Setting up a Cooleridor?

Just the cooler. The cigars will be fine. As for the beads, I would spray them about 50/50 and see where it holds, then spray some more.

[Drez]

Coolers are very easyto set up.

Once you find a cooler that fits your need size wise make sure it has a good seep on the lid. Most people will use a marine cooler or a Coleman xtreme.

Once yOu pick up the cooler you need to buy beads or whatever you are gonna use for humidification.

If you go with beads you can use this site to find out how much you will need.

http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/calculator.asp

Once you get the beads then you can rinse the cooler out and let it dry out to get any "plastic" smell it might have. After a rinse and dry throw the beads in the cooler and a hygro in there.

Now you can buy Spanish cedar trays or just use old boxes to store singles and take up some room. If you go to walmart or some large store like that you could also just pick up some cheap plastic trays or bins also.

That's about it for coolers.

1.buy cooler
2.rinse cooler
3.add beads (or other form of humidiy)
4.add cigars once you reach desired humidity

Simple.

[jesseboston81]

Using kitty litter (as opposed to humidification beads or some other device) will save you a ton of money. Use the link Frank posted to figure out how many pounds you need, then split that amount into 4 or so pantyhose stockings.

[Drez]

Just a tip for recharging beads that I do in my vino and cooler is I just place a couple cups of water and "gel" I have in there for a few days whenever I need to recharge the beads. Keeps me from over spraying the beads and leading to a humi spike.

[Flounder]

Nice. I'll probably have more questions once I start setting it up, but for the next week or so, I'm set.

[Bill86]

Originally Posted by Sherlockholms

Does it keep perfect rh even with one stick in it? Just curious.

It's a 120 quart, the smallest amount I had was 2 boxes in it....relatively speaking that is almost nothing compared to it's capacity. It held rock solid 65 RH.

I would assume the same empty but I got quite a bit in there now and don't feel like taking it all out.

Originally Posted by Flounder

Nice. I'll probably have more questions once I start setting it up, but for the next week or so, I'm set.

Shoot me a PM anytime, I'm pretty much always here.

[Drez]

Originally Posted by Bill86

It's a 120 quart, the smallest amount I had was 2 boxes in it....relatively speaking that is almost nothing compared to it's capacity. It held rock solid 65 RH.

I would assume the same empty but I got quite a bit in there now and don't feel like taking it all out.

Shoot me a PM anytime, I'm pretty much always here.

Bill doesn't really have a life outside of CA

[Drez]

Like stated before you don't need cedar in a cooler. Here is mine and you can see I just use plastic trays/bins with zero problems.



Also I never went the kitty litter route cause I just bought beads and since day one I have never had a problem with them. It keeps everything nice and worry free for me.

I know, no need for a debate. It's just what was the cheapest at the time. When you open the lid to your cooler is there any drop in rh?

[Bill86]

Originally Posted by Sherlockholms

I know, no need for a debate. It's just what was the cheapest at the time. When you open the lid to your cooler is there any drop in rh?

Not really, unless I keep it open for like 5 minutes. Even then it just drops to 60-62 or so. With the amount of beads I have in it...climbs right back up in no time.

[Drez]

Originally Posted by Bill86

Not really, unless I keep it open for like 5 minutes. Even then it just drops to 60-62 or so. With the amount of beads I have in it...climbs right back up in no time.

+1 I keep just over 2 pounds in my vino and my cooler is just a 48qt and I have 1.5 pounds in there.

Originally Posted by Bill86

Not really, unless I keep it open for like 5 minutes. Even then it just drops to 60-62 or so. With the amount of beads I have in it...climbs right back up in no time.

Thanks for the info, I believe I will scrap the cedar and see how it does. I will still roll with the kl right now as it is a cheap alternative at the moment. But if cedar isn't needed for long term storage or to regulate the rh. Then I shouldnt have it in there.

[jesseboston81]

Originally Posted by Sherlockholms

Thanks for the info, I believe I will scrap the cedar and see how it does. I will still roll with the kl right now as it is a cheap alternative at the moment. But if cedar isn't needed for long term storage or to regulate the rh. Then I shouldnt have it in there.

I'm avoiding the great debate that has been amply covered in other threads, but I use KL and I've never had problems. I believe the secret is using at least double the recommended amount of whatever your humidification device of choice may be (KL, beads, etc.) Using that much gives ample overage to absorb spikes and quickly compensate for humidor opening.

[Drez]

Originally Posted by jesseboston81

I'm avoiding the great debate that has been amply covered in other threads, but I use KL and I've never had problems. I believe the secret is using at least double the recommended amount of whatever your humidification device of choice may be (KL, beads, etc.) Using that much gives ample overage to absorb spikes and quickly compensate for humidor opening.

I'm a firm believer of use whatever works for you!

KL or beads or gel whatever if it hold humidity where you like it and your smokes are how you like them then

[Bill86]

Originally Posted by Sherlockholms

Thanks for the info, I believe I will scrap the cedar and see how it does. I will still roll with the kl right now as it is a cheap alternative at the moment. But if cedar isn't needed for long term storage or to regulate the rh. Then I shouldnt have it in there.

I agree, however it might be helping out with the KL. I'd say test it without and see what happens....run some tests, couldn't hurt.

But I still say.........

Don't buy cigars whenever you get $$, buy 1 pound of beads and a mesh bag (I'd recommend 1 pound and 2 half pound mesh bags put at opposite ends of your humi/cooler). If it doesn't work, mark my words I'll send you a nice 5'er.

I'd be more than happy to put my money where my mouth is.

Always trying to help.

Originally Posted by Bill86

I agree, however it might be helping out with the KL. I'd say test it without and see what happens....run some tests, couldn't hurt.

But I still say.........

Don't buy cigars whenever you get $$, buy 1 pound of beads and a mesh bag (I'd recommend 1 pound and 2 half pound mesh bags put at opposite ends of your humi/cooler). If it doesn't work, mark my words I'll send you a nice 5'er.

I'd be more than happy to put my money where my mouth is.

Always trying to help.

Well you figure a half pound of beads is $18(from the hearfelt industries site) and 8 pounds of kl is $15 or less. It was just the better choice. But when I am able to I will grab some beads. It has been about 3 months and I have not had to change the 8oz of kl I have in there. And I still have 7 and some pounds left. Lol, I will put the beads on my long list of stuff to buy.

[Bill86]

There ya go....I guess lets just say I'm very lazy by nature. I put literally half of nothing of effort into my humi. I have 500 or so cigars so for me I don't want anything to happen to them and I make sure I do whatever I can to keep them safe and sound.

As you get further into it you really want proven methods. Because ....I got a good amount of $$$$ in my humidor.

[gnukfu]

I'm with Bill. Just use the beads. Worked perfectly for me when I had my 120 quart cooler and works great in my wine fridges.

[Wolfgang]

I have cats so putting KL in my humidor invites unwanted visitors. Just sayin'.

[Flounder]

Intel tells me a I have a rather large bomber inbound... Cooleridor will most likely be established this week(end).