Home made bead container

[flathead59]

First of all, moderators if I posted this in the wrong area, I apologize in advance, but I guessed this is where it should be.

There are a couple of things about me that most who know me realize. 1- I am a redneck who is quite comfortable making do with what I have. 2- I have multiple vices. I quit smoking cigarettes a while back, and while I have embraced cigars to satisfy my desire for a smoke, I've adopted Swedish Snus as my "indoor vice" (as in "Tommy, use your indoor voice").

I started using Heartfelt's beads a couple of weeks ago, and I replaced the foam in my stock humidifiers with the beads. However, I noticed a couple of things that were problems for me. First of all, the way the containers were manufactured makes them hard to open. When you do get them open they are seamed in the middle, which makes it impossible to fill them with beads unless you put the beads in a bag of some sort. Not a huge issue, but the bag has to restrict the humidity exchange to some degree. And, if you use a shot glass or other container for the beads, that limits the surface area exposure.

So, I decided to use what I had to see if I could resolve some of these issues. My snus of choice comes in a plastic "tin". The first photo shows the snus can size in relation to the standard foam filled humidifor that came in my small desk top humidor. Key points for me are that the snus container has a tight fitting lid, and that the lid doesn't significantly reduce the capacity of the container. After removing the label, and washing/airing out the can, I drilled a metric butt-load (that's 2.2 standard U.S. butt-loads) of holes in the container and lid using a 3/32" drill bit, leaving the base of the container intact. When I was done with that I scraped the plastic shards off and washed and dried it again. Then I flipped it over and stuck a piece of adhesive backed velcro to the bottom of the can, which allows me to stick it to the lid of my humidor/tupperdor etc. It holds about 2 oz of Heartfelt beads, which according to the website is enough to humidify 1080 cubic inches. Another benifit is that it is easy to see exactly how many of the beads are still clear by just taking the container out of the humidor and popping the lid off. Probably not something you'd want in your "impress the guests" humidor, but I'm using them in all my boxes. If anybody wants a couple, I'd be happy to send them to you (no beads included, that would cut into my beer/assorted vices budget).

[robisjebus-cl]

that's a really cool idea bro, i'll take a few.

[flathead59]

I'll break out the drill Rob, shoot me an IM with an address.

I'm sorry, not an IM, it should be PM.

[mrgatorman]

Thats very cool....im working on an idea for my stuff...

[GoinFerSmoke]

Anyone want to tell me how big 1080ci is? Is this a 50-count, 75 count or bigger humi? Sorry I suck at math.

[cybervee-cl]

Nice idea. :mrcool:

[flathead59]

Hey Jim,

according to my calculator (nobody on the planet sucks worse at math than I do, if it weren't for football I'd still be in high school algebra) my "Treasure Dome" humidor, which is advertised as holding 200+ cigars, measures (internal) 10"x16"x6" which equals 960 cubic inches.

[sofaman]

Now thats a great Invention!!!

[BrianEE93-cl]

Great idea! That is some tedious butt-load of drilling.

[mhlatke]

Very cool idea! You could apply the same tactic to many different plastic containers (from some mints/candy, travel soap cases, etc...). Thanx for the tip!

[ylo2na-cl]

Mark,
I found the same problem, so I tried several different ideas. Went to Wal-Mart and bought the round cotton ball plastic tins about the same size as your snuff can, and they worked well except the attached advertising was harder than hell to get off. But, after much work, I was able to use them with holes drilled in. Next, I went to empty plastic soap dishes with a closeable lid , again, bought at WM for about $.50 cents. Allbeit, a little larger, they are made of plastic and work great because you can snap the lid shut. Plus, are mostly see through anyway for easy checking of the beads. That is what I have done and they have worked nicely!
Best,
Chuck/ylo2nsa

[flathead59]

Yeah, I guess I never thought about the soapdish idea. That would work great for a bigger humidor/coolerdor. You could probably get 1/4 pound of beads in one of those. My boxes aren't that big, and I was going to throw those snus cans away anyhow.

[Prostartjr1738-cl]

Just another idea that I use. I take the stock humidifier, in my case a larger rectangle humidifier. Get some of your girlfriends/wifes stocking (or your own, hey were not here to judge you? put the beads inside the foot of the stocking. Cut and tie the other end so that its s a little bigger and you have room to move the beads around. Put the beads inside the humidifier and flatten them out so the lid will close. And to rehydrate just take the stocking out and spray it down.

[Huskysibe]

great idea Flathead...Sorry to reviv e an old post but I saw you are a Snus user as well and I had to reply. My faves are Roda Lacket and Ettan at the moment. Happy snusing and thanks for the great idea.

[karmaz00]

cool idea.