Why wine cooler and not fridge?

[Nathan]

I decided that I really need to come up with a solution to control the temps of my cigars. I don't ahve A/C in my apartment so I have to figure out a way to cool just the cigars.

I was thinking that I would build a end table humidor and cool it with a peltier system. But the more I look into that the more difficult it really looks.

So I started thinking about a wine cooler. But I cannot find a wine cooler that is large enough for a decent price.

So then I thought about a small dorm fridge. Why is it that people opt to use a wine cooler instead of a fridge? I searched around a bit but I can't really find a reason why a wine cooler is better besides that it can go up to a warmer temperature. But if I used one of those homebrew thermostats would there be any reason why a wine cooler would be better than a refridgerator? Both cool it the same way, and I can't really think of a good reason.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

-Nathan

[Danimal]

I'm contemplating the same thing and I'd get the wine cooler over the fridge mainly because the see-through glass door and the fact that it doesn't have the freezer (although some fridges do not).

One thing i don't like about the wine cooler though is that the racks are not flat like the fridge so.. i don't know. I'd like to know what others on this forum think as well.

[kansashat]

Originally Posted by DKim81

I'm contemplating the same thing and I'd get the wine cooler over the fridge mainly because the see-through glass door and the fact that it doesn't have the freezer (although some fridges do not).

One thing i don't like about the wine cooler though is that the racks are not flat like the fridge so.. i don't know. I'd like to know what others on this forum think as well.

I think you pretty well covered it. I have a couple of wine cooler fridgadors & the fact that I can look right through the glass & read the hygrometer, look at my boxes, etc., gives me pleasure.

[jgrimball]

Originally Posted by kansashat

I think you pretty well covered it. I have a couple of wine cooler fridgadors & the fact that I can look right through the glass & read the hygrometer, look at my boxes, etc., gives me pleasure.

What he said!!!! When you can stare at your collection thorugh that glasss nothing is better! While a minifridge would work it just doesnt look as good.

[Jason Love III]

Originally Posted by nathan

So then I thought about a small dorm fridge. Why is it that people opt to use a wine cooler instead of a fridge? I searched around a bit but I can't really find a reason why a wine cooler is better besides that it can go up to a warmer temperature. But if I used one of those homebrew thermostats would there be any reason why a wine cooler would be better than a refridgerator? Both cool it the same way, and I can't really think of a good reason.
-Nathan

Hi Nathan and welcome to CS. Just my .2 here, but I would say you're exactly right. If you're not worried about the aesthetics of what your humidor looks like, a fridge w/ the temp thermostat would work just as fine as any wine-cooler. I bought a 52 bottle Magic Chef wine cooler at Home Depot for a reasonable $150. I then bought some of that white closet shelving at Home Depot to replace the wavy shelving at that came with the cooler and cut it to fit. Works great and in my opinion looks better as well. Also the fridges I looked at were kinda pricey for the small space and I would definitely say that "bigger is better" when it comes to cigar storage. And yes, like others have said, with the wine-cooler you can always see your cigars and the temp/RH without opening the door.
But I would also say that anything that holds your cigars at the temp/RH that you would like is fine as a humidor. Somebody was talking about building a toy-box-a-dor earlier, so just goes to show ya....I don't know how to link the thread, but JGrimball put together a wine-cooler-dor complete with pictures in this forum. It would be the same procedure if you were to build a fridge-a-dor. Good luck!

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by jmgcash3

Hi Nathan and welcome to CS. Just my .2 here, but I would say you're exactly right. If you're not worried about the aesthetics of what your humidor looks like, a fridge w/ the temp thermostat would work just as fine as any wine-cooler. I bought a 52 bottle Magic Chef wine cooler at Home Depot for a reasonable $150. I then bought some of that white closet shelving at Home Depot to replace the wavy shelving at that came with the cooler and cut it to fit. Works great and in my opinion looks better as well. Also the fridges I looked at were kinda pricey for the small space and I would definitely say that "bigger is better" when it comes to cigar storage. And yes, like others have said, with the wine-cooler you can always see your cigars and the temp/RH without opening the door.
But I would also say that anything that holds your cigars at the temp/RH that you would like is fine as a humidor. Somebody was talking about building a toy-box-a-dor earlier, so just goes to show ya....I don't know how to link the thread, but JGrimball put together a wine-cooler-dor complete with pictures in this forum. It would be the same procedure if you were to build a fridge-a-dor. Good luck!

I have heard of a bunch of people that got a 52 bottle for 150 from Home Depot. That would be perfect but all they have now is a 12 bottle for 129 and a 28 bottle for 199. Need more space than that and those are alot for such a small fridge.

-Nathan

[zemekone]

Originally Posted by nathan

I decided that I really need to come up with a solution to control the temps of my cigars. I don't ahve A/C in my apartment so I have to figure out a way to cool just the cigars.

I was thinking that I would build a end table humidor and cool it with a peltier system. But the more I look into that the more difficult it really looks.

So I started thinking about a wine cooler. But I cannot find a wine cooler that is large enough for a decent price.

So then I thought about a small dorm fridge. Why is it that people opt to use a wine cooler instead of a fridge? I searched around a bit but I can't really find a reason why a wine cooler is better besides that it can go up to a warmer temperature. But if I used one of those homebrew thermostats would there be any reason why a wine cooler would be better than a refridgerator? Both cool it the same way, and I can't really think of a good reason.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

-Nathan

I run a Avant wine cooler, and i think i did a decent amount or research, and came to the conclusion that most fridges are frostless, as soon as that compressor comes on it just sucks the humidity out.... Besides the see through glass in the front is prettier! just my $.02

[dadof3illinois]

Been thinking about one of these myself but was wondering how loud the comperssor is? Does this thing make bunches of noise or is it pretty quiet?

[Jason Love III]

Mine is pretty quiet. You can hear it come on, but it's definitely quiet on the wine cooler.