Her intentions were good. . .

[npedersen]

Well, my mom found this great deal on eBay and thought of me. A 100-150 stick humi for like $30. I got it for Christmas. It needs help. It appears to be a knock-off of one that is available from JR or CI that you commonly see in there pages. The lid slams shut, the hygro is made plastic that I'm sure will leak, and it just feels flimsy. I am going agressive with the seasoning in hopes that the expansion will seal the lid. I will have to seal off the "glass" windows also.

I guess what I'm asking is, is it even worth it to try and make it work. I don;t know if I can even trust it. If it will kinda stabilize maybe I'll keep my everyday smokes in it and keep my smaller one for the premo's (I already promised to sell it to a guy at work though!)

Anyone else been given something like this and been able to make it work?

 

[jlada]

My friend got a small cheapy humidor from his girlfriend about 2 years ago. We both kind of laughed, but her intentions were noble, so we did the best.

What we did obviously over-season it, because the seal was not the best. We tested it with a compressed air can with an on off valve... put it in, turn it on, shut the lid. Listen/feel for leaks. Obviously, this should be somethign that is done with care.

Well, long story short, his leaked. So, he put in an oversized humidifier and he put in his "everday/yard gar" smokes in there.

If it doesn't seal well and you aren't really worried about the external finish, you can always set something heavy on it .

 

[AngryFishH]

For what it's worth, you can make almost anything with a reasonably fitting lid into a humidor. I've got one that is similiar to what you are describing and here is what we did.

1. Take out all the trash. Get rid of all the shoddy components inside.
2. Get as good of a seal as you can. I filed down some burrs on mine so the lid closed snugly. If it is too loose you can add some thin cedar shims. Use the dollar bill test if you are unsure.
3. Season well and check frequently.
4. Use beads and a real hydgrometer. I personally just rely on beads for a humi like this.


I wouldn't store my best cigars in it (that's what coolerdors are for) but it should be fine for most of your smokes.

BTW: It will be too small in a few weeks anyway, buy a cooler.



Fish

 

[npedersen]

Well, finished salt testing the hygro and like I suspected it was off by about 8. I have been "over seasoning" it and the lid is starting to get the woosh sound.

I have a couple other humidors that the good ones sit in.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will most likely seal the "glass" with elctrical tape as the glue is not "aromatic".

I just have to make sure that it is displayed for mom to see with cigars, she won't know if has cheapies in it.

 

[NullSmurf]

Glue stick! Use the hottest one you can find so you can smooth out the bead before it cools. It's basicly Elmer's, so there is no outgassing.

 

[BigJake6904]

I bought my first humidor off of ebay after upgrading from cedar cigar boxes w/ boveda packs. It was a horrible humidor. The humidifier was crap, hygrometer came with a busted spring, and it wasnt spanish cedar. I did some maintenance and now use it for my famous nics (2-3$ everyday car smokes)

Suggestion: Though it was a gift, never buy something that holds your whole cigar inventory and investments from an online company. Make sure you can properly test the humidor in the store and u can see if it has imperfections first. Maybe, you could sell it to a novice smoker fer a bit under MSRP and buy a nicer one, though, that'd be kind of rude since it was a gift.

Get the beads, do what you can, invest in a digital hygrometer, but never buy humidors online!

 

[NiteSeer]

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

 

[mrtapes]

I bought my first humidor off of ebay after upgrading from cedar cigar boxes w/ boveda packs. It was a horrible humidor. The humidifier was crap, hygrometer came with a busted spring, and it wasnt spanish cedar. I did some maintenance and now use it for my famous nics (2-3$ everyday car smokes)

Suggestion: Though it was a gift, never buy something that holds your whole cigar inventory and investments from an online company. Make sure you can properly test the humidor in the store and u can see if it has imperfections first. Maybe, you could sell it to a novice smoker fer a bit under MSRP and buy a nicer one, though, that'd be kind of rude since it was a gift.

Get the beads, do what you can, invest in a digital hygrometer, but never buy humidors online!

I agree with much Big Jake has said here. I always store my daily cigars in my least effective humidor. However his statement about never buying a humidor online is a little unheralded. I have a wonderful Savoy humidor I bought from Holts in their scratch and dent sale last year. I paid $19.99 for a 100 stick humidor that is my best tabletop humi, by far!

I would revise this statement to say, "Never buy an unresearched humidor online". I'd carry this advice to any online purchase!

 

[gandolf565]

See this thread... Humidor Problem

Make sure you find a comfortable position and hell, better light a Churchill sized cigar as well :laugh:

 

[npedersen]

Well I managed to get the thing reletively sealed. I used vinear strips from Home Depot on the lid seal and the plastic window on the lid. The Hygrometer that it came with actually adjustable and acurate, but where it takes the reading from is not where the hole is that was intended. It takes a reading from the air escaping and the outside. I will most likely seal off the whole and super glue the guage to about 67% to make it look "good" since I am using a digital one I bought on the same trip to Home Depot.

I did some research on the KLH method here on the forums. It is now holdong rock solid at 67%!

I couldn't sell this humidor to a novice and be able to sleep at night. . .

Thanks for all the help and definetly don't buy a "great" deal of ebay for someone!

I've been trying to tell my mom that you get what you pay for and nothing is a "Great" deal. . .LOL

Nick

 

[BigJake6904]

Glad to hear all worked out well.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

Well, if it is together and holding humidity, i dont see how much of an issue it really is. You didnt pay for it, and it wasnt expensive.

I've been thinking about getting one, a large capacity one, because i KNOW mine isnt gonna hold enough sticks. I mean, for 45 bucks shipped, how can you go wrong?