Cabinet or Winecoolerador?

[Beatnikbandit]

Soon I am going to get something larger as I have been smoking for a year now and my total capacity is only 160ct with no box space. I still buy bundles and Mazos frequently so this is the reason I believe a coolerador will cost more than id like, having to buy cedar trays later I may get one to store box overflow but that is not a problem now.

The reason why I'm asking which is because I have trouble getting my temps low the lowest it gets in the winter is about 72F and in the summer it can get up to 79F. The heat makes it easy to humidify but is it to high? If not I will get a cabinet If so I will have to make a winecoolerador. Also either way I go I want to upgrade my humidification to possibly an oasis because of the auto adjusting humidistat.

So with that background should I get a cabinet or a Winecoolerador? Also is the oasis the best choice or is there a better electric humidifier out there I don't know about? Thank you for reading my post and TIA for posting you're on this subject.

Edit:
After looking for cabinets if I go that way I might buy a footlocker about 500ct-600ct and a coolerador for boxes it seems more economical as I am a poor youth all depending on temp of course.

[gefell]

Your edit seems the way to go !

[badhangover]

Your edit is certainly the economical approach to your storage, but it still does not address your temperature issue.

Bang for the buck, go with the wine cooler. Search for alternative means to procure one. I bought my Haier BC112G 30ct wine cooler for $100. It was in pristine condition, purchased local to me in an eBay sale. The seller wanted local pick-up only and I was the only local person to bid. I have heard of others purchasing theirs from clearance sales because their coolers had small dents (that did not affect the performance one bit).

How much you spend to trick out your wine cooler after that is purely up to you. A cigar oasis would work, but I use humidity beads in mine. I'd be a bit concerned with the CO over humidifying the cooler.

Good luck!

[pnoon]

I don't see a problem with going with a cooler. Very inexpensive to set up. Get some empty cigar boxes from a local B&M and you have a place to store your bundled smokes.

[muziq]

Originally Posted by badhangover

Bang for the buck, go with the wine cooler. Search for alternative means to procure one.

How much you spend to trick out your wine cooler after that is purely up to you. A cigar oasis would work, but I use humidity beads in mine. I'd be a bit concerned with the CO over humidifying the cooler.

Good luck!

Very good advice from this new member. Check your local papers, esp if you live in a college town, for cheapo fridges and wine coolers on sale or selling used. I picked up both of my wine fridges as damaged (nicks, scratches) from Home Depot a couple years ago for about $100 each. Humidity beads work fine, as does cedar shelving (helps maintain RH stability) and a temp controller you can find from homebrewing outfitters. Spread the cost out by modding over a few months. There's tons of good advice on CS regarding inexpensive ways to make the wine fridge a great storage device.

Good Luck!

[Smokey Bob]

I had the same temp problems that plague you.

I have...

150 ct wooden Humidor - semi-retired due to capacity and no temp control. Now used as a dry box.

100 quart cooler - retired due to lack of temp control and just plain ugliness.

4 cubic foot (38 bottle count) wine cooler from Sears - quietly keeping my cigars between 65 and 68 degree F and 65% humidity with Heartfelt beads.

Winecooleradoor was and is the best solution for me.

Robert

[Addiction]

I'd go wine cooler. So far with everything including the fans and beads I have spent about $350 and I have 62 boxes in temperture controled storage.

[wharfrathoss]

i'd go wine cooler if i had the $-i have a cooler that i use blue ice packs in that keeps things around 70* on 90* days

[jloutlaw]

Winecooler is the way if you have a temperature problem. I love mine. I don't have to worry when my wife keeps the house around 80 when I'm gone. My cigars are at 64-66.

[drawfour]

Some people will get those reusable frozen packs, like what are used for swelling, or for keeping cans cold. They'll wrap them up so they don't sweat and place a few on top of their humidor, and it brings the temperature down. I don't know how long they'll last and all that, but it could be a simple route if it's able to bring the temp down enough for most of the day.

I'm lucky enough that my basement/family room where I keep my stogies seems to max out around 72, and often is 68 or so.

[Silound]

Wine cooler definitely. Best bet is to look for one over 30 bottles though! Mine is 28 and I regret not having spent the extra $100 for a 48 bottle cooler.

I have beads in mine now....but I think a Cigar Oasis would work better.

Thermoelectric coolers generate condensation on the cooling sink, which de-humidifies the air inside pretty regularly. 2 lbs of beads keeps it nicely between 65 and 70 RH, but I have to recharge them about every week at least. A CO set at 65 would work better I think to avoid losing humidity when the cooler is running.

[Beatnikbandit]

I've tried using cold packs on my humis but as they cool all it does is make the temp fluctuate frequently as it melts and I add another.

Pnoon had the best idea i think for me as I do have a few trays already and plenty of boxes not to mention 20ct humis so this summer I think thats gonna be the way to go. I will probably use a blue ice thing inside the cooler as it will not fluctuate as much to keep the temp regular. (as long as you all think thats a good idea)

I also know I can order some from online too which might be cheaper as the B&Ms in my area, I believe overcharge for empty boxes (4 bucks for a cardboard box.... I don't think so) I already have several trays and boxes. Will 2lbs of crystals work in a 48 qt cooler? (as thats the size I currently have) Also how should i use them should I hang a mesh bag full of them or just put them in a shallow dish? Even if i keep them in a dish is the mesh bag ok I can tend to spill the crystals and that sucks.

One day, once I've saved the money to buy a wine cooler, maybe I can get a good deal at Bevmo. I just searched about wine cooleradors and I could not find anything (I must not have searched correctly) as I believe someone has at least shown theirs off and was wondering how to build one? Do I have to do anything special to make it work correctly? This is for the future so I just want to Price all ill need to make one. Maybe someone knows of a good post to link me to. Then the coolerador I'm going to make now will be for overflow.

How does this look, does anyone see any holes in my plan or is their anything special I would need to do to create a coolerador? Thank you all for the advice! Seems the coolerador is the way to go. You guys are Great.

Edit: I forgot to ask do most large harware stores like Home Depot, Lowes, ect. carry Spanish cedar? I got a feeling they wouldn't. If not I know of some lumber yards I can go to and possibly purchase some. Anyone know where I can get it either online if I have too or West coast Hardware/Lumber yards I can go to? Thanks Again

[mels95yj]

Originally Posted by Beatnikbandit

Anyone know where I can get it either online if I have too or West coast Hardware/Lumber yards I can go to? Thanks Again

WoodCraft

Rockler

Mel

[RPB67]

Get a Wine Cooler.

This will do the same as a custom made cabinet. It will aslo be much less money for you and it will give you more money to fill it up.

A temp controlled cabinet is a lot of money. I don't think at this time you want to commit to such a big investment.

[borndead1]

I use beads AND a Cigar Oasis in my wine fridge. The beads alone were not cutting it with MI weather the way it is. Now I am using a CO set at 65% and a half pound of 70% beads. Fridge is reading........66* and 63.7%.

I also keep a nekkid crappy cigar in there, just resting on top of one of the boxes. I use it as a sort of "control stick". Give it a look/feel/pinch a couple times a week as a general idea of how the humidity is doing.