I got a couple cheap glass-tops with samplers and they needed help. I painted a film of clear silicone on the sealing surfaces and left it open to dry for a week. There was no residual odor from the silicone and these boxes hold RH very well. Worked for me anyway...
vintage humidors
- Thread starter FireDragon
- Start date
Ouch, I would talk him into a simple zip lock bag with a bovida at least. Fridges are designed to draw moisture out of the air in order to help foods last longer, this will lead to his cigars drying out, not smoke right nor taste right. Hook him up with a tupper & bovida pack and watch him see a difference in the taste of his cigars.
c.ortiz108
The fly in the ointment.
I use 2 vintage humidors. One is a Decatur one which was an anniversary present from my mom to my dad. It had enameled metal plates inside which had some rust spots, so I covered the whole inside with cedar sheets - the kind that come in cigar boxes. I had to do a lot of cutting so it's not pretty, but someday I'll buy some thicker cedar and cut it to size. It works great, anyway. I've found that the trick to maintaining humidity in it is to keep it really full, so I have cigars stacked 4 layers deep, with large 65% Bovedas on top and bottom. I also restored the outside because the glaze that was used was peeling. It looks great, now. I just sanded it and used orange oil.
The other one is an antique copper-lined cabinet. I lined that with cedar sheets, too, and I only keep boxes in there. The seal isn't perfect so I use Bovedas both inside the boxes and surrounding them in the cabinet. Works like a charm, and I even though I can see a little light with the flashlight test, I rarely have to recharge the Bovedas.
The other one is an antique copper-lined cabinet. I lined that with cedar sheets, too, and I only keep boxes in there. The seal isn't perfect so I use Bovedas both inside the boxes and surrounding them in the cabinet. Works like a charm, and I even though I can see a little light with the flashlight test, I rarely have to recharge the Bovedas.
luckysaturn13
Smoke it if ya got it!
he only smokes twice a year if that or I would!!
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Today the humidity got up to 75... I'll try switching out the glass and using an ordinary oasis and seeing if it holds.
The size thing is an issue. I can't see stocking this with that many cigars, maybe 25 tops. I just don't smoke that much. Maybe I'll get some old cigar boxes, rip off the lids, and hold the cigars in there. That might help the humidity. The outside of the humidor is beautiful, it's nice furniture but, in some ways its impractical for a modern cigar smoker.
The old cigar box I am using as a sweet/flavored humidor is not working well, humidity keeps falling. I think because the underside is bare unsealed wood.
If you sand off the finish on a humidor I would recommend at least putting a silicone furniture polish (Pledge, Bold, etc.) or carnuba wax on the outside, if not something like tung oil (the real stuff), to create a moisture barrier. Orange oil will evaporate very quickly.
The size thing is an issue. I can't see stocking this with that many cigars, maybe 25 tops. I just don't smoke that much. Maybe I'll get some old cigar boxes, rip off the lids, and hold the cigars in there. That might help the humidity. The outside of the humidor is beautiful, it's nice furniture but, in some ways its impractical for a modern cigar smoker.
The old cigar box I am using as a sweet/flavored humidor is not working well, humidity keeps falling. I think because the underside is bare unsealed wood.
If you sand off the finish on a humidor I would recommend at least putting a silicone furniture polish (Pledge, Bold, etc.) or carnuba wax on the outside, if not something like tung oil (the real stuff), to create a moisture barrier. Orange oil will evaporate very quickly.
c.ortiz108
The fly in the ointment.
It's actually a beeswax and orange oil mix. I did need to reapply a few times but it seems great now.
Why not use Bovedas? They regulate humidity, not just supply it. If your seal isn't perfect that just means the packets will dry out faster, but in theory they should keep the humidity stable until then.
As for the space issue, hang around here long enough and you'll have no problem filling up that humidor!
Why not use Bovedas? They regulate humidity, not just supply it. If your seal isn't perfect that just means the packets will dry out faster, but in theory they should keep the humidity stable until then.
As for the space issue, hang around here long enough and you'll have no problem filling up that humidor!
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Beeswax is a good choice - the orange oil is just a non-toxic carrier for the wax. Otherwise, orange oil basically is just a wood cleaner.
Boveda or beads are probably the way to go. I'll probably use up a lot of the extra space in the humidor with humidification.
I'm guessing unless I get a box built by an artisan, any humidor is going to be leaky to the point it needs frequent maintenance? I am thinking about trying masking tape, maybe silicone if the tape doesn't help. Are there any drawbacks to masking tape (such as damaging wood?)
One advantage to beads I am already noticing- they seem to mop up excess ammonia and the cigars taste better after only a few weeks storage.
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I tried putting an old cigar box in the vintage humidor, then I added my smokes to the humidor and its been holding humidity for days- a little too well as humidity has been over 70. I added a few small Boveda packs on top of the cigars to try to hold down the moisture.
So I guess it can work but these humidors need lots of sticks or actual wood inside to hold humidity. Considering its the only working wood humidor I have, I believe I will stick with it for now.
So I guess it can work but these humidors need lots of sticks or actual wood inside to hold humidity. Considering its the only working wood humidor I have, I believe I will stick with it for now.
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- Feb 8, 2015
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Now I'm having the opposite problem... the humidor is at 70-71 and I want it to be around 67-68. I've heard opening the lid for long periods of time is a no-no. I removed everything but a quarter ounce of beads and it's been 70 for the past 2 days.
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The humidity is still over 70, but not rising. I'm using a gel humi-stick and an ounce of generic beads. I can feel the cigars and tell the humidity is accurate, they are slightly spongy with no crackle. I've ordered some HCM beads and they should arrive this week some time.
The humidor is less than a quarter full (it looks like it could hold over 50 cigars). I put some strips of Spanish cedar and a small cigar box inside of it. But, I have to wonder if the whole thing isn't just a waste of space. I smoke 1-2 cigars every other day or so. I never really thought about how big this would be. Years ago I'm sure people smoked through that many cigars in a week or two (and I've read they usually smoked the same brand), but today people tend to smoke less.
One thing I am noticing for sure is that the cigar flavors are trying to marry. I've got a few Phillies Blunts and El Productos in there with some Havana Classicos stacked on top and the corojo wrappers are starting to smell like El Productos. I think this sort of box would be better with a divider or two in there.
I've been looking at smaller desktop humidors on eBay, they have a small Ashton that looks nice (and it looks like it has real Spanish cedar lining). But I'm hesitant to buy more stuff sight unseen.
Is there any harm in using a 50-count humidor if there's only a dozen or so cigars in there? I am keeping them inside a cigar box without a lid, inside the humidor. The humidity seems to be holding steady at 71. I wish I could actually get it down a little, I removed the humi-stick today and it still is hovering at 71, so I stuck a small Boveda 65 in there with it away from the cigars.
The humidor is less than a quarter full (it looks like it could hold over 50 cigars). I put some strips of Spanish cedar and a small cigar box inside of it. But, I have to wonder if the whole thing isn't just a waste of space. I smoke 1-2 cigars every other day or so. I never really thought about how big this would be. Years ago I'm sure people smoked through that many cigars in a week or two (and I've read they usually smoked the same brand), but today people tend to smoke less.
One thing I am noticing for sure is that the cigar flavors are trying to marry. I've got a few Phillies Blunts and El Productos in there with some Havana Classicos stacked on top and the corojo wrappers are starting to smell like El Productos. I think this sort of box would be better with a divider or two in there.
I've been looking at smaller desktop humidors on eBay, they have a small Ashton that looks nice (and it looks like it has real Spanish cedar lining). But I'm hesitant to buy more stuff sight unseen.
Is there any harm in using a 50-count humidor if there's only a dozen or so cigars in there? I am keeping them inside a cigar box without a lid, inside the humidor. The humidity seems to be holding steady at 71. I wish I could actually get it down a little, I removed the humi-stick today and it still is hovering at 71, so I stuck a small Boveda 65 in there with it away from the cigars.
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