Old Humidor: help on usage?

[dougmac]

Hey Gents,

I recently acquired some cigars from a friend, and he mentioned I should keep them in a a humidor. I told him I didn't have a humidor, but that I did have an old tin lined cigar box I picked up a while back that might work. He says "You dummy, that IS a humidor!" Obviously, I'm a complete novice when it comes to cigars and humidors, and I didn't want to ruin either the humidor or the cigars that I put into it. Below are some photos I pulled off the web that is the exact model I have:



Note the hinged flap on the inside of the cover, and the dangley brass chain. I imagine that I can put a damp something up there to humidify the box... but again, I'm really clueless on this. I did some searches on the net, but wasn't able to find out much. Maybe I just don't know the right questions to ask? I'm planning to bring it in to a Tabocco shop and ask them too, but I thought you gents might be able to help.

Thanks in advance!!

dougmac

 

[Commander Quan]

It's tough to tell from the pics but is there a lip or anything around the edge to create a seal? Go in a dark room and put a flashlight inside the box and see how much light shines through the lid. Without a seal it will never regulate humidity well.

 

[Nxspam]

Hi,

Humidors are usually lined with spanish cedar. The wood absorbs and holds moisture. You need to store your cigars somewhere in the 65% - 72% humidity range. You can get a good digital humidity gauge, called a hygrometer on amazon. (about the size of a wrist watch).

You need to wipe the humidor down with distilled water. Don't use any detergents (will impart the flavour of your cigars). If the humidor has an inner "lip" it should provide a tight seal. After wiping it down wait 24 hours before putting the cigars in it.

Never let the temperature and humidity get too high. Even the best cigars can have tobacco mite larvae in them, and an even humidity about 70% will help prevent them hatching and chomping on your cigars.

The hygrometer needs to be calibrated using the so called "salt test".

Once the box is wiped down, you need some crystals to maintain the humidity.

From the pictures you've posted I don't think I see a lip around the lid. That box might not be the best. It looks a bit more like a display box than a proper humidor.

Cigars can get a bit like wet shaving. lots to learn, lots to buy, lots of fun!

I recommend visiting cigarobsession.com for tons of video cigar reviews and lots of setup and humidor info.

 

[dougmac]

Commander Quan: Nope, no seal around the edges. I'll do the flashlight trick to see how bad the seal is, thats a good pointer

Nxspam: All great advice, thanks!!! I'll take a look at that site and start looking for a hygrometer, looks like even if I don't end up using this I'll need one

 

[bigxnyc]

An easy path to keeping things humid is humidity packs. I use ones from Boveda. Many cigar shops cary them or you can order. They are available in a few different humidity levels. Just pop them in the humidor and change every so often. Follow the guidelines for number of packs per number of cigars/size of humidor.

 

[Leon]

+ 1 on all above tips.

Make sure the box seals well. It should close losely or quickly.

Before you store cigars, you have to season the box as described above. It will take a while, but you'll get there.

Enjoy your smokes.

 

[Argonaut]

In the meantime, you can put them in a plastic container with an air tight seal, even the cheapo throw away ones will work. Just put a lightly damp paper towel in with them. I wouldn't do this for too long without a hygrometer, but it will keep them from drying out for a week or two.

 

[Boro62]

In the meantime, you can put them in a plastic container with an air tight seal, even the cheapo throw away ones will work. Just put a lightly damp paper towel in with them. I wouldn't do this for too long without a hygrometer, but it will keep them from drying out for a week or two.

Also a rule of thumb is to use only distilled water for any humidification device, unless otherwise stated by the humidification medium your using.

 

[nayslayer]

I'd skip using that for cigars and would store my cigar accessories in it.

 

[FlyingGuillotine]

It looks like that is probability not a humidor. It has to be able to hold humidity at steady percentage.
The flash light is a good trick. Also you can close the box between a dollar or computer paper. If you can't pull it through without ripping its has a great seal.

A cheap humidor can be a Tupperware container. I think it would be better than what you have.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Hi,

Humidors are usually lined with spanish cedar. The wood absorbs and holds moisture. You need to store your cigars somewhere in the 65% - 72% humidity range. You can get a good digital humidity gauge, called a hygrometer on amazon. (about the size of a wrist watch).

You need to wipe the humidor down with distilled water. Don't use any detergents (will impart the flavour of your cigars). If the humidor has an inner "lip" it should provide a tight seal. After wiping it down wait 24 hours before putting the cigars in it.

Never let the temperature and humidity get too high. Even the best cigars can have tobacco mite larvae in them, and an even humidity about 70% will help prevent them hatching and chomping on your cigars.

The hygrometer needs to be calibrated using the so called "salt test".

Once the box is wiped down, you need some crystals to maintain the humidity.

From the pictures you've posted I don't think I see a lip around the lid. That box might not be the best. It looks a bit more like a display box than a proper humidor.

Cigars can get a bit like wet shaving. lots to learn, lots to buy, lots of fun!

I recommend visiting cigarobsession.com for tons of video cigar reviews and lots of setup and humidor info.

Nick:

...and all good points, but the one that stands out is the fact this humidor would have to be re-lined with spanish cedar to change it into a Habano Sanctuary if desired.

I've had a few vintage humidors in my time, but because of 'sealing problems', warped wood and other issues (milk glass linings),...they couldn't be used as a 'bona-fide' humidors and best used as displays (I haved them just 'laying around' the house).

Read More : http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-Turn-a-Cheap-Humidor-into-a-Habano-Sanctuary

“To Smoke is Human; To Smoke Cigars is Divine”. Anonymous

 

[Khelben]

bigxnyc has the right idea on the Boveda packets if your humidor has enough space to accommodate them. I recovered my last unit's 175-stick humidor using them after a couple years of neglect, but all of the humidors I've dealt with have been cedar lined. My usual humidor holds 25-30 sticks and works well with a floral foam sponge charged with distilled water every three weeks in the summer and every week in the winter while I've been in Korea. During the prior four years in Las Vegas, it's been closer to needing charged after 10 days or so, but its mostly a matter of checking your hygrometer to see what you need to do and how often you need to do it.

 

[shrtcrt]

You could try a light sand on the inside of the box to see if the wood is cedar or not. If its not spanish cedar, which you can tell by the nice aroma, then it will not regulate humidity very well. Its a very cool piece of cigar history though.