Coolidor build

[Rotherson]

What's up guys, I just built my first coolidor. I have 2 humidors currently and need more room. So I decided to give my little humidor filled with a variety of sticks to my father in law for Christmas and buy a 250ct humidor for myself. When I received the humidor that I ordered online it smelled very strongly of glue and plywood. It was definitely not something I wanted to put my smokes in. That is when I decided to just have one desktop humidor and build a coolidor. It is kind of funny too because before, it would really annoy me that every time someone would ask a question about humidor issues they are having the majority of people would say "just make a coolidor". Now I see why, I fit all my cigars into my coolidor and I don't know if I will even use my desktop until I run out of space in the coolidor. My excitement may be premature being that it has only been together for 3 hours so far, but I have a good feeling about it. Okay enough of the preface here's how I set it up. I bought a 70qt Coleman and three sets of plastic drawers. I lined all the drawers with cedar. I then bought a computer fan and wired it to an old cell phone charger and hooked it to a timer. I have the timer set to run for half an hour every 2 hours. For humidification I am using a pound of 65% heartfelt beads and 2 65% boveda packs. I also have a bunch of cedar blocks that I got from my local B&M for a buffer. That's it let me know what you guys think and if you have any ways to make it better.

 

[Rotherson]

You can see a pic of it in my profile if you want to.

 

[whylieineedacigar]

Looking good!

 

[Tall Paul]

So you gave a humidor that smells like plywood and glue to your father in-law for Christmas. Does he pan on using this humidor for cigars he buys? Did you tell him of the issues with it and that it may affect his cigars if what you say is true?
 
As for you coolidor it looks great!
Paul

 

[BlindedByScience]

IMHO using cedar in a cooler is a waste of space.  I had several coolers running before I got my cabinet.  I prepped and ran them all the same way.  No cedar, 65% beads for humidification, cigars in boxes and some in bags.  Of course coolers aren't porous and seal really well.  Got sort of boring opening them up to check them and seeing '65%' on the hygrometer.  They were as close to zero maintenance as you can get.
 
The sticks themselves and the boxes they are in will provide a ton of humidity 'ballast'.  Using up that valuable humidified space with extra wood is taking up space that's better reserved for cigars.
 
As they say, one mans opinion....B.B.S.

 

[Rotherson]

So you gave a humidor that smells like plywood and glue to your father in-law for Christmas. Does he pan on using this humidor for cigars he buys? Did you tell him of the issues with it and that it may affect his cigars if what you say is true?
 
As for you coolidor it looks great!
Paul

Sorry I guess I didn't explain myself very well on that point. I sent that piece of junk back. The one I am giving my father in law is a nice little 50ct savoy that I have had for a couple months. The one that I sent back was supposed to replace the small savoy. I realized that getting cheap humidors online is luck of the draw if you will actually get a decent on. That is why I made my mind up to make the coolidor.

 

[Rotherson]

IMHO using cedar in a cooler is a waste of space.  I had several coolers running before I got my cabinet.  I prepped and ran them all the same way.  No cedar, 65% beads for humidification, cigars in boxes and some in bags.  Of course coolers aren't porous and seal really well.  Got sort of boring opening them up to check them and seeing '65%' on the hygrometer.  They were as close to zero maintenance as you can get.
 
The sticks themselves and the boxes they are in will provide a ton of humidity 'ballast'.  Using up that valuable humidified space with extra wood is taking up space that's better reserved for cigars.
 
As they say, one mans opinion....B.B.S.

That's good to know. When I run out of room my cedar will be the first thing to go. As for the humidity it is amazing this thing is already sitting right at 65%. My other humidors struggle to keep humidity at 60% right now.

 

[personal User]

 
. My other humidors struggle to keep humidity at 60% right now.
 

 
 
Probably leaking.
 
Check for air leakage around seams, joints, etc.

 

[BlindedByScience]

 

 
. My other humidors struggle to keep humidity at 60% right now.
 

 
 
Probably leaking.
 
Check for air leakage around seams, joints, etc.
 

 
Nothing to do with "leaking"...it's "seasonal humidor disorder".  When the ambient RH drops to the 30's, wooden humidors, even expensive ones, struggle.  Coolers are least affected by this issue.  Cabinets with active humidification (like my Staebell) just use more water.
 
Most folks don't take ambient humidity into account.  When it's in the 30's, humidors struggle.  Simple physics...nothing to do with a "leaking" humidor.

 

[personal User]

oops.
 
Glad you pointed that out.
 
I have never owned a wooden one, only coolidor and wineador.

 

[ilikefishes]

My cabinet sucks the water this time of year. I should start making my own distilled water.