Coolerdors, hygrometers, & air circulation?

[SilvrBck]

So, here's the situation:

I'm getting together a coolerdor. I went to Walmart and got a 24qt cooler. I know it's small but my collection is very small and my apartment is even smaller. Then I went to my local cigar hut and bought a bunch of empty cigar boxes too keep in the coolerdor along with my full boxes I plan to buy. The purpose of this coolerdor is going to be long term storage of some prized cigars. I've got Viper beads on the way. I don't plan on using a hygrometer.

First question: Am I dumb for not using a hygrometer?
Second question: Would it be dumb for me to season the coolerdor with anything other than the Viper beads? I'm going to have 5 or 6 empty cigar boxes that are currently bone dry going in there.
Third question: Can I just leave the cigars in the coolerdor for months at a time without opening it up for air exchange?
Fourth question: Does it matter where I put the Viper beads in the coolerdor?

I did a search for these things but couldn't quite find the answers I was looking for. Thanks for any advice.

SB

[JPH]

Originally Posted by SilvrBck

So, here's the situation:

I'm getting together a coolerdor. I went to Walmart and got a 24qt cooler. I know it's small but my collection is very small and my apartment is even smaller. Then I went to my local cigar hut and bought a bunch of empty cigar boxes too keep in the coolerdor along with my full boxes I plan to buy. The purpose of this coolerdor is going to be long term storage of some prized cigars. I've got Viper beads on the way. I don't plan on using a hygrometer.

First question: Am I dumb for not using a hygrometer?
Second question: Would it be dumb for me to season the coolerdor with anything other than the Viper beads? I'm going to have 5 or 6 empty cigar boxes that are currently bone dry going in there.
Third question: Can I just leave the cigars in the coolerdor for months at a time without opening it up for air exchange?
Fourth question: Does it matter where I put the Viper beads in the coolerdor?

I did a search for these things but couldn't quite find the answers I was looking for. Thanks for any advice.

SB

my

#1 Hygrometers are nice but I trust the beads enough not to use one...but I'm comfortable with how they work...are you?...make sure you dont re-wet them but every month or two..and a little spritz goes a long way.
#2 NO reason to season plastic...but as far as the cigar boxes go..they will need seasoning.....make sure all is stable b4 adding cigars...the beads Will season the boxes..you can wipe the boxes with distilled water if you want..lightly
#3 Make sure the beads are spread out amongst themselves...no more than 1 inch thick...get panty hose and spread them flat on top of a box...I keep mine on the very top box,

[RGD]

In addition to the information already given:

You don't have to use one (hygrometer) - but it helps in knowing when exactly you need to re-wet the beads. It is possible to over wet them and they will not pull the moisture from the air.

Placement - in some coolers I have them at the bottom - some at the top - and some just where ever they fall. I have them in the little bags that Viper sells. Makes zero difference on my RH readings.


Ron

[Blaylock]

I'll give this a shot.

First question: Am I dumb for not using a hygrometer?
You probably don't need a hygrometer if you are using the beads but you will have to monitor the beads instead. I personally use one hygrometer to check several coolers and humidors.
Second question: Would it be dumb for me to season the coolerdor with anything other than the Viper beads? I'm going to have 5 or 6 empty cigar boxes that are currently bone dry going in there.
No, but I would put the boxes, if they are empty, in for a few weeks before adding the cigars.
Third question: Can I just leave the cigars in the coolerdor for months at a time without opening it up for air exchange?
I would open the cooler every other week to check the beads and get some fresh air in there. The more beads you keep, the less you have to moisten.
Fourth question: Does it matter where I put the Viper beads in the coolerdor?
Not positive on this but I use two fish filter bags for my beads which I keep one dry and the other wet (40/60) at different sides of my coolerdors.

Hope this helps.

[clampdown]

I purchased a huge cooler, not sure the size, but I cleaned the inside of the cooler to remove that plastic smell. I used baking soda and it worked perfect. I then used some double sided tape for the cedar. I placed the beads in a bowl and placed them towards the center of the cooler. My cooledor took sometime to level out because of the size. Good luck, and keep us posted.

[galaga]

Good points, all.

I've got beads in an open baggie at the bottom, a small amount in a nylon at the top of one side and a small filled round credo at the top on the other side. There is space in the middle that I've put an Oust fan on, the batteries lasted about three months. Target will sometimes have the Oregon Scientific indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometer on sale for about $35/40 that I think is much neater than the Radio Shack $20, wait for it to go on sale.

"Can I just leave the cigars in the coolerdor for months at a time without opening it up for air exchange?" You're not going to be smoking out of the coolerdor for months on end -- no wonder you aren't comming to any SHIT herfs....

[SilvrBck]

Originally Posted by galaga

"Can I just leave the cigars in the coolerdor for months at a time without opening it up for air exchange?" You're not going to be smoking out of the coolerdor for months on end -- no wonder you aren't comming to any SHIT herfs....

Ha ha. Galaga, mi amigo, this coolerdor is going to be base camp for stogie naps. I will, of course, have the desktop humi stocked with RTS (ready to smoke) cigars for SHITs and grins. I'll make it to one soon, bud.

SB

[papajohn67]

I just set up my 3rd cooler and used a $.25 ice cube tray to spread out my beads...covered/enclosed in nylon. Seems to be working quite nicely. 1st time around I just plopped the beads in mass into a Cool Whip container...big mistake. Have 2 coolers, a Igloo and a Edgestar wine cooler set up with beads....the other has a Cigar Oasis which I think I'll keep for the time being.