What would you do?
Right now I do all my storage in multiple tupperdors, and I feel like it's time to take the plunge. I've read the threads, but feel like I still have some questions. Most importantly, which cooler to buy. All advice appreciated.
The criteria:
Next is the actual build:
Other information/questions: I live in a fairly temperate zone and the cooler will be in my basement. I'm not expecting huge temperature swings. Summers are super humid and winters are super dry, but the space will pretty much always be between 60-75 degrees.
What kind of thermometers/hygrometers are you using? Ideally I'd like to see it/them without opening the door, but is that really giving me the most accurate reading? How are you attaching them? Where are you placing them?
Am I forgetting anything?
Despite appearances to the contrary, I'm not really as anal as this post sounds. Just trying to sort everything out before I start a build. Hopefully it saves some of the frustration in the middle of it. I know there are a bunch of questions in there. Don't feel like you need to answer all of them. I appreciate the :help:
Right now I do all my storage in multiple tupperdors, and I feel like it's time to take the plunge. I've read the threads, but feel like I still have some questions. Most importantly, which cooler to buy. All advice appreciated.
The criteria:
- The single most important thing to me is reliability. I really don't want to do this again in a year or two.
- Space is a concern too. I'm looking in the 28-32 bottle range. I'd like to go bigger, and would consider it if there was a really compelling argument to do so, though it will probably require significant reconfiguration of my living space if I do.
- I like the idea of being able to accurately set to a specific temperature rather than just "cool-cold" on a wheel. This is nice, but not an absolute requirement.
- I'll be ordering shelves/drawers so a 'common' model vs. having to get something that is unusually shaped and requiring super custom shelving would be nice, but again not necessary.
- Price: I'm not going to say it's not an object, but it is the last consideration. I'm willing to go with something a little pricier if it's going to last for a long time and be rock steady on temp and humidity.
Next is the actual build:
- I'm mostly buying boxes these days so I'm thinking primarily just shelves with two drawers for the loose cigars I pick up in trades, fivers I buy, etc. Does this sound about right? Would you put the drawers on the top or the bottom?
- I think I'm going to go with a computer fan build (I have dozens of them laying around) but am trying to figure out the ideal placement of them. Suggestions? Are there really big humidity differences in different parts of the cooler? If so, I can see specific placement being more important than just trying to accomplish basic circulation.
- Next, I'm not quite sure about wiring the fans to work on a light timer, I'm sure I'll figure it out, but if you have a sure fire method to do it simply, I'm all ears.
- Now, the questions about humidity leads to questions about my preference for humidification devices. I've been a beads guy for a while because they are very nearly set and forget, which I like. Again, barring persuasive argument otherwise, I intend to keep using them. Do I really need to have them in multiple places in the cooler? Seems like as long as I'm circulating air I can probably just have a couple pounds in the bottom and blow air around and it would be fine. Am I wrong about that?
Other information/questions: I live in a fairly temperate zone and the cooler will be in my basement. I'm not expecting huge temperature swings. Summers are super humid and winters are super dry, but the space will pretty much always be between 60-75 degrees.
What kind of thermometers/hygrometers are you using? Ideally I'd like to see it/them without opening the door, but is that really giving me the most accurate reading? How are you attaching them? Where are you placing them?
Am I forgetting anything?
Despite appearances to the contrary, I'm not really as anal as this post sounds. Just trying to sort everything out before I start a build. Hopefully it saves some of the frustration in the middle of it. I know there are a bunch of questions in there. Don't feel like you need to answer all of them. I appreciate the :help: