Ice Box Conversion - Help!

[Big Mulac]

Starting a new project, converting an oak ice box (circa 1900) into a humidor. It stands about 40" tall, 20" x 30." The top opens up (thats where the ice block went) and the bottom has a door. I'll post some "before" pictures in the gallery. The ice box was given to my grandfather during the depression for some plumbing work he did at his parish church. I checked it out on line and it seems to be from around 1900, manufactured in Michigan. The inside of it was pretty beat up but the oak cabinet is in pretty good shape. I thought the conversion into a humidor would be an intersting project, not to mention the sentimental aspect and huge increase in storage capacity!

Have some questions for my Brothers:

1) been looking at electronic humidification systems. Any recommendations? Using the inside dimensions, the total storage area will probably be right at 10 cubic feet.

2) thinking about cutting in a glass top. Any recommendations on glass type?

3) is there any type of lighting that is harmful to the sticks?

4) I have removed all of the tin and old insulation and I am thinking about lining the inside of the oak cabinet/ice box with some closed cell rigid insulation, a vapor barrier, then 1/4" spanish cedar. Any thoughts?

I'll keep posting on the progress or lack thereof...

:dunno:

 

[L8A]

Unfortunately I dont have any suggestions for your questions, but it sounds like the finished product will be really cool and a way to presrve a little piece of family history as well. Cant wait to see the pics.

 

[njstone]

I don't have much to offer either, but I REALLY wish I had kept our old fridge when we threw it out. I know lots of people who use them as humidors with great success. Lining with cedar isn't even necessary if you store your cigars in cedar boxes anyway (though I'd probably line mine just for the awesomeness of it).

I store all my cigars in tupperware bins, primarily inside cedar cigars boxes (but I have enough cedar in there with those boxes that even the cigars that are in bags or other containers are just fine). In any container, as long as there is a good seal and an efficient two-way rH control system, you'll be set! Just be sure to let fresh air in every week or so at least, and you might also consider installing a small fan or three to ensure good airflow inside. Of course, you'll want to keep this sucker in a room with relatively stable temperature as well (roughly 60-70 degrees).

I have a small batter-operated "Oust" fan in each bin and use Heartfelt rH beads at 65% (from here: http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/default.asp)--I've never had an outbreak of mold in over a year and a half with that setup. The beads are a one-time investment and last a lifetime. With a couple fans, you can do your ENTIRE cabinet just using beads if you are so inclined.

Some guys use beads and Oust fans for huge cabinets, others prefer active humidification tied into electric fans. There are advantages for passive rH control vs. active, and probably vice versa as well, but other brothers here can do a better job than I at explaining that. I just know that I love my beads

 

[themaindude]

Ding ding ding. I have an 30-40 year old chest freezer in the basement. If I ever run out of wineodor space, that thing would be slammin. Thanks for the idea.

Peace

 

[L8A]

I don't have much to offer either, but I REALLY wish I had kept our old fridge when we threw it out. I know lots of people who use them as humidors with great success. Lining with cedar isn't even necessary if you store your cigars in cedar boxes anyway (though I'd probably line mine just for the awesomeness of it).

I store all my cigars in tupperware bins, primarily inside cedar cigars boxes (but I have enough cedar in there with those boxes that even the cigars that are in bags or other containers are just fine). In any container, as long as there is a good seal and an efficient two-way rH control system, you'll be set! Just be sure to let fresh air in every week or so at least, and you might also consider installing a small fan or three to ensure good airflow inside. Of course, you'll want to keep this sucker in a room with relatively stable temperature as well (roughly 60-70 degrees).

I have a small batter-operated "Oust" fan in each bin and use Heartfelt rH beads at 65% (from here: http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/default.asp)--I've never had an outbreak of mold in over a year and a half with that setup. The beads are a one-time investment and last a lifetime. With a couple fans, you can do your ENTIRE cabinet just using beads if you are so inclined.

Some guys use beads and Oust fans for huge cabinets, others prefer active humidification tied into electric fans. There are advantages for passive rH control vs. active, and probably vice versa as well, but other brothers here can do a better job than I at explaining that. I just know that I love my beads

How big can you go with just beads?

 

[Big Mulac]

That'll work. I put some photos of the "Ice box" in the gallery. The next step is stripping & refinishing, and then lining it with Spanish Cedar. Anyway thats the plan

 

[njstone]

How big can you go with just beads?

No limit. I have heard of people with gigantic cabinets who use only beads. I suppose the argument of what to use depends on your circumstances. If you're in an extremely dry environment, you'd have to wet your beads pretty often compared to an active system.

But the cigars and boxes inside will be at the "right" rH after a few weeks, so all you need is to maintain the AIR inside the cabinet. It doesn't take much for beads to be able to do that if the seals are good.

But again, I've never used active humidification so I can't adequately comment on that.

 

[giantstogie]

i envy you, i really want to do the same project. still looking for the ice box. cant wait to see the pictures

 

[Volusianator]

Have some questions for my Brothers:

1) been looking at electronic humidification systems. Any recommendations? Using the inside dimensions, the total storage area will probably be right at 10 cubic feet.

2) thinking about cutting in a glass top. Any recommendations on glass type?

3) is there any type of lighting that is harmful to the sticks?

4) I have removed all of the tin and old insulation and I am thinking about lining the inside of the oak cabinet/ice box with some closed cell rigid insulation, a vapor barrier, then 1/4" spanish cedar. Any thoughts?

I'll keep posting on the progress or lack thereof...

:dunno:

1) Talk to RonC and look into the Accumonitor, it's a very nice system and will take care of a cabinet that size beautifully. It's a professional humidification system, top notch.

2) Unless you really really really want to show your sticks off or have a nice dark area to keep them in normally, ditch the glass. If you really want glass, go for it, type is not critical, textured is nice, but pricey. You can see an example of "seedy" glass in my gallery I think, there may be a pic of my humidor in there.

3) Incandescent is not good, LED will never hurt, stay away from Halogen at all costs, way way way to much heat.

4) That'll work, the vapor barrier is a good idea, although not necessary and the Spanish Cedar of course will work fine too. One thing to keep in mind with that insulation is it does do a nice job keeping your humidor cool, but insulation works both ways, if it keeps it cool, it'll keep it warm too IF your humidor gets warm. Just sayin'! Insulated humidors work best with a cooling system.

Good luck,
Wade

 

[Jfire]

Someone on here has already done 1 last year. I'll use the search function on here and go find it. Be right back.
Edit:
Wow that's dejavu. Just packed up my Mtmouse drawers today to send to Cmac.
http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=15348&highlight=conversion

 

[Big Mulac]

i cant get the before pix uploaded. Still trying

 

[Big Mulac]

Wade
Thanks for the tips. I have to think through the insulation idea...

 

[Big Mulac]

Hey thanks for finding that. If I could get my pictures to upload you'd see what it looks like now (very similar to the one you sent)

 

[dpricenator]

after seing the pics a couple LBs of beads should work good.

 

[Volusianator]

Those hinges are priceless!

 

[Big Mulac]

thanks

 

[Big Mulac]

There are some plces on line that sell hardware from this type of box. I really like the latch.

 

[Big Mulac]

I'm picking up the oak ice box tomorrow (see earlier blog) from a guy that is stripping the finish from it. It had an old poly finish on it from about 20 years ago. I've been looking at stains and finishes and I was thinking of using a tong oil finish and maybe a wax instead of a polyurethane. I thought the hand rubbed finish would look better. Any thoughts?