Using a Cigar Caddie as long term storage

[Pipe Smoker]

This has been discussed before - but instead of bumping half a dozen threads I figured I would just start another.

A buddy is expecting his first kid in a few months. I bought him some smokes to celebrate with and to share with his friends and family. He is not an avid smoker, he never smokes alone and 99% of the time he smokes with me (we live two states a part). On rare occasion he'll smoke with other friends in his area. I'll often bring up a few extra smokes and offer to leave them with him, but invariably he sends them back with me because he can't store them.

I thought about getting a desktop humidor but I don't see him having the patients to season it and keep it going. I thought about tupperware but I had a really bad experience with that once so I shy away from that route. After reading a bit more, I think a Cigar Caddie might be just what the doctor ordered.

My questions:

(1) with my tupperware experiment after two weeks unattended I opened the lid and everything was covered in mold. Is that going to be a problem with the Cigar Caddie? I can't imagine that he'll futz with it more than once a month or so.

(2) if I go that route, what makes for a better humidifier - beads or Boveda packs? I was thinking Boveda because they are flat and can sit right on the bottoms. Beads (in a tube) take up the space but they have the ability to absorb excess humidity.

(3) If this is going to primarily sit on a shelf, can the foam trays be removed, or are they somehow integral to the humidity regulation? (If they come out, does anyone have any idea how many cigars the 10ct box would hold comfortably?

(4) is there a difference between herf-a-dor and cigar caddie? I read some where that the parts are interchangeable, is that really true?

(5) lastly I read a thread in which someone pointed to a CP member/ vender selling these, but the link was dead, does anyone know who it was?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Joebiech]

(1) I can't see why you would have mold by storing in a tupperware.  Are you sure that the tupperware was clean?  Without spores to begin with, I cannot see why mold would magically grow.  Although I have not stored cigars for long stretches of time in my cigar-caddy, I cannot see why it would be any different from coolerdor which many use for long term storage.  

(2) I don't see why you couldn't go either way.  I personally use beads for longer travel in my caddy.  

(3) I believe the foam is only there to protect your sticks from bumps and bruises when you travel.

(4) The only difference I can think of is the manufacturer.  I have a personal preference for the cigar caddie (otterbox?) cause it seems to be a bit more robust when compared to the herf-a-dor.

(5) Drawing a blank but I am guessing somebody will come and fill this spot in.

Just my 2 cents

 

[ronc]

performance of the Caddy or Tupperware will depend on the humidification that is used.

In your friends case, use the Boveda. You wont even have to worry about him adding water. The Boveda should last a couple of years in a Caddy.

Just make sure that he opens the Caddy once in a while, and tell him to keep it in a dark spot like a closet.

 

[Joebunaga]

I've been fine with both of my tupperdors using beads. I hadn't planned to use them long term, but its turned into a couple of months(versus a couple of weeks). There hasn't been any mold, and about once a month I move a digi hygrometer from one to the other to check and make sure everything is cool. One of the bonuses to clear tupperware is you can see the hygro and tubed beads without opening anything up.
Tried a similar tactic on a coolerdor with a Boveda pack but the humidity never got above 58%. I toyed with filling the free space in the cooler and adding a sponge with distilled water but couldn't get it right. Might've needed more Boveda packs, more patience, or both. Not sure.
I should have some Hearfelt Beads on Saturday to try on it.

 

[MX]

Visit www.CigarSolutions.com for great deals on

Ronc, runs the best deals on caddy's...just ordered the 5ct from him, as a matter of fact I have ordered all my caddy's from him.....

Tim

 

[BlindedByScience]

The foam is just to protect the smokes from travel. Sitting on the shelf, I'd get rid of 'em.

A travel humidor seals..tight. Were I to do this, I'd run Bovida packs. Seems pretty clear to me.

Have fun - B.B.S.

 

[broblues]

I have had no luck with either beads (Zikar) or Boveda packs. I have tried them both in sealed plastic containers with a hygrometer and both of them over humidify the containers. I would use a humidore. I packed 15 cigars in a small tupperware container last week to take to Vegas, I used a Boveda pack. Got my cigars way too moist. Had to open the container to let them dry out. Glad it was dry in Vegas. I too would like to hear of a success story about the beads and / or the Boveda packs, and in what environmernt they were used successfully.

 

[Mr Peat]

I used my Armored Humidor which is just a glorified Cigar Caddy. Its the 15 stick one. I took out all the extra foam and it worked great for my trip to Russia. It held cigars a little over 2 months and it worked great. I used the humidor packs like you get in some Fuente boxes and they held the humidification for a good 6 months before I had to toss them.

http://armoredhumidor.com/index.cfm/pageid/17/rc_hidecontent/11/familyid/2#family_2

I got the OD Green one and I love it.

Only thing I will need to do is get a bigger one for when I plan a 6 month to 1 year in Russia.

 

[Pipe Smoker]

Great, thanks for the info guys. I'm going to go with the cigar caddie and boveda and see who that works out. Anybody ever see a humipak that is lower than 65%? That seems to be the lowest rh I can find.

Think I might even pick up the smaller one for myself so I can keep a few smokes in the office...for emergencies.

(1) I can't see why you would have mold by storing in a tupperware. Are you sure that the tupperware was clean? Without spores to begin with, I cannot see why mold would magically grow.

I'm not sure. It was new, but it was so long ago I don't remember if I washed it first or not. I'm sure it was human error, but I know that if I screwed it up, this guy certainly will.