Dry Ice?

[fiddlegrin]

Has anyone ever used a little piece of dry ice in a sub-container in a cigar pass situation to help keep the box temp from overheating?

Thanks for your help, :sweating:

[Sweet_Cigars]

Sounds like a good idea for a short trip. I'm not sure how long the dry ice would last though....

[dj1340]

I think if you wrap the ice it stays for quite awile.

[longburn]

Good idea,I would think the most important thing is that the dry ice doesn't touch the cigars in any way.I looked it up,the surface temp of dry ice is -109F which I would imagine ruin a cigar if it came into contact with it.

[karmaz00]

hmm interesting

[dj1340]

I remember some of the things we used to get at work came with dry ice. Seems like the ice melts or disolves when in contact with the air. The ice was in a packet of some kind. I'm not a chemist nor play one on TV.

[RJpuffs]

You probably want to keep the 'dor encased in the dry ice (not IN the 'dor, AROUND the 'dor). Will be safer and should result in the same thing - lowering ambient temp.

[DSturg369]

I would rethink the dry ice idea. The cool air inside the package will react with the warmer air outside and create condensation in the package. This will be sucked up by the cigars and almost guarantee moldy and/or overly humid smokes.

My best suggestion is to make sure the cigars in the pass are not overly humidified (will also create the results above), and will start to mold.

I've been in many, many pases and there was never a problem with the temps, only the humidity, and even then very seldom.

[Jordan303]

not sure if thats the best idea. Dry ice dosent last very long as it starts to melt nearly instantantly. I doubt it would last more then a few hours in transit (but could very well be wrong). The bigger problem tho is the handling as it can be harmfull to everything it touches and should not be handled by hand. Also it shouldnt be transported by regular mail, they'd probibly notice smoke constantly comming out of the box.

I could be all wrong on this to and it might actually be a fantastic way to keep them sticks cool. But from what I can see I doubt its the best.

[AspiringGent]

I can't imagine the sharp contrast in temperatures to be good for the cigars. You'd probably want something that'll cool more evenly (and gently).

[havanajohn]

Instead of trying to cool the cigars, why not insulate them from the outside temperature? I dont know the size of the actual box for the pass, but why not enclose it in one of those styrofoam insulated boxes that the people like Omaha Steaks and others use? It will keep out the higher temps, and is light and cheap. What do you think?

[Rmac58]

Originally Posted by longburn

I looked it up,the surface temp of dry ice is -109F which I would imagine ruin a cigar if it came into contact with it.

Imagine what it'll do to fingers, be careful.
I'm not sure wrapping it will help, much anyway.

[fiddlegrin]

Thank you Gentlemen,

I agree with you John, my first thought too was to insulate. But it seemed like size would be an issue.

If however one could find an appropriate styrofoam cooler box that will accept whatever sized tupperdor(s) are being used for the pass, that will also fit inside a cardboard box that is a postagewise cost effective size... That would work!

As to the dry ice contacting the gars and/ or releasing vapors I believe the "subcontainer" would prevent that... I was envisioning it's own small tupperware you see. Plus the gars are in their own tupperware too.

It sounds like from what DJ1340 is saying that melting can be avoided if it packaged in skintight plastic. "....... Seems like the ice melts or dissolves when in contact with the air. The ice was in a packet of some kind."


I admit it is subjective, but from what I have read here on Puff, temperature concerns do seem to be prevalent enough to limit most extended cigar passes to Spring and Fall. If the pass involves more than X number of people, it will spend enough time in transit to pose some concerns if there are any heat waves in progress.

The next issue would be condensation. My instinct was to use a relatively small piece of the ice so as to not overcool. Admittedly it would take a little experimentation to get a good temperature range in the surrounding box. But since the gars would be in their own tupperware and we could include some silicone packs to absorb moisture... maybe we can address that issue.

Hmmm, actually, if we put the small piece of plastic encased dry ice in a (scientifically chosen) low "R value" container that won't leak, we could better control our ambient temp in our carrier box rig. (don't forget the silicone packs)

Hey Batman! If the carrier box is a small hardshell cooler in the cardboard box it came in, we could achieve stability in a shipping friendly cardboard skinned box!

All right_ allright_______

I can hear you all saying it

Fid..........GET A JOB!

Bahahahahahahahahahaha!

And____ OUT!

[Toulouse]

Where I work we receive items packed in dry ice at least once a week. In most cases the item being shipped is contained within a sealed bag or container and surrounded with dry ice chips. The item is always frozen solid. Your biggest challenge will be keeping the gars from freezing during the first part of their trip. The dry ice itself sublimes and goes straight to carbon dioxide gas. The only moisture will be from condesation.

Cheers......

T.