A few questions for VinoTemp owners!

[Darrell]

I am looking at the 28 bottle VinoTemp and I searched for photos, but their are 60 something pages of them and 90% are hosted on photobucket which I cannot see at work. I have a couple questions about them:

1) As an owner how happy are you with it on a scale from 1 - 10.

2) Did you replace the metal shelves with spanish cedar or just leave them in?

3) Anyone using a CO? If so, how is it? How about beads? Is 1/2 lb wet plenty? It seems like it would be.

I am really considering one, since I am full in my 12 bottle. I should have got the VinoTemp sooner. If you have any photos hosted via flickr or imageshack.us I'd love to see your set up. Thanks for your time.

[barbourjay]

i've got a 28 bottle that is tiding me over till i get an aristocrat temp unit. i'm happy with it, the temp doesn't come down enough to make much of a difference. at the top of the unit it's at 70 degrees and turning it down only brings it down a degree or two. i have a hydra unit in it and about a pound and a half of beads. it's also completely full with close to 20 boxes and 3 singles trays in it. i don't really have space for anything in it anymore.

[Darrell]

LOL, well I don't have 20 boxes so it sounds like it would work just fine for me.

[barbourjay]

oh and i have cedar planks already cut but currently only use a few of them. i think i have some extras laying around. finding a box to fit them in is a bitch though. honestly the cedar boxes that your stogies come in are usually more than enough.

[jockolarity]

[SIZE=3]Picked one up at Target while they were on sale, $188 with sales tax. I have an Oasis inside on the upper middle shelf, contemplating another. I put a large passive polyglcol system on the bottom with an additional digital Hydo on the bottom to make sure that when I open the door, it recovers quickly. Nor do I think a single Oasis has enough horsepower for the whole box. The fan in the Oasis does not run continuously, only when it senses the humidly is low. It came with 6 shelves that can be pulled out, or moved to different slots inside. It runs quite, as I have it in the bedroom. I have it maintaining 73% humidity currently. The smokes from it at this time are not wet, so I am assuming at this time the cigars and Vino temp have not reached equilibrium at this time, I need to add more cigars, or as the unit cools, it pulls enough humidity out to offset the fudging factor. At this time I need to repack/reload it since I can add more cigars if I do. I have one humidor inside that the hinges came lose on, so I took the lid off, and put it in full of Nic 3k’s. I also use cigar boxes for the rest. I acquired lots of cigar boxes of different sizes to use. I think it would be best to experiment before adding cigars to experiment with boxes for the best load combination, something that I did not do. [/SIZE]

[dgold21]

I've had mine for a few weeks now, and I am happy with the investment. I have a Hydra humidifier with extra fans mounted so it moves the air from top to bottom and back. I also have about 1/2 LB of 65% beads to supplement (or maybe it's the Hydra supplementing the beads), and they seem to work well together. Took a little while to stabilize after I put cedar trays and some empty boxes in, but now it's solid at 66-68%, 66 degrees. Left a couple of the metal shelves in and use the trays and boxes for my cedar needs. Now I'm ready to purchase a few full boxes!

Also, I plugged the drain hole and have the condensate routed to drip into the bead container...so far so good...

1/2 lb of beads by itself would not be enough...when the cooling unit kicks on, the humidity drops, so you need enough to help recover quickly.

I say go for it Darrell...it's about the most cost-effective climate-controlled storage you can get IMHO...

[ForestPuma]

Originally Posted by Darrell

I am looking at the 28 bottle VinoTemp and I searched for photos, but their are 60 something pages of them and 90% are hosted on photobucket which I cannot see at work. I have a couple questions about them:

1) As an owner how happy are you with it on a scale from 1 - 10.

9

2) Did you replace the metal shelves with spanish cedar or just leave them in?

Yes...see the attached pics.

3) Anyone using a CO? If so, how is it? How about beads? Is 1/2 lb wet plenty? It seems like it would be.

2 lbs of beads each with an OUST fan is all I use. I rerouted what little condensation I have into a plate or beads on the bottom.

I am really considering one, since I am full in my 12 bottle. I should have got the VinoTemp sooner. If you have any photos hosted via flickr or imageshack.us I'd love to see your set up. Thanks for your time.

Here are some pics:

This is my first one. I replaced the shelves with custom Spanish cedar shelves that I drilled holes in to allow for a better humidity flow.






I decided to get another one last month when they were on sale again. I now have filled the first one and on my way to filling the second one.

[tedrodgerscpa]

Originally Posted by Darrell

I am looking at the 28 bottle VinoTemp and I searched for photos, but their are 60 something pages of them and 90% are hosted on photobucket which I cannot see at work. I have a couple questions about them:

1) As an owner how happy are you with it on a scale from 1 - 10.

2) Did you replace the metal shelves with spanish cedar or just leave them in?

3) Anyone using a CO? If so, how is it? How about beads? Is 1/2 lb wet plenty? It seems like it would be.

I am really considering one, since I am full in my 12 bottle. I should have got the VinoTemp sooner. If you have any photos hosted via flickr or imageshack.us I'd love to see your set up. Thanks for your time.

1. Yes - 8.5 out of 10
2. Took almost all of my shelves out... One at the top, and one at bottom... keep my loosies in curly head boxes, stacked on top of each other, free from my B&M's
3. Nope... Using 2 POUNDS of beads, and am very happy

I dont' have any images via flickr or imageshack.us, but can upload them or email them to you... lemme know.

Ted

[Bruin7]

Originally Posted by Darrell

I am looking at the 28 bottle VinoTemp and I searched for photos, but their are 60 something pages of them and 90% are hosted on photobucket which I cannot see at work. I have a couple questions about them:

1) As an owner how happy are you with it on a scale from 1 - 10.

2) Did you replace the metal shelves with spanish cedar or just leave them in?

3) Anyone using a CO? If so, how is it? How about beads? Is 1/2 lb wet plenty? It seems like it would be.

I am really considering one, since I am full in my 12 bottle. I should have got the VinoTemp sooner. If you have any photos hosted via flickr or imageshack.us I'd love to see your set up. Thanks for your time.

Darrell,

I've got the 28-bottle Vinotemp. I purchased it from Target for $180. This has been the best accessory I've ever purchased! I keep the digital temp reading at 64-65 but the fridge usually sits around 67 degrees. The humidity floats around 64%-66%. I am very pleased with it and would rate it a 9! I might buy another Vinotemp if I don't slow down on box/cabinet buying. I'll upload a pic later tonight for you. PLMK if you need any help with setting it up.

I left 3 metal racks in because I don't have any equipment to make cedar shelves.

Plugged the bottom hole with black electrical tape.

I've got a Cigar Oasis XL Plus near the upper half of the fridge and have 2 lbs of Heartfelt beads throughout. Viper's math calculated it to be about 1.5 lbs but it never hurts to have more.

[Darrell]

Originally Posted by Bruin7

2 lbs of Heartfelt beads throughout. Viper's math calculated it to be about 1.5 lbs but it never hurts to have more.

Are the beads wet or dry?

[Bruin7]

Originally Posted by Darrell

Are the beads wet or dry?

The temperature here in Georgia has gotten really cold. There were freeze warnings last night. The beads get dry quicker because of the temperature in the basement. I spray them probably twice a month. But at their worst the beads are 50/50, never completely white.

IMO I think its possible to use 2 lbs of beads without a Cigar Oasis. Those things are great but they cost a lot and the cartridges are $12-$15 a piece every time.

Darrell I didn't know you're from San Jose. I grew up in Danville, CA in the east bay.

[borndead1]

Originally Posted by Darrell

I am looking at the 28 bottle VinoTemp and I searched for photos, but their are 60 something pages of them and 90% are hosted on photobucket which I cannot see at work. I have a couple questions about them:

1) As an owner how happy are you with it on a scale from 1 - 10.

10...so far. I'm crossing my fingers.

2) Did you replace the metal shelves with spanish cedar or just leave them in?

Yes, I put 2 shelves of 1/4" Spanish Cedar. I also put a large Spanish Cedar grated insert in the bottom to ensure air flow throughout the bottom. They are available from Famous Smoke Shop.

3) Anyone using a CO? If so, how is it? How about beads? Is 1/2 lb wet plenty? It seems like it would be.

I am using a CO with 1/2 lb of beads for good measure. If you are going to use beads only, I would recommend at least 1.5 lbs.

I am really considering one, since I am full in my 12 bottle. I should have got the VinoTemp sooner. If you have any photos hosted via flickr or imageshack.us I'd love to see your set up. Thanks for your time.

Just ordered my SECOND 28

[Rahllin]

I'm still trying to decide whether or not I trust it or not. Currently I just have 4 of my desktop humidors inside of it with beads inside the humidors. In the cooler I have 1.5lb of beads throughout and a hydra system. I'm slowly moving my stogies from the humidors and into boxes. I've thought about lining the whole thing with cedar and putting cedar shelves, but as of now I'm just too lazy.

[Bruin7]

There are actually more boxes behind the ones you see in front. There were even more boxes that were filled with tons of different singles but I recently bought a treasure chest humidor for them.

[doctorcue]

I really need to pick up one of these. Bruin, I like your idea of a regular humidor for all the singles and the Vinotemp for the boxes. Might have to "borrow" that idea.