Making Satellite Humidors... Easy!

[palm55]

I'm a putterer... I NEED to putter with SOMETHING on Sunday afternoons here, where the winter weather sucks, and I yearn for a pasttime somewhat more delicate than running out to the wood crib for more logs.

And so, I decided to make up some "satellite" humidors that I could scatter about the house in much the same way our dogs distribute their chew toys.

Eureka! It worked!

For the benefit of other "putterers" out there, here's what I did (and am doing again today), along with approximate costs (not including S/H charges):

1. Get a good cedar cigar box - one with an interlocking "lip" ($3.00)

2. (Optional) Buff the exterior up with some fine steel wool and give it a few coats of water-based polyurethane (don't know what it costs... had a can sitting back in the barn)

3. Wipe the inside and lip down with distilled water and let it dry thoroughly.

4. Lay a VERY THIN layer of clear silicone sealant around the "lip" (I wear a latex glove, put a dab of silicone on the index finger, and lay a very thin bead around the male lip... A tube of silicone is a few bucks, and there's enough in a tube to do at least 100 humi's). This gives the lid a nice, tight seal.

5. (Optional) Grab a hole saw, bore a hole in the lid, and install a small hygrometer. I use a "mini" (1-7/16") hygro, purchased in a quantity of 5 for $4.10 each. I bored a 1-3/8" hole, layed a very thin layer of silicone around the edge, sunk the hygro, and let the sealant dry.

6. Devise and install a humidifier - I just cut a plastic cigar tube down to about 5", heated a large sewing needle up with a propane torch, made about 50 small holes in the tube, filled it with crystals (or beads), activated it with distilled water, and tossed it in.

7. Calibrate the hygro - Same scenario as with any humidor... Season it, then either adjust the hygro or make note of +/- variances.

Kind of a relaxing project! Especially if you're a compulsive putterer!!