Thread: New Humidor Advice?

Ok, as I mentioned at one point in the other humidor thread, I am looking to buy a new quality desk top type cigar humidor.

There are many to choose from and many web vendors. I read that Cigars International was rated one of the top vendors and I've checked out their humidor selection.

I'm thinking 50-150 capacity? I don't smoke a lot, but would like to start keeping more cigars on hand just for???

I smoked a year + old Partagas today that had been stored in my antique humidor, sans humidifier or cellophane wrapper and it smoked quite nicely to my suprise. I figured it was just dumb luck that the cigar hadn't turned to dust. A nice new humidor would be better for future cigar storage.

Do you find that it's better to go with a larger capacity box just in case? Or better to stick with smaller?

Also, rather than ask what is the best humidor (if there is such a thing), I think better to ask what to avoid? Any real dogs to watch out for? Just like some straight razor brands out there, any humidors to stay away from? Is price a determining factor?

Oh yeah - I like the look of a classic wooden humidor, so in this instance an Igloo or Tupperware type strorage container is out.

Thanks,

Scott

PS - am I over thinking this?? (dang it!)

I dont think I would buy another 50 cigar humidor. Because you will fill them up quicker than you realize. You just need to make sure the top seals very good so the humidity level stays constant. If you have the right equipment (humidity button or tube or oasis foam what ever you use) for the size humidor you buy it will no problem to keep up with. If I get another humidor I want the next one to have the humistat on the outside so I do not have to open it up to check the humidity level.

It's kind of like a fish aquarium. If you use the right size filter, heater and bulbs. After the intial setup everything else is a breeze. Except I have found the bigger the aquarium the easier it is to take care of.

As mentioned above the fit of the lid is critical. Other than the fact that it has to seal well but not necessarily airtight there really aren't many critical features. Most of the cost differences are for either exotic materials or fine handwork. You just have to decide how ornate you want to go. Unfortunately you can't test for a good seal over the internet, and even the most expensive brand can have a bad one here or there. I can't say that there are many bargain basement made i china type humidors in the hundred plus cigar category.

I keep my cigars in Igloo coolers, so I don't have advice on specific desktop humidors. But I would point out that (I think) it's at least as important to have an accurate, calibrated hygrometer as it is to have a humidor with a good seal. If you don't have an accurate hygrometer, you have to judge your cigars' condition by feel, which is imperfect. I'd spring for a digital hygrometer and put it through the "salt test," so you know how accurate it is, then label it with its error, so you know the true humidity.

I agree with all. The larger the better. We all probably have the same DSM Diagnosis. We will need to collect all the razors, strops stones as well as Humidors, Cutters, Torch lighters, Cigars made by Rocky Patel, Don Carlos line of Fuente and Cohiba.

I've also found that Glass cabinet display humidors tend to be harder to regulate temperature and humididty. Perhaps my display humidor was not top quality.

Don't underestimate the useful ness of thos digital hygrometers too. They might not look as elegant as the classic analog but they give an almost immediate reading of temperature as well as humidity. They are easy to move from humidor to humidor to to take multiple readings.

Be prepared to start collecting humidors as well as razors. At first I just wanted the one ideal humidor. Yeah right. I now have three.

My 2 cents....Put your money into the cigar investment.

Mike B

Jeez Mike, you only need one humi. A really big one. Like the recycled non-functioning full size refrigerator that stores all my smokes. Contents are kept at 65% via beads from heartfelt industries. I'm going to have to order another hundred or so of my favorites before that danged tax kicks in. This would be a good time to stock up, brothers.



Wayne

Whew, for awhile I thought my question had been round filed. But you guys came through in spades.

So, just like with a gun safe, it's better to go larger since you'll end up filling it up quicker than you think.

Digital hygrometer is better than analog. And an outside read hygrometer is better than one you have to lift the lid to read.

How about those "cigar oasis" units for around $100.00 - are they worth the extra expense (also batteries or house current) or are the standard units that come with the humidor just as good?

And those display humidors with the glass or plexi windows. Any problems with those?

Thanks again,

Scott

My observation with the display humidors with the large glass windows is that you have less surface area moistened deeply(wood) with activator solution or distilled H2O. That makes for more frequent refilling of your humidifiers. I also am not too sure that the glass is less insulated than the wood.

Looks are important to most as humidors double as furniture or furnishings. Out of the three humidors I have my biggest is by far the best performing. I seem to add distilled h2o maybe 2.5-3 months 5% lowering in humidity. They do vary in performance.

Cigaraficianado.com has some forums with really good information. It is kind of like straightrazorplace for cigars.

MikeB

I have a 150 capacity iguana humidor which works great for me. Keep in mind that you may want to try all the many different cigars out there and will need a place to store them. Something in a 200+ capacity would do nicely. 24 hours before you place cigars in your humidor, wipe the inside surface with anti-fungal humidor solution. Use anti-fungal humidor solution to avoid fungus getting into your humidor. If you start ordering and sampling cigars like we order razors, you don't know where some of these cigars have come from and fungus is a real and present danger.
Ernest

I think I'm stuck on this one:



It's a 100 count humidor, all Spanish cedar lined, external glass and brass hygrometer (although analog, not digital), tempered glass display windows, and I really like it's look.

Hey, If I need to store more than 100 cigars, then I'll just have to buy another humidor.....woe is me

Scott