Time for a cooler...

[bobarian]

You may want to add a digital hygrometer, but its not really necessary with a cooler. Coolers hold humidity amazingly well and with beads you can trust them to maintain Rh. If you add a hygrometer, be sure to calibrate it according to these instructions, http://www.cigarmony.com/calibratinghygrometers.aspx

You also may want to start collecting empty boxes from your local B&M. Wood boxes like Tatuaje and LFD are best but any brand will work for storage of singles.

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by bobarian

You may want to add a digital hygrometer, but its not really necessary with a cooler. Coolers hold humidity amazingly well and with beads you can trust them to maintain Rh. If you add a hygrometer, be sure to calibrate it according to these instructions, http://www.cigarmony.com/calibratinghygrometers.aspx

You also may want to start collecting empty boxes from your local B&M. Wood boxes like Tatuaje and LFD are best but any brand will work for storage of singles.

This is the best advice!!!

I layer mine with various sized cigar boxes (unvarnished wood)!!! Save sheets of Spanish Cedar from boxes to fill in the sides and layers. This will help keep the cigars smelling and tasting nice!!!

[TripleF]

Some epmty boxes would be good.... The El Baton boxes hold 40 cigars so those are perfect.

I stuffed some cedar sheets obtained from epmpty boxes and have been using a cooler for over a year now and the humidity is perfect all the time

[SLO_Smoke]

I've got six of these exact 70qt coolers.
- Yes, they are full
They work well but you will find that some seal better than others.
I tried the lid/fit on all of them before I bought the ones that had the best fit.
On the lid there is a small groove/recess that will allow you to put a gasket in the groove.
Walmart sells a self-adheasive rubber "D" gasket 3/8" x 5/16" found in the paint supplies dept.
Fits perfect in the groove!

Suggestion-
I used the GIANT Ziploc Big Bags "Large" size inside the coolers.
(The XL and the XXL Ziploc bags are just too big)
You can get a few boxes (3-4 boxes) inside the bags, then put a 1-oz (or 2 1-oz) bead tube(s) in the bag.
Then into the cooler.
This way, when you open the cooler lid you don't lose the RH in the whole storage system.
The cooler keeps the boxes from big temp swings.
The individual bags keep the boxes from big RH swings.
I also installed a Xikar digital hygrometer in the lid of each cooler.
- More to monitor temp rather than RH (trust your beads).

Works great!

I also keep a number of desktop humis for the sticks that I smoke regularly so that I'm not playing Tetris any more than necessary. LOL

[SLO_Smoke]

Another option to consider-
If you don't need the insulation of the cooler, Target has 20qt Sterilite Gasket Top boxes.
The benefit is that they are clear and you can see what's inside without opening the top.
Also, not too much Tetris involved.
Although the lid already has a gasket, they also need the extra "D" gasket to seal well.
I've got 20 of these and they also work well.

[tchariya]

Originally Posted by SLO_Smoke

Another option to consider-
If you don't need the insulation of the cooler, Target has 20qt Sterilite Gasket Top boxes.
The benefit is that they are clear and you can see what's inside without opening the top.
Also, not too much Tetris involved.
Although the lid already has a gasket, they also need the extra "D" gasket to seal well.
I've got 20 of these and they also work well.

I was looking at expanding to those Sterlite containers. What I wonder is, what affect the sunlight has on sticks that might not be kept in their boxes. Also sunlight (direct or indirect) might heat up the containers.

Man...it looks like you can open up shop and start selling!!!!

[tchariya]

I wanted to add..

With my cool-idor setup, I use a wireless hygrometer (generic weather meter) I bought from Fryes. It is capable of reading 3 different remote stations from the base station. That way I don't have to open up my cooler to check the temp/RH and I can bring up 2 other remote stations when I need to. They are spot on and only around $20.

Oh additionally, the remote stations and the base station displays the temp/RH of its surroundings. Its like getting 2 hygrometers in the package.

Here's the link!

wireless hygrometer

[SLO_Smoke]

Originally Posted by tchariya

I was looking at expanding to those Sterlite containers. What I wonder is, what affect the sunlight has on sticks that might not be kept in their boxes. Also sunlight (direct or indirect) might heat up the containers.

Man...it looks like you can open up shop and start selling!!!!

The following is IMO and gained from personal experience-

Ambient room temps stable within 5deg should not cause concern when storing in a non-insulated container.
Primary concern is maintaining a stable RH within the container.
Untable RH can indicate a poor seal on the container, swings in temp, or in the case of cigars just recently purchased or transported- cigars that need to stablize in their new storage environment.
The Key word is STABILITY

Direct sunlight on to the storage container is not desireable for any type of storage container (humidor, cooler, frig-a-dor, clear container, etc), but especially non-insulated containers, because it can affect the internal storage temp quickly causing temps and RH to become unstable, typically very high.
Warm/Hot air holds more moisture = High RH.
When temperature is unstable the RH is also going to fluctuate.
Indirect sunlight, or sunlight filtered through shades or curtains, can also affect the ambient temps in the room, generally more slowly, and thus cause more gradual temp and RH swings within the storage container.
- Insulated containers can reduce, slow, or even eliminate the temp swing within the container when the ambient temp is not stable.
Direct sunlight on to un-boxed cigars stored in clear containers would be the last of your worries.
- The temp swings and high RH from direct sunlight on to the storage container would kill the cigars long before the UV from direct sunlight shining through a clear container directly on single sticks would create problems to the cigar wrapper or tobacco.

Treat them like the prized Art possessions that they are.
- Just like you would keep a collectable painting or tapestry out of the direct sunlight and control humidity and temp swings.

I'm located in Las Vegas- 115deg outside temps and desert dry RH.
I keep the windows shades open, don't allow direct sunlight on any humidors or storage boxes, and I control the room temp with a separate AC.
- Do not allow the AC to blow directly on the storage boxes or any desktop humidors.
My storage temps and RH are rock steady @ 67deg and 65RH

As far as:

Originally Posted by tchariya

Man...it looks like you can open up shop and start selling!!!!

LOL!
I have almost 1000qts of storage full
- Used for long-term and medium-term storage of multiple boxes
I use my 4 desktop humidors for regular rotation.

Originally Posted by bobarian

You may want to add a digital hygrometer, but its not really necessary with a cooler. Coolers hold humidity amazingly well and with beads you can trust them to maintain Rh. If you add a hygrometer, be sure to calibrate it according to these instructions, http://www.cigarmony.com/calibratinghygrometers.aspx

You also may want to start collecting empty boxes from your local B&M. Wood boxes like Tatuaje and LFD are best but any brand will work for storage of singles.

I have the hygro I've been using in my humi, may need to pick up another one so I can use both for storage, but that's a different issue. Have a few boxes to use.....now to develop a plan for hiding this thing inside the house