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China Hutch Humidor Conversion with Pics!

Goble

Goble

New Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
11
Step by step guide with pictures, as I take a Vintage Basset China Cabinet and convert it into a Humidor for my cigar collection. Plans are to seal and line inside of cabinet with impervious insulation for help in maintaining temperature and sealing followed by 1/2" tongue & groove Spanish Cedar lumber. Shelving will also be made out of Spanish Cedar. A Habitat Monitor will be added to automatically control and maintain humidity at a constant 70% with two humidifiers. One in the top of the cabinet and one in the bottom, as well, as maintaining the inside cabinet temperature at a constant 70 degrees via a Thermoelectric cooling unit and a heating rod installed within' the cabinet. The Habitat Monitor also includes an alarm for low water, low/high humidity and temperature + or -2 the set range. It will also be hooked directly to my Home Security System for theft and fire protection. Last thing that will be installed will be LED lighting throughout the interior of the cabinet. Gonna' be a long Summer project, so keep checking back often for new phases to be completed!
 
 
#1  Began with a Vintage late 50's early 60's Basset China Cabinet I picked up at the local Peddlers Mall.
 

 

 
#2  Back off getting ready to remove factory shelves.
 

 
#3  Rear view of factory shelves to be removed.
 

 

 #4  Shelves removed.
 

 
#5  Inside front being sanded, as it will receive four coats of Polly to seal the wood. This will be the only interior wall that will not be sealed with insulation and Spanish Cedar.
  

 
#6   Using GE II 100% Silicone to seal all the cracks and seams. Very low VOC 28g/L, with very low odor and zero smell after cured.  
 
   
 
#7  Inside Polly'd with corners and glass sealed with Silicone.
 

 
#8  All cracks and corners sealed with silicone.
         
 

 
#9  Tongue & Groove Spanish Cedar Boards in today! 1/2"x4"x96" There was just barley enough wood here to complete the lining of the cabinet with nothing but scrapes left over!        
 

 
#10  Ready to start insulating the cabinet. Using Reflectix roll insulation. Has a great R rating and is impervious to water and moisture for a excellent seal. All seams sealed with aluminum Duct Work Tape.  All edges of tape then sealed with a thin coat of silicone to insure a airtight seal.
        
 

 
 
 
#11  One continuous run around the inner walls of the cabinet with only one seam.
 

 
#12  Folding the excess insulation inward.
 

 
 

 
#13  Back of cabinet put back in place. 
       
 

 
#14  Insulation placed in strips on back of cabinet.
 

 
#15  Insulation job inside cabinet done and completely sealed from the original wood of the cabinet.  All tape seams then sealed with silicone to ensure no leaks.
 
 

 
#16  Opted for Phillippine Mahogany for the top. More than adequate and can only be seen by persons 5' or less, as I am 6"6" LOL!
 

 
#17  First cedar board in. The first run around the front was the hardest, due to having to cut out and notch for the door and windows up the sides.
 

 

 

 


 
 
 
 
#18  Complete bottom laid in. Getting excited now!
 

 

 #19  Boards were already sanded on one side, so I just sanded a little to knock the dirt off and release the aroma of the Spanish Cedar.
 

 
#20  Cabinet fully lined with Spanish Cedar. Also notice the seal strips at the top and bottom of the door. They still need a little finishing work, but are going to seal the door great! 
 

 
#21 Trim work added around the top of the cabinet. You can also see the top door seal a little better in this pic.
 

 
#22
 
 

 
#23  Looking good! next will be to start on shelves. Pictured is a shelf from my other humidor. They are to long to fit two together, so I will have to shorten them. I have enough to make four complete shelves and then I will have to make two or three from scratch. Which means more Spanish Cedar is needed! 
 

 

 

 
#24  Making brackets to mount the shelves on. Cut two pieces of 1/8" Phillippine Mahogany and glued them together for strength,  I then cut out their shape. 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
#25  Mount for the rear of the brackets made out of Spanish Cedar. Much smaller Stainless Steal Screws will be flush mounted inside the groove and screwed into the back wall of the Humidor.
 

 
#26  Shelf will then be glued into the bracket and a couple Brad Nails from the nail gun shot into each side.
 

 
#27  First row of shelves in with at least five to six more to go.
 

 
#28  Shelves will be staggered with the short tray being alternated from one side to the other on each successive row to maintain uniformity.
 

 
#29  Final sand and prep of the inside before installing the side mount rails for the trays.
 

 
#30  Glued in the side mounts with Tite Bond Wood Glue and then two Brad Nails in each one.
 

 
#31  Bottom two shelves in with all the side rail mounts installed on both sides. As can be seen by the lines on the rear of the cabinet there will be 6 full shelves. The seventh shelf will be split in the middle to allow for the Thermoelectric Cooling Unit to be installed in the top center @ 7" wide. 
 

 

 
#32  Three inch space in between shelves.   
 
     
 

 
#33  Installing the tray mounts on the back wall. One stainless steel screw on the top and a Brad Nail in the bottom. 

 
#34  A little Tite Bond Wood Glue in the joint and a couple Brad Nails in each side.
 

 

 
#35  A little better look at all the side brackets. 
 

 

 

 

 
#36  Four trays in with three more to go. The next three I will have to build from scratch by ripping a 6"x48"x3/4" board, which means nothing more I can do till the next wood order comes in.  I think the 3" spacing is more than enough.
 
 
 

 (#37)  Last 8"x3/4"x48" piece of Spanish Cedar in today to finish building the last three shelves.
 

 
 
(#38)  Ripped into four separate 2x3/4x48" strips.
 

 
 
(#39)  Then ripped into 12 - 2x1/4x48" strips. These will form the outside rims of the trays.
 

 

 
 
(#40)  I guess it was bound to happen! I used a Push Stick on every cut I made except the last 3" of the last cut on the last board and BAM! Yep, the Table Saw strikes again. Due to cutting such thin strips, as you can see the blade sucked the wood strip down through the table and....! Just happy, as it could have been so much worse!!!
 

 
 
(#41)  All fixed up and on to Planning LOL!        
 

 
 
(#42)  All strips planned and smooth, Will start the actual building and constructing of the shelves tomorrow!
 
 
Now that's an introduction and a half!  :D Some awsome work there and as Brandon said, welcome to CP!
 
Goble awesome build and that is sure to be a nice humi. It looks like you did a ton of research and it shows with all the minor things that you are addressing. Great pictures and story to go with it - keep it coming brother.
 
Oh one more thing, it's standard policy to show us picture of it filled once it's complete.  :thumbs:
 
Welcome to CP from Dallas Texas. Here I thought you walked on water until that last cut. Great step by step, awesome box, please send more photos as you complete and fill.
 
That's awesome work. I have some new ideas now after seeing your work.
 
Very cool!  Can't wait to see the finished deal, welcome to CP!
 
Sorry y'all, I have several more pics to post, but my Wi-Fi has been down the last few days at home. It's just to much trouble to upload and add descriptions to everything from my phone. Hope to get it up and running this weekend, so be on the lookout for my next post!
 
Nice intro. I think you will like this place.

Nice to know I'm not the only person that still uses a Shopsmith.
 
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