Finally bought an wine cooler! (show & tell + questions)

[Joey Link]

I've been using a cooler with a pound of beads for about six months now, but I didn't have a hygrometer and the temperatures in my room fluctuated quite a bit. It kept my cigars in good shape, but I just kept feeling like I was abusing my poor sticks.

After much reading, comparison, and deliberation, I finally ordered an Avanti 28-Bottle Wine Cooler from BeverageFactory.com a few days ago. I paid $215 shipped, and I felt the extra bit of money was worth it because I prefer the looks over the VinoTemp unit. To my joy and excitement, it arrived today.

I carried the thing upstairs and tore into the box. I think it took me five minutes from the time I got home till the time it was plugged in I chose to leave the handle off and remove the Avanti sticker, both for cosmetic reasons.



Afterward Jenny and I set out on a mission to find a good looking weather station which met my needs. We checked Radio Shack, Target, and Fred Meyer to no avail. Wal-Mart was nearby, so we figured we'd give it a shot too. Nothing there that fit the bill, but I did find a cheap ($ digital hygrometer/thermometer to do the job until I found one I liked. If this thing works I'll consider it a steal, given it also has a readout for the temp and humidity ranges.



So I put the digital hygro in the cooler on the bottom shelf with the temp dial set at the 'min' position. I let is sit for about an hour and when I came back, it read 61°

I realized the dial could go further to the left, so I set it as low as it could go without turning the unit off. Came back an hour later and it read 65°; getting better. However, after I took these photos I put the hygro back in on the shelf in front of the fan and now, an hour later, it's reading 61° again. I've read in several posts that people use fans to circulate the air and I'm wondering if this would raise the temperature. Please, please don't tell me I need a controller What's the ideal temp range for cigars, anyway?

Next up, I put the beads in there to see what happens. So far....nothing (I expected it to take at least overnight). After I'm done with this post I'm going to read up on the salt test to see where the hygro is.

I do have a couple additional questions:

1. How do you get rid of the plastic smell? I can't imagine that wouldn't be absorbed into the cigars. I put a box of baking soda in there to sit overnight, but I doubt it's going to be enough.

2. Is there anything else I need to do with the Avanti unit to get it up and running that I haven't mentioned?

Although I'm a poor college student I can't wait to break out the Amex and find the cooler some residents

[zemekone]

Originally Posted by Joey Link

I've read in several posts that people use fans to circulate the air and I'm wondering if this would raise the temperature. Please, please don't tell me I need a controller What's the ideal temp range for cigars, anyway?

I keep mine at 65ish, and you dont really need a fan there is a built in fan in the cooler

I do have a couple additional questions:

1. How do you get rid of the plastic smell? I can't imagine that wouldn't be absorbed into the cigars. I put a box of baking soda in there to sit overnight, but I doubt it's going to be enough.

i left mine open for almost 2 weeks, letting it gas off...

2. Is there anything else I need to do with the Avanti unit to get it up and running that I haven't mentioned?

nope...

heres my 2 from about 2 years ago...

[Bigwaved]

Nice, Joey! See you tomorrow.

[Joey Link]

Thanks for the info, zemekone.

Looking forward to tomorrow, Dave!

Aw, just noticed the title misspelling

[Marlboro Cigars]

Congrats on the beautiful humi -
can't wait to see her filled.

[TEAK]

Joey,
I got that same hydro from wally world and could never get it to give anywhere near an accurate reading. Went back and got the cheaper version and it is spot on!!

[Joey Link]

Originally Posted by TEAK

Joey,
I got that same hydro from wally world and could never get it to give anywhere near an accurate reading. Went back and got the cheaper version and it is spot on!!

I should have got the other as well so I could compare! Maybe I'll go back tomorrow

[ForestPuma]

I would go with the Oregon Scientific Wireless station with a couple of sensors if I were you. They are pretty accurate.

Also, you can get the plastic smell out by wiping it down with baking soda and leaving it open for a day. Worked for me.

[zonedar]

Very Cool, Joey. See you tonight!

[sean373]

i bought the same one from walmart and when i tried the salt test it read 8% low the first time. then i drilled a bunch of holes in the back and tried again. this time it was only 3% low. since im still a noob i decided not to play the guessing game and i ordered an adjustable one that comes with a calibration kit.

[hova45]

Originally Posted by Joey Link

I've been using a cooler with a pound of beads for about six months now, but I didn't have a hygrometer and the temperatures in my room fluctuated quite a bit. It kept my cigars in good shape, but I just kept feeling like I was abusing my poor sticks.

After much reading, comparison, and deliberation, I finally ordered an Avanti 28-Bottle Wine Cooler from BeverageFactory.com a few days ago. I paid $215 shipped, and I felt the extra bit of money was worth it because I prefer the looks over the VinoTemp unit. To my joy and excitement, it arrived today.

I carried the thing upstairs and tore into the box. I think it took me five minutes from the time I got home till the time it was plugged in I chose to leave the handle off and remove the Avanti sticker, both for cosmetic reasons.



Afterward Jenny and I set out on a mission to find a good looking weather station which met my needs. We checked Radio Shack, Target, and Fred Meyer to no avail. Wal-Mart was nearby, so we figured we'd give it a shot too. Nothing there that fit the bill, but I did find a cheap ($ digital hygrometer/thermometer to do the job until I found one I liked. If this thing works I'll consider it a steal, given it also has a readout for the temp and humidity ranges.



So I put the digital hygro in the cooler on the bottom shelf with the temp dial set at the 'min' position. I let is sit for about an hour and when I came back, it read 61°

I realized the dial could go further to the left, so I set it as low as it could go without turning the unit off. Came back an hour later and it read 65°; getting better. However, after I took these photos I put the hygro back in on the shelf in front of the fan and now, an hour later, it's reading 61° again. I've read in several posts that people use fans to circulate the air and I'm wondering if this would raise the temperature. Please, please don't tell me I need a controller What's the ideal temp range for cigars, anyway?

Next up, I put the beads in there to see what happens. So far....nothing (I expected it to take at least overnight). After I'm done with this post I'm going to read up on the salt test to see where the hygro is.

I do have a couple additional questions:

1. How do you get rid of the plastic smell? I can't imagine that wouldn't be absorbed into the cigars. I put a box of baking soda in there to sit overnight, but I doubt it's going to be enough.

2. Is there anything else I need to do with the Avanti unit to get it up and running that I haven't mentioned?

Although I'm a poor college student I can't wait to break out the Amex and find the cooler some residents

First of all Bastard you stole my name, J/K I purchased one because i ran out of space in my aristocrat and I needed something small but temp controlled. So I bought the same model, now make sure you plug the little drain hole in the back by the fan. You can use plumbers putty silly putty or if you have a cork cut a little icicle looking piece out (be careful not to cut yourself). Then fill it up with as many boxes as you can even if they are empty like that you can stabilize the humidor. the temperature should be fine mine is at 62-63 but the humidity stays at a constant 64-67. I would also get an additional pound of beads you don't have to but i find that spreading little half pound sacks do wonders.

[Joey Link]

Whateva whateva :P

I wonder if the humidity is escaping through that hole in the back. Although the unit is at 61 degrees, I can't get the humidity above 55% with the beads I have in there. I'm going to purchase more beads when I get some money.

I think maybe I got lucky on my thermo/hygrometer, I put it in my coolidor and it read 62%, only 3% off from the hopefully humidity due to the 65% beads.

On the downside, I think I'm going to have to get a controller, since the very most I can get the temperature up to is 61-62

[ktd]

I also live in Portland, but have the opposite problem with humidity, in some of my humidors, and especially the coolerdor, I could not get the humidity to read below 80% a lot of the time, have been thinking of going to a more controlled setup like yours. Interestingly, even at 80% things seem to be okay, nothing has split or anything and they still smoke okay, though I like my smoking cigars to be around 65%. Also, I have a bunch of the little digital hygrometers, and while they all spread over about 5%, they are all way under my Oregon Scientific humidty readerouterthingy.

[barbourjay]

Originally Posted by Joey Link

Whateva whateva :P

I wonder if the humidity is escaping through that hole in the back. Although the unit is at 61 degrees, I can't get the humidity above 55% with the beads I have in there. I'm going to purchase more beads when I get some money.

I think maybe I got lucky on my thermo/hygrometer, I put it in my coolidor and it read 62%, only 3% off from the hopefully humidity due to the 65% beads.

On the downside, I think I'm going to have to get a controller, since the very most I can get the temperature up to is 61-62

the temp being that low will not really mess with anything. i know plenty of people who see that temp on a daily basis and it's no biggie.

[vstrommark]

Originally Posted by ktd

I also live in Portland, but have the opposite problem with humidity, in some of my humidors, and especially the coolerdor, I could not get the humidity to read below 80% a lot of the time, have been thinking of going to a more controlled setup like yours.

Are you using beads? I'm in Beaverton and have two coolers going, both with 65% beads. They seem to be holding everything quite steady. I also have a 50-stick otterbox that I use with the propylene glycol mix. That seems to work as well. I always struggled with plain distilled water in my humidors in the past but the beads and glycol have solved most of my problems. I don't recommend having the coolers near either an outside wall or a wall to the garage, if you are worried about temp.