If you are a new cigar smoker and haven’t yet delved into the process of buying your first humidor, or are looking for more storage and do not want the expense associated with buying another one, then you have come to the right place. A step above the old Tupperware cigar storage unit, the Coolerdor offers an inexpensive, do-it-yourself option that provides you with the storage and security of a normal humidor, without the financial commitment. It might not look as pretty, but it gets the job done.

 

This article will teach you how to create your very own Coolerdor, season it, and maintain it. With any luck you will have your Coolerdor up and running in no time with these simple steps.

Step One: Get Yourself a Cooler

The type of cooler you get depends on your needs and how ambitious you are feeling. If this is your first time, you may want to start with a smaller model, around 50 quarts. In my opinion though, you may as well splurge a little and grab yourself a 150 quart model.

You will want a nice, sturdy model. No Styrofoam gas station models please. Try grabbing an Igloo from your local grocery or hardware store.

One thing to consider before purchasing your cooler is where you will be placing it. Since your coolerdor is going to be used to store a nice quantity of cigars, you probably will not want to be moving it around too often.

Ideally, you will want to store it in a cool room, someplace where the temperature does not vary too greatly. For instance, you would not wish to place it near a window or in the kitchen. Nor would you wish to place it near the front or back door, where people enter and exit the house throughout the day, causing temperature swings.

Good examples of places to store you coolerdor include a walk-in closet or a basement. You will want to make sure it is easily accessible as well, as you will likely be visiting your coolerdor frequently, for both pleasure and maintenance.

Once you find the ideal location, measure it out, keeping in mind the shape of the cooler you are going to purchase, the fact that it might have a spout that will add an inch or two, its wheels, and a top that will either slide open or swing open. You will need to have adequate space for all of those things, as well as space to actually use the coolerdor without feeling cramped.

Making Sure the Cooler Works for You

Even though that title is a play on words, you really do have to ensure that the cooler will meet your needs. Those needs, by the way, should not only include storage, but looks (I know…how good looking can it really be?) and function.

When you find your cooler, you will want to check that it is well constructed, that it will work in your space, that the hinges work well and there is no looseness to the unit. Make sure the lid seals very tight by opening and closing it, and letting it slam shut on its own.

And while you are at it, put your face inside the cooler and take a deep breath. Do you smell anything? If so, how strong is the smell? Does it smell brand new? If so, move on. That new cooler smell will infect your cigars and add to their flavor; not a good scenario unless you are Stretch Armstrong.

Mind you, if there is a slight smell, that is okay; we’ll go over how to get rid of that in a moment.

Another consideration for the innards of the device is space. Does it seem like it will hold enough of your cigars? Are there liners inside where you could easily build your own shelving units or add dividers?

Once everything meets your exacting demands, your only consideration is price. Does it fit within your budget? If so, then you my friend, just took the first step in designing your coolerdor.

Taking Your Cooler Out of the Box

Once your cooler is home, make sure it fits neatly into the spot you intend to have it call home. Ensure there is room for you to maneuver it easily, and that the lid opens all the way. Once this is done, your next step will be to remove that new-cooler-smell.

The easiest method to do this is to take the cooler outside and pour about a fourth of a cup of bleach (unscented of course) into the cooler. Fill it to the top with water (the temperature does not matter) and let it sit overnight.

After it has set all night, dump the water out and leave it in the yard for a few hours to dry in the sun. Your next step will be to take a half to a whole box of baking soda (depending on how large your cooler is) and put it in a bowl or Tupperware container (lid off) and let it rest inside your cooler. Leave it overnight again.

Once the morning comes, remove the baking soda and take a deep inhale. If there is still a noticeable smell, try the process again. If it is only slight, you can try using just the baking soda for another day.

 

Turning Your Cooler Into a Coolerdor

Now that you have purchased and cleaned your cooler, it is time for cooler to become a man. The first step will be to line the sides of your cooler with some cedar. A good source for cedar are old cigar boxes. You may have some in your collection, or ask some friends for some. If all else fails, your local tobacco shop should be more than willing to drop a few freebies on you.

Note that this does not have to be perfect. No need to nail them on (do not, in fact) or certainly do not glue them (unless you like glue flavored cigars). Just set the wood against the wall. The reason we do this is to help the aging process of the cigars, help maintain the relative humidity, and to add that coveted Spanish cedar flavor to our stogies.

Next, figure out where you will want your hygrometer and humidifiers to go. Historically, the door works best for your hygrometer, either on the opening end or the center of it, and you will want around four humidifiers, if you go with the 150 quart cooler. How many ever you go with, remember to divide the space you have to work in by the number of humidifiers, and place accordingly.

As far as what to use for humidity, I would say to use silica beads, as they are effective, and cheaper than active humidifiers, and less messy than foam.

Creating a Good Environment for Your Cigars

Now that you have everything installed and set up, its time to create a positive environment. Fortunately, doing this is pretty simple now that everything is in place. Close your door, making sure the seal is tight, and put your coolerdor in its final resting place. Check on the humidity level every so often, and once it reaches 60-65% RH, it is safe to store your cigars.

You will want to keep checking on your RH for the first few days until everything stabilizes (and technically, checking RH is something you will always want to do, just less frequently). If the RH should ever fall below that 60-65% line, drop a damp sponge in the box; if it gets too high, take some cedar divides or a cedar block, pop it in the oven for five minutes, then freeze it until it is cool, and plop it in your box.

If those methods do not fix your problem, chances are you have too much empty space in your coolerdor. The goal is to keep your cooler half-full (at least). You can do this by buying more cigars or adding more cedar.

Summary

Well that is it for this episode. There are more tricks and tips to keeping up with your Coolerdor, but a lot of that is hands-on, trial and error business. Which of course, is part of the fun.

Enjoy, and let us know how it works out!