Using American Cedar to line a Cooler

[ThankfulJoe]

I've been doing my best to research American Red versus "Spanish" Cedar as a lining material. So far I've read varying reports that American Red Cedar is inferior primarily because of its less efficient humidity absorption and the fact that it exudes a stronger smell which can actually infuse the cigars. What are your thoughts on this as my dad is about to send me some cedar from the states to Afghanistan to line our Cooler with. I asked him and he said it was labeled as "American Cedar" by the guys at the shop.

 

[RonC]

use spanish cedar only

 

[thegoldenmackid]

The reason why Spanish cedar is recommended is exactly what you have found. It absorbs humidity better and doesn't have as strong of an aroma.

Lining a cooler isn't a necessity, particularly if you are using beads or some other active humidification system and trays or beads. Personally I just have a few of the cedar strips from boxes lying around for humidity's sake.

 

[weskimad]

Ron gives good advice again. You mention the work "inferior". At better word would be "inappropriate". Spanish Cedar is not actually a cedar, but is from the mahogany family. Not only would Red Cedar impart a nasty flavor, it would not have the humidity regulating characteristics of Spanish Cedar.

Best of luck and thank you for your service.

 

[sloth]

Lining a cooler isn't a necessity, particularly if you are using beads or some other active humidification system and trays or beads. Personally I just have a few of the cedar strips from boxes lying around for humidity's sake.

:thumbsup: this

 

[Mmalone999]

I've often wondered about this. Thanks for researching it for me. Can't wait to see what the vets think

 

[Le Buzz]

Go spanish... no other way. If you can't get spanish cedar if Afghanistan then just don't worry about it. If you are using humidity control beads then you don't need wood lining.

If you are having trouble with dryness, then your cooler doesn't have a good seal. Have your dad send you a bunch of Lock'n'locks instead.

 

[GoingPostal]

You don't need to line them, best thing is get some empty cigar boxes to store your stash in and put those in the cooler i got a couple of empty boxes let me know if you want em.

 

[ThankfulJoe]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll tell him to return the cedar asap. I am using a couple of Heartfelt 65% XL tubes, and it gets opened daily so the air doesn't get very stale. It's done a great job of staying right at 65% RH also, and the office stays around 70. We do have quite a few cigar boxes in it already which I assume are helping keep the humidity relatively stable.

Thanks again for all the input guys!

 

[Walter]

You don't need to line them, best thing is get some empty cigar boxes to store your stash in and put those in the cooler i got a couple of empty boxes let me know if you want em.

This^^^^^^^^
Plus you mentioned that you were in this daily they sell some nice cedar trays here in BOTL store cheap. I like to use these to take a couple of sticks out of each box and lay them in the tray on top of my boxes this way when you open the cooler you don't have to go digging around in the cooler which minimizes the time you have the cooler open for faster recovery.

 

[funkejj]

I got you covered man will ship to you next week

 

[ThankfulJoe]

Don't sweat it brother. I appreciate it though! I'm about to put in an order for a couple of spanish cedar trays in a few days. Now I'm just trying to find something (boxes/trays/whatever) to replace the tupperware I currently have filling half the cooler. Thanks for the offer though man!

I got you covered man will ship to you next week

 

[funkejj]

Again like I said I got ya covered. I got a few trays to send ya and some left over pieces of spanish cedar from the walk in build.

 

[njstone]

"Stale" air is not a concern for cigars, as they don't breathe (lol, seriously, though). You can do one of 2 things as far as the cedar, as others have said:

1) Just get a few empty cedar cigar boxes, and store the cigars in there inside your cooler. Just a few boxes will be enough cedar for the cooler to hold a better rH, but some guys (like me) like keeping most of their cigars in cedar if they are going to be doing any kind of aging (probably not an issue in your case).

2) If you don't have a few boxes, then random pieces or strips of SPANISH cedar tossed in here or there is fine. I also save the cedar sleeves that sometimes come on cigars, and put those in my bins as well.

 

[Kenman25]

the american cedar you mentioned was most likely Arborvitea wood. The cedar used to line cigar boxes and humi's and such is the "Cedrela Odorata", in most cases..

Like someone mentioned above, its part of the mahogany family...

All good info in here

 

[ItalianCustom]

what about using mahogany to line things?

 

[Danilo]

what about using mahogany to line things?

Mahogany is fine. It deals well with humidity, and does not have strong smell. I have seen Mahogany lined humidors and smoked cigars that been in them for years without any ill effects.

 

[funkejj]

Spanish Cedar is in the mahogany family. In face it is neither Spanish nor Cedar.

 

[ItalianCustom]

I was curious because my unlce has devoted his life to wood and i think he can get mahogany easier than spanish cedar