If you could build the ultimate wineador...

[Mathen]

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:

• 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:

 

[TravelingJ]

After 2 years of rock solid usage of my Vinotemp, I finally put in a calibrate-able gauge. When I did that, I realized that even with more beads on the top shelf, there was a 5% RH difference from top to bottom. Personally, I use that to my advantage and arrange the smokes accordingly. If you want it to be even, you will probably need fans down low to help disperse the humidity. I used that Xikar gauge to see how far off the others were, and just wrote the difference on them in sharpie, when I open a drawer with that gauge, I quickly see the #'s. I have one of them placed on a shelf, so I can see it without opening a drawer. I've never mounted anything in my case yet, because I've set to see a single install, that didn't look cheesy with the way they mounted fans/gauges/lights, etc. I'm a fan of making everything I do look factory, and exposed wiring doesn't fit into that system.

 

[Mathen]

Wow, 5% is fairly significant. Is that higher on the top or the bottom?

 

[Jfire]

Reliability- vino 28 seems to be on the top of the non fix list.
Fans- fine but your losing a good amount of space.
Drawers on top they look better.
Basement- great my 3 vinos are off all year and never go above 70.
Doing boxes- stay away from shelves. With one shelf and no singles drawers you'll get about 26-28 boxes in there. With one double drawer and one shelf you'll drop down to 20.
With more shelves you'll be in the 10-12 box range.
Gages- I own about 5 of the ci humicare adj hydros. Owned most for 2-3 years and never a prob.
My 3 vino advice.....

 

[Mathen]

So do you just stack the boxes right on the floor of the cooler and play tetris with them?

I honestly hadn't even considered that.

 

[Jfire]

So do you just stack the boxes right on the floor of the cooler and play tetris with them?

I honestly hadn't even considered that.

Yes and no.
One vino 28 for nc boxes stacked on one shelf.
One edgestar 40 bottle with one shelf and cc box storage.
One edgestar 28 w outside finished in walnut with 6 double drawers for all singles.
All beads are placed under the shelves.....

 

[La Chupacabra]

Wow, 5% is fairly significant. Is that higher on the top or the bottom?

Not really, Only if your running on the low side to start with. I like my cigars on the dry side anyway around 62 is ideal for me. So if you aim for 67-68 and you end with that as a high and 62-63 for the low, I see no harm IMHO. worst case you rotate the boxes every few months. Or keep the low end for first smokes.

 

[OB-Left]

Both of my build threads are in the signature.

The Edgestar 28 has a RH difference of 1% from top to bottom during the winter when cooling is not running. During the summer when cooling runs the difference is probably around 4%. If your in the basement shouldn't have problems. I found that the edgestar (6 double drawers) filled up very fast. With my second build, I now use it just for singles and miscellaneous.

The Freezer is just for box storage. It is new enough that I'm not sure how it is going to work. All I know it that is smells great when I open the door.

If you have any question feel free to shot me a PM.

 

[TravelingJ]

Not really, Only if your running on the low side to start with. I like my cigars on the dry side anyway around 62 is ideal for me. So if you aim for 67-68 and you end with that as a high and 62-63 for the low, I see no harm IMHO. worst case you rotate the boxes every few months. Or keep the low end for first smokes.

Bingo, that's exactly how I see it. I might consider fans in the future, but it's not on the short list of priorities.

 

[La Chupacabra]

Bingo, that's exactly how I see it. I might consider fans in the future, but it's not on the short list of priorities.

Yeah !! After 25 years of cigars smoking I have figured out that the cigars take care of themselves for the most part. I run a 28 Vino for my CC's and Two 110 & one 70qt coolerdors for non's. I have never run a fan or worried about humidity levels throught the coolerdors or wineador. I trust my digital hygro's and the only maintenence I do is burp the coolers every 2 weeks or so. 3-5 degrees Rh around the humi's is either here nor there to me. I have to admit there was a time at the beginning of my addcition that I drove myself crazy with this shit, but that has LONG PAST!
PS _ I only use HF beads. Tubes in my desktops & coolerdors. Pantyhose in the Vino. Also I have central air so temp is a non issue for me.

 

[jowee77]

I went with the NewAir first and the cooling unit didn't work properly. My dad wasn't concerned with the cooling so he bought that one from me and I went with the Edgestar 28. I've done all of the add-ons and been through lots of trial and error. Long story short...I love the Edgestar and everything is working like a charm. If you want any tips on set-up, hit me up I'd be glad to help!