tupperdor - setup questions from a newbie

[ad1402]

I am an absolute newbie when it comes to cigars but I always enjoyed a good smoke. The main reason I do not enjoy them more often is because I do not have a humidor. As a poor (and I mean poor) grad student I could never justify buying a quality humidor. After searching on this site however the idea of setting up a tupperdor really interests me. I do have a few questions though:

- I will probably only store 15-20 cigars at a time (like I said, I can't afford much more at the time) so I was thinking about a 1.5 gallon rubbermaid rectangular food storage container.

- I will definitely buy some beads from Heartfelt but I do not know which size/style will work best. Should I buy the bead case? the round one? the tube? the bag? No sure what I need for my container.

- With the beads, do I need an electric hygrometer? This is not for long term storage... probably a few months max one year.

- I am planning on putting a piece of cedar in the bottom (likely from a box).

- What should I do to clean the container before using it? Is there any other prepping needed?

- Is there anything else I need to know or be concerned about?

Thank you all for your help. I'm looking forward to setting this up and learning more about cigars.

 

[dpricenator]

Answers below should help get you started. Also stop by the initro forum and tell a little about youself.

I am an absolute newbie when it comes to cigars but I always enjoyed a good smoke. The main reason I do not enjoy them more often is because I do not have a humidor. As a poor (and I mean poor) grad student I could never justify buying a quality humidor. After searching on this site however the idea of setting up a tupperdor really interests me. I do have a few questions though:

- I will probably only store 15-20 cigars at a time (like I said, I can't afford much more at the time) so I was thinking about a 1.5 gallon rubbermaid rectangular food storage container. Sounds good, might be a bit big, but trust me bigger is better, you'll be surprised how your collection will grow

- I will definitely buy some beads from Heartfelt but I do not know which size/style will work best. Should I buy the bead case? the round one? the tube? the bag? No sure what I need for my container. in a tupperdor, I would think the tube or puck would work best, do the calculations on your volume to make sure you buy enough

- With the beads, do I need an electric hydrometer? This is not for long term storage... probably a few months max one year. Always a good idea, but the if you buy the 65% beads, you shouldn't go over 70 or below 60 if you maintain the beads properly. So since your budget is an issue, you could hold off once you got the beads.

- I am planning on putting a piece of cedar in the bottom (likely from a box). Works well for the cedar smell and to stabalize the RH...good idea

- What should I do to clean the container before using it? Is there any other prepping needed? mild dish soap and warm water,... rinse and dry well


- Is there anything else I need to know or be concerned about? be concerned about you check book or bank account as this is a slippery slope. Also make sure you re fresh the air in your tupperdor at lease once a week.[/B][/SIZE]
Thank you all for your help. I'm looking forward to setting this up and learning more about cigars.

 

[Trumpetchris]

Great advice. I'm a broke-ass grad student too, but this little hobby turns into a 3 large cooler, 2 humidor collection rather quickly. Just keep in mind the above fantastic info (I'd say a 65% puck would be perfect) and let air in the container once a week or so (open the lid for 5 minutes). Enjoy the relaxation and smoke as much as you can. Trust me, I'm almost a Dr.

 

[dpricenator]

Trust me, I'm almost a Dr.

Yeah, well I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.:laugh:okemyeye

 

[jwintosh]

well done Dave!!

 

[ad1402]

Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to setting this up. I'm getting married next June so I figure I have 9 months of unrestricted cigar buying... I guess that is what federal loans are for!

 

[Fidel]

Some very good advice here.

I will add that I`ve used the 1.5 gallon Rubber maid and they work very nicely. It will hold many more sticks than you have in mind, and I guarantee you`ll fill it.
A cheap and unmessy way to hold the beads (I prefer 65% for the gars I`m currently smoking, 70 for aging) is to make a bag out of a piece of old nylon stocking - preferably washed
I took a couple of shallow (2"deep) cedar cigar boxes, removed the lids, drilled some holes in the sides and bottoms and had 4 trays. Helps with air circulation and saves having to sort through all your sticks every time you want a smoke.

Enjoy your new hobby.

 

[njstone]

Great advice, but let me echo that you should really get a BIGGER tupperware. Rubbermade makes a 2.5 gal, that would be better. Seriously, because even if you add sticks slowly, you will eventually wish you had more space. Don't worry about it not being "filled" enough to start with, you can always just add more cedar.

Bigger. That was the advice the guys gave me 2 months ago when i built my first tupperdor, and boy were they right.

Trust me, it's VERY unlikely that you'll ever say to yourself "Boy, I sure wish I had less space in my tupperdor."

 

[Moro]

One more thing. Get a hygrometer. They're cheap and work wonders.

 

[ad1402]

One more thing. Get a hygroometer. They're cheap and work wonders.

Any recommendations on cheap but quality ones?

 

[Jwrussell]

Hydrometers...Hygroometers...what kind of snake-oil-electronics are you guys talkin' 'bout here? :wink:

Hygrometers. Hydrometers measure specific gravity. Hygroometers must measure the amount of persperation on soon to be husbands?

Check out the self calibrated versions available through cigarmony.com. In fact, you should be safe with anything he carries. Mark's good people and doesn't stock crap. Either way, be sure to get a Boveda calibration pack so you know what you the readout is actually telling you.

Check out the sticky at the top of this forum, lots more information.

 

[Moro]

I stand corrected (I suck at writing on the keyboard, as ye might appreciate).

 

[Jwrussell]

Just teasin' a little. :thumbsup:

 

[ad1402]

Hygroometers must measure the amount of persperation on soon to be husbands?

Nicely done! I'll follow up with the info in the sticky. Thanks to everyone for their knowledge and suggestions

 

[uncelnino]

Heartfelt has hygrometers and are a sponsor of this site, I would recommend them, for beads, pucks, etc, as well

 

[Moro]

Just teasin' a little. :thumbsup:

I know, mate.
Anyways, Heartfelt is a great place to get stuff, as so is Cigarmony; both site sponsors (though I always end up with more than intended:smokingbo).

 

[ad1402]

UPDATE - Here are some pictures of my tuppordor. Thanks to everyone for their advice. It is full right now because I just bot a box of 5 Vegas Gold for a golf outing. After those get used up I'll have some room for more of my own smokes. For everyone that says I should I gone bigger, I know, I know. I'm new to this and am trying to ease myself into this (easier said than done).

 

[Trumpetchris]

good start man. You'll be trading that sandwich holder in for some serious cooler action if you hang around these guys too much. - Be Warned!

 

[sportsmedjosh]

Can you do a write up with pictures, part (and who you got it from with prices), and directions. A nice write up would be very nice as I'm reading everything and can't really find this stuff in one place.

 

[ad1402]

Can you do a write up with pictures, part (and who you got it from with prices), and directions. A nice write up would be very nice as I'm reading everything and can't really find this stuff in one place.

I'm sure you can get a more detailed explanation from some other guys on the board but I'll let you know what I did. The pictures above represent the end product.

I went to wal-mart and bought a rubbermaid container in the size I wanted. (~$8) I bought some beads, hygrometer, and calibrator from heartfelt (a site sponsor with great prices and service). (~$30) I used the cedar top from a box of cigars.

I washed the rubbermaid with soap and water and let dry completely. When the hygrometer arrived I calibrated it according to the instructions. Placed everything (cedar, cigars, hygrometer) in the rubbermaid and sealed it up. I open the top for a bit once a week if I haven't dipped into the stash. I will also adjust humidity by adding distilled water to the beads (only had to do this initially). Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions.