New to the whole vinotemp idea

[MaxNoodle]

If you have beads in the box you should be fine.

Actually I meant I have about 6 cigar boxes to but in there....ha....I'll probably put my beads in a pan in the bottom since thats where the moisture will accumulate....I ordered a pound.

 

[Gawl]

I have a 1.5 pounds in mine, at the bottom I get 65%, middle hits 61% and top is 56%. When the fan kicks in everything gets to 65%, thats why I'm hoping the shelves will help. I have 3 boxes, my desktop humi, and a smaller humi in there.

 

[MaxNoodle]

Maybe I'll put the beads on top and the bottom - they "should" equal out eventually I'm thinkin....I'm leavin my hunidor as it lies. It stays at a perfect 65% all the time.

 

[northernmoris]

FYI: I have had mine running for a couple months. I've had no condensation and with the shelves and drawers from MTmouse Theres no need for a fan. Shelves and drawers will stop the air flow.

 

[MaxNoodle]

FYI: I have had mine running for a couple months. I've had no condensation and with the shelves and drawers from MTmouse Theres no need for a fan. Shelves and drawers will stop the air flow.

Not really planning on getting shelves / drawers - just gonna use cigar boxes...

Thanks.

~ t

 

[flamchop]

In Pittsburgh where the climate is more or less like that of Philly where I am, I don't think you'll have too much of a problem with condensation. I have yet to find a single bead of condensation in mine. The room I have it in fluctuates from about 80 degrees in mid-day summer down to 60 degrees when the A/C is on. In winter time it's usually steady at 68-72 degrees in the room.

I wouldn't worry about plugging the drain hole or doing anything to recycle the condensation until you actually determine that you need to.

As for the fans... I just bought two battery powered Oust fans that run on AA batteries. I believe they turn on for a minute or so every five or fifteen minutes? Just use them without the scented inserts. They can be found at SOME grocery stores. One near me sells them, I can pick some up for you if you can't find any. This way you don't have to drill any holes. I think the fans just keep the air moving a bit and can help keep the RH stable.

In the bottom of my Vinotemp the humidity is ~ 66%, middle shelves are closer to 68-69%, and the top shelves are always at 70% no matter what I do with the beads. I've thought of ordering 60% beads to counter-balance this but all my smokes seem to smoke fine, so why mess with it I guess.

 

[Gawl]

I didn't like the oust fans, I started with 2 of them in my setup. They run on 1 D battery and I couldn't even feel the air from it with my hand on the front of them

 

[flamchop]

Here are pics of my Vinotemp.

About the fans, to be honest I can't really say they have made any difference. If you look at past threads about this you'll find it about 50/50 whether or not having a fan does anything at all. But I think having the air moving around a bit is a good idea either way, so if you can get yourself hooked up with an AC fan and drill the hole and all that, more power to you. But the Oust fans are just an easy solution if you didn't want to go through all that.

I think even just opening the door once or twice a day has the same effect? But no matter what I've done, those RH levels have always been that way, with a fan or without.

 

[rectifythis]

I didn't like the oust fans, I started with 2 of them in my setup. They run on 1 D battery and I couldn't even feel the air from it with my hand on the front of them

My experience exactly.

I paid 10 bucks for 2 awesome fans on newegg.com. You will need fans if you store cigars up in the top 6 or 8 inches. The humidity just does not stay up there. I played with my Vinotemp for a year and a half before getting the right formula. I have 1.5 pounds of beads in mine. 1 pound just seemed not to stay constant enough.

 

[Kingantz]

Nice looking set-up there Flammychop! Mmmm...Bolis!

Here's mine. I've got about a lb. of 65% beads in each, used stockings to make bags. There's a fan in the bottom of each I got from Wally World that blow the air upwards, hooked 'em to a DC converter. Have had no problems to date. I would like to make some of the shelves like Mike (Rectifythis) has. Those wire shelves are aggrevating with the curves in 'em.

 

[MaxNoodle]

Thanks flamchop & rectifythis...

I will most likely have wine on the tio shelf or 2 and the rest for my cigars...I dn't really collect so it should be enough, I don't collect and dont have that many other than whats in my humi and an extra box or 2. I'm still using my humidor so that helps as well, so the top part isn't an issue as wine needs lower humidity anyway...

I will be in touch with you both throughout my set up!

Thanks for the info thus far.

~ Tony

Nice looking set-up there Flammychop! Mmmm...Bolis!

Here's mine. I've got about a lb. of 65% beads in each, used stockings to make bags. There's a fan in the bottom of each I got from Wally World that blow the air upwards, hooked 'em to a DC converter. Have had no problems to date. I would like to make some of the shelves like Mike (Rectifythis) has. Those wire shelves are aggrevating with the curves in 'em.

Where are your beads???

 

[Kingantz]

I bought a pair of women's nylons and made baggies to put beads in. They're hanging from the racks and laying in the bottom in the back of both.

 

[northernmoris]

I didn't like the oust fans, I started with 2 of them in my setup. They run on 1 D battery and I couldn't even feel the air from it with my hand on the front of them

My experience exactly.

I paid 10 bucks for 2 awesome fans on newegg.com. You will need fans if you store cigars up in the top 6 or 8 inches. The humidity just does not stay up there. I played with my Vinotemp for a year and a half before getting the right formula. I have 1.5 pounds of beads in mine. 1 pound just seemed not to stay constant enough.

I actually have my highest humidity up top. I have about 1 1/2 lbs beads scattered throughout and my top generally stays at 67-68%.

 

[rectifythis]

I have heard someone else say that as well....it must vary depeding on exterior climate. Here is always warm and dry. My Vino runs fairly often, and without fans pushing the moist air up, I have dry cigars at the top.

P.S. My shelves cost all of 4 dollars.

 

[MaxNoodle]

I have heard someone else say that as well....it must vary depeding on exterior climate. Here is always warm and dry. My Vino runs fairly often, and without fans pushing the moist air up, I have dry cigars at the top.

P.S. My shelves cost all of 4 dollars.

Where'd you get your shelves?? Are they spanish cedar?

Thanks.

~ t

I guess its gonna be trial and error...

 

[rectifythis]

The shelves were from 1 sheet of luaun mohogany from home depot. Luaun mohogany is similar in nature to cedar. I traced the old wire racks, cut them to match, and cut additional slots at the back for the upward airflow of the fans. You can make 4-6 shelves per $4 sheet.

 

[g-smoke]

Got a 28 bottle unit myself. No fans, and I didn't plug up the drain -- everything seems to be cool with it. I do have 2 shelves at the top for wine (concession for my wife). I also bought a bunch of empty boxes to keep my singles in, so no drawers or racks in it either. Vinotemp is the way to go, IMO.

I might even get a second one eventually. If Target ever has a sale like it did earlier this year...

 

[MaxNoodle]

Got a 28 bottle unit myself. No fans, and I didn't plug up the drain -- everything seems to be cool with it. I do have 2 shelves at the top for wine (concession for my wife). I also bought a bunch of empty boxes to keep my singles in, so no drawers or racks in it either. Vinotemp is the way to go, IMO.

I might even get a second one eventually. If Target ever has a sale like it did earlier this year...

G - smoke. This is exactally what I think my setup will be. Did you do anything else?? What temp do you have it set at and what about beads? Whats your Rh%??

Thanks.

~ t

 

[g-smoke]

Got a 28 bottle unit myself. No fans, and I didn't plug up the drain -- everything seems to be cool with it. I do have 2 shelves at the top for wine (concession for my wife). I also bought a bunch of empty boxes to keep my singles in, so no drawers or racks in it either. Vinotemp is the way to go, IMO.

I might even get a second one eventually. If Target ever has a sale like it did earlier this year...

G - smoke. This is exactally what I think my setup will be. Did you do anything else?? What temp do you have it set at and what about beads? Whats your Rh%??

Thanks.

~ t

I took out all the racks except for the top two and just stack up all my boxes. I have about 1.5 lbs of beads in an open tupperware container.

I do change the temperature from time to time. I notice that if the RH drops, I just have to raise the temp a bit and the RH ticks up. Conversely, if the RH gets too high, I just drop the temperature and it dries out a bit. I strive for 65/65, but there's often a one or two degree difference. So far so good.

 

[Gawl]

I really found the oust fans to be complete crap...so much so if you want mine shoot me your addy and you can have them. I'll snap a picture later on to show you my setup so far minus the shelves; those will be here this week.

You will more than likely need to test your rig before determining its finally setup. Get the smell out and then get the beads in and let it run for a few days. Check for condensation to see if you need to plug the drain hole and direct the condensation into your beads. See what your rh lvl's are and go from there as far as the fans go. Once you have an idea of what you got then toss your sticks in. Like a humidor, let it season and don't rush it.


Updated pics: Here are some of my unit and what all is inside. I put my desktop humi in there with its own beads since I had some very nice smokes from my noobie sampler I didn't want to ruin.