and complete.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/780ecc0f.jpg

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Looks good Scott!
Can't wait to see this thing packed full!!!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Lookin good Scott. I'm jealous, I wish I had a place in my house for something like that.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Cool. Haven't seen a shilala project in a while.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

This is the control box for the humi that I mentioned earlier. It's made from a stack of Padron x000 series boxes. It can control eight devices. With this incarnation, I'll just leave it on top of the humi where no one can see it. I just need it to power the fans.
In the future, if placement of the humi allows, I can add low voltage relays to switch the 120v circuit for the lights.

The pile of boxes...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/b412d3f8.jpg

Surprise!!!

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/ddae5b5b.jpg

The rocker switches light up. Blue led's. I love blue lights.
The cigars are real, I added them to bring a little artistic authenticism to the whole deal. I used the center logo area of a box lid for the cutout where the led's are mounted. That was just one more thing to bump it up a notch.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/c63c56c8.jpg

Guts.
The control panel is powered by a low-profile psu that you find in little micro-desktop computers and HTPC's. It cranks out a good mess of juice. It used to drive 4 humidifiers, 3 fans and 14 or 16 cold cathode tubes.
The box has three sections, actually. The top is the control section, the center houses the psu and guts, then the very bottom box is open but seperated from the rest. It serves to draw air for the PSU.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/becc34ae.jpg

Looking at the back you can see the bottom section drill holes that supply the air for the psu. Also you can see all the wires that go out to serve whatever they're busy with.
Right now this whole setup is in clamps. I had to pull it apart to work on it some months ago and never finished repairing it. I took the time to do that today. Should have gotten a picture of it all glued up in the clamps.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/259f5be7.jpg

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Nice looking Scott. Thanks for posting photos, keep up the good work.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Lastly, I started mounting the new t5 flourescents. There is a big long one up top in the storage section, I think it's 33". Under each shelf will be a 23". I only mounted one under-shelf light and it was time to give up, we're taking the MIL and FIL to dinner. I got lucky though. Weeze is running late, so I'm gonna go sneak a nap. :D

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/aaa57fd5.jpg

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Lookin' great, Scott. Keep up the good work.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Scott that control box is the coolest thing I have ever seen!!!
That is an amazing setup brother!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Very handy you are Scott

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Excellent Job, Scott!:D :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

That control box is awesome, I will have to create something similar.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I will definately check it out. For some reason I didn't even think of craigslist. I am really just now starting to really need something bigger. I don't exactly need a humi that large but my 150 count desktop is busting at the gills right now and I want something a bit nicer to properly display my cigars. Thanks for the info and looking forward to seeing how the project turns out.

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Yoda you are?

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I had to add an extra plug bar inside the humi to handle all the lights and leave the bottom section uncluttered.
I finished all the lighting and shelving and set to installing the new Avallo Accumonitor system. Before mounting all the parts and pieces, I put it all together for a dry run. The fan on the resevoir didn't run, so I double checked everything (which is foolproof) and it was all fine. I unplugged it all and decided to install a component at a time to see where the problem was, hoping it might bump the fan as I reconnected things and that's when I smelled the smoke. I look over and the control panel has smoke rolling out of the button holes. Surprisingly I didn't get pissed, just disappointed. I've been real excited about this Accumonitor system and now I have to email Ron and return it and wait for a new one.
Oh well, it happens. It's just my turn in the barrell.
I love the Accumonitor setup, by the way. It looks awesome, and it's sexy as hell. I can't wait to get her all up and running.
While I wait, I'll go back to using the gob of Hydras I have laying around.
I'm going to go down and clean up my area, then I'll start cleaning and reinstalling all the glass. Once that's done, I'm going to start emptying coolers and filling the humi.
I have about 20 pounds of beads all conditioned and ready to go. They're new stuff I recently developed, little barrel shaped things. I'll be able to dump the whole bucket right in the bottom on my humidor, it'll be awesome.

The extra plug bar...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/97f396e1.jpg

As she stands right now, all lit up...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/4e975840.jpg

The new beads...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/80af0a0e.jpg

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

new beads...?

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

They look like pencil erasers!!!
Looks good so far, can't wait to see it full.
Too bad about the system not working!

You just blew our minds Scott!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I've built a lot of humidors, I've seen a LOT of cool humidors, I've seen lots of different control units. Scott, this is by far the most phucking cool control unit I've ever seen! How damn creative are you, very nicely played!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Looking damn good Scott. :tu


Off topic: Whats the benefit of the new bead design?

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I got the glass all cleaned and reinstalled...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/9e1c675b.jpg

I rewired the fans and hid the control box up top for now...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/43dcd365.jpg

I thought this was a nice pic of the glass, lights, fans and shelves...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/8471fdca.jpg

And here's some of the stuff that went in there. I didn't have time to move everything and rearrange and all, I'll finish that tomorrow, hopefully...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/3162dea5.jpg

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Looking good Scott!! :tu :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

:tpd:

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Good Gravy that's a ton of smokes! You could open a shop with that stash!

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I still have a whole gob of stuff that's gotta go in there, too. I'm not exactly sure how I'm gonna pull it off, but I'll make it work somehow. I figured a sale was going to be in order, but I think I can make it all fit.
The pile in the pic fit easy, and I freed up four coolers. :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Did you just admit that you have a ton of empty space?

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

I sure do. You guys should all send me as many cigars as you can. I'll need lots to send to the troops, and I'll be sending packages real shortly. :tu

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

You've inspired me, Scott. There's no lights, no plug bar, etc. in mine - and I've been wishing they would magically appear.

Come my week off in December - I think I know just the project to take on :tu
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Just got the replacement parts for the Accumonitor today. I put her all together and it works great. I'll install her very soon.
In the meantime I've been relying on my prototype beads. I filled the bottom of the humi with somewhere between five to ten pounds, just dumped them in there loose around the bottom tray/crumb catcher.
They have kept the humi rock solid at 65% which shocked me to death. I had no doubt the beads would work really good, but had huge doubts as to whether or not I'd be able to seal this beast up.
I am SO excited it's worked so well. Now I can start testing the new beads and all that good stuff. I'll get pics of how I deployed the beads when I install the Accumonitor.
It's going to be such a huge joy to have a great big display humidor that actually works. You guys have no idea how excited I am. It's almost pathetic. :lr

Re: New Project : Resurrecting The Display Humi
 

Can't wait to see her when she's done!