Wine Cooler or Regular Cabinet Humidor ?

[Goldwing]

I was wondering over the years in having a cooler or cabinet the extra work and care a wine cooler humidor is and worth the effort over a standing cabinet, needing no electricity but for maybe a humidifier or beads and kept in a cool place.
Considering a wine cooler has more plastic them cedar and condensation issues at times over a regular humidor
Thanks

 

[Jaricon]

If you can keep a cabinet cool then by all means best/easiest most cedar route to go for sure. The wine coolers were adapted for people who could not reliably keep the temp down.

 

[Goldwing]

Thanks all for your input, I bought out a friends cigars and his Frigidaire Humidor that has a compressor and has a condensation issue at times.

He solved it (supposedly) with the use of desiccant rocks in the back of the cooler, photo 1

I read that increasing the temperature in the cooler by a few degrees will solve the condensation using a Single Stage ETC Temperature Control w/ Sensor

I wish I hadn't bought the cooler now but I did get some great cigars with it, worth $1500

Its just so much work to me and would rather go with a cabinet but will make the most of it for now.

 

[Donk]

Typically you don't buy wine cooler that is compressor driven, You will have as you are finding out are really hard to control and maintain. But there are also companies that do make cooled cabinet humidors. However they are very expensive, and actually normal cabinet humidors are expensive. The wine cooler is an awesome cheap large storage solution to more expensive cabinet humidors.

 

[YodisMatt]

I think it is also dependent on where the person would be storing their humi. Here in FL we don't have basements that keep at a decent temp like some of our northern brothers. So having a cooler do a little extra work rather then your central air in the summers can be a better option. As mentioned above you can score a winecooler for a song, add in some beads and you have spent a 1/4 of a nice small cabinet.

Also as mentioned above, normally you would want to find a wincooler that has a thermoelecric cooler rather then a compressor.

 

[Goldwing]

I think it is also dependent on where the person would be storing their humi. Here in FL we don't have basements that keep at a decent temp like some of our northern brothers. So having a cooler do a little extra work rather then your central air in the summers can be a better option. As mentioned above you can score a winecooler for a song, add in some beads and you have spent a 1/4 of a nice small cabinet.

Also as mentioned above, normally you would want to find a wincooler that has a thermoelecric cooler rather then a compressor.

What's the best way to fight the condensation that the compressor causes inside?
Thanks

 

[smokemifugotem]

Don't plug it in seriously though if you use a temp controller and set it it warm so it does not run unless the inside gets about 75 it will help. But if you have a compressor it would just be easier to keep it in a room that does not get above 70 and keep unplugged. You will fight your rh levels constantly the second you plug it in. Trust me...never had an issue until I had to put mine in the garage.

 

[smokemifugotem]

Bye what rh was your buddy running?

 

[Goldwing]

Don't plug it in seriously though if you use a temp controller and set it it warm so it does not run unless the inside gets about 75 it will help. But if you have a compressor it would just be easier to keep it in a room that does not get above 70 and keep unplugged. You will fight your rh levels constantly the second you plug it in. Trust me...never had an issue until I had to put mine in the garage.

Mine is in the garage that in the summer is 100, wife won't let me hve it in the house

 

[Goldwing]

Bye what rh was your buddy running?

I think around 68

 

[smokemifugotem]

Yeah so is mine. Not to be a hater but sell it and buy a vinotemp. If not plan on rehydrating your beads every 3-4 days with te fridge running that much. And trust me it becomes a pain in the ass real quick. Or just hold the fridge until you can bring it in and need fridge number two. Either way the compressor will be a pain and if you are not on top of it will dry out your sticks quick.

 

[Goldwing]

Yeah so is mine. Not to be a hater but sell it and buy a vinotemp. If not plan on rehydrating your beads every 3-4 days with te fridge running that much. And trust me it becomes a pain in the ass real quick. Or just hold the fridge until you can bring it in and need fridge number two. Either way the compressor will be a pain and if you are not on top of it will dry out your sticks quick.

Thanks Brother

 

[StogieNinja]

At this point, what you have IS a cabinet humidor. You can't use the cooling on that thing without drying out your sticks, so just unplug it. But if the drawers are made with Spanish cedar, the thing will still work great as a cabinet, as unlike a lot of Chinese made humidor cabinets, wine coolers tend to have a pretty great seal.

That kitty litter needs to go. Dump it and get some fresh, 100% kitty litter, a new spray bottle, and a jug of distilled water. Spray the new KL until the top layer looks fairly wet (turning tsanslucent), close the door and let it sit overnight and see where you're at. Kitty litter works not only to absorb extra rh, but can release it too, which is what makes it ideal as a rh regulator in humidors.

Unplug the unit, follow the steps above, and see where you're at after 24hrs. If the Rh is still low, repeat the setting process of the KL and give it another 24 hrs. Rinse, repeat until you get to the desired rh.