Is this a good set up for a basic humidor?

[Toothpick]

Cheap Humidors.com

I was on there browsing around. Humidor, season packet, humidity beads, and hygrometer and calibrating kit. $41. anything i'm missing?

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=BASK

I'm interested in a real basic set up. and real easy set up. I love the idea of the humidity beads. Are they really as simple as tossing in a packet and walking away?

 

[Argonaut]

Your link doesn't pull up what you're asking about, just an empty shopping cart page.

 

[sychodelix]

I picked up a good sealing cigar box lined with spanish cedar and the beads. Lightly wet the cedar with a wet paper towel and left it in for seasoning. Tomorrow, I'm wetting the cedar again without the paper towel. That gets it seasoned, and a whole lot faster than waiting 10 days for the packet. In about another 24 hours or so, I'll add some water to the crystals to let them expand and have a humidor on the cheap. Not even gonna bother with the hygrometer as the beads pretty much do it for you.

Now I just need to get enough cigars to fill it up!

 

[Toothpick]

Your link doesn't pull up what you're asking about, just an empty shopping cart page.

must be saved in my cookies. darn.

 

[Toothpick]

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/p_HUM-25.html

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/p_SEASONING-KIT.html

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/p_BOVEDA.html

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/p_CALIBRATING-KIT.html

http://www.cheaphumidors.com/p_HYG-75.html

There are the individual links. i'm just wondering if i need anything else, besides cigars

sychodelix are you suggesting that the beads work so well a hydrogmeter is a waste of moolah?

 

[sychodelix]

Well, I'm saying they are good at regulating it. As long as the box is seasoned and has a good seal, the beads pretty much just work. That hygrometer isn't that expensive though, so go for it. If I would have had the scratch, I would have got one too. I just knew if I did it right, I could do without it.

 

[Toothpick]

I was thinking bout the digital one for 20 bucks, but the way everyone praises the beads i didn't think i'd need it.

 

[Boro62]

I would stay away from the analog hygrometer. I've never used one that actually worked. Some days they are a few % rh off anther day they are a different number off.

 

[Toothpick]

so I shouldn't put my trust wholly in the beads? interesting. I had a humidor bout 5 years ago and I never paid much attention to it other than to add water to the sponge and take cigars out and put them in. I eventually warped the inside because I noticed the hygrometer was way off and thought it wasn't seasoned properly and "hey, what will it hurt to wipe down the wood?" well it ruined it! Now that I've found this place I want to do it right this time.

 

[Argonaut]

I was thinking bout the digital one for 20 bucks, but the way everyone praises the beads i didn't think i'd need it.

I'd never trust my sticks to any humidification means with out monitoring, if for no other reason than your humidor may be a piece of crap and you wouldn't know it until your sticks were ruined. Even if the humidor is great in the beginning, time and humidity can warp the wood and cause a poor seal. Go for the best hygrometer you can afford, you can humidify cheaply with distilled water or PG solution. I think the kit is fine BTW, with the exception of the hygrometer.

 

[cody6766]

I bought a cheap humidor, similar to that one, that works well. I did have trouble with the front wood seal warping after a few months. I just ran a bead of glue between the strip and the lid, clamped it and screwed it on with some really short screws. It now holds a constant humidity (high 60's/low 70's...can't remember) and keeps my cigars happy. My analog hygrometer is off by a whole 10%, so they're not entirely reliable.

 

[Blue_2]

Go for the digital hygrometer, especially one you can calibrate. Remember to recalibrate at least once a year, your sticks are worth the effort. Plus it's almost free to do.

 

[Toothpick]

see glad I have this place to keep my crazy ideas in check. I could have ruined hundreds of dollars worth of cigars by going cheep on the hygrometer! thanks folks!

 

[73mountaineer]

see glad I have this place to keep my crazy ideas in check. I could have ruined hundreds of dollars worth of cigars by going cheep on the hygrometer! thanks folks!

That's the best way to think of it; an accurate digital hygrometer will cost you less than a couple of nice cigars. It only makes sense to kick in a few extra bucks for one.

 

[Argonaut]

That's the best way to think of it; an accurate digital hygrometer will cost you less than a couple of nice cigars. It only makes sense to kick in a few extra bucks for one.

It all goes back to my theory that all purchases can be justified if you think in increments of "nice cigars".

 

[sychodelix]

Yeah, I will say if you've got a lot of money in your cigars, a good hygrometer is a necessity. I don't have much but a few cheapies, so I'm willing to skimp for the time being.

 

[luvmysuper]

Or you could do like me, have a humidor with an analog dial hygrometer displayed because they just look better than a digital, but be safe and have a digital inside the humidor.

 

[sychodelix]

Here's what mine looks like now. It's seasoned and the crystals are all gelled up and ready to go. Not very full yet, since my tobacco budget for this month is exhausted.

 

[Toothpick]

the price of cigars have gone up since I was a regular at the tobacco shop. Which was only a couple years ago. Acid 1400cc is $9.95 at my place! I may have to resort to online ordering.

I eventually would like to get an end table humidor or coffee table humidor. but for now a basic set up. I'm preparing for the spring/summer months, relaxing on the patio!

 

[sychodelix]

Any cigars that are popular and good quality tend to go up in price. Best thing to do is pay attention to new cigars from good blenders and stock up before they become popular.