1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

So about a year ago I decided to convert an old freezer or frideg to a humidor. I haden't been able to find one in good shape for a decent price until about a month ago when I purchased a 1953 GE upright freezer. This thing is huge and very heavy. I have wanted to convert one for a long time and wasn't sure how difficult it was going to be but it sounded sweet and I really wanted something unique that you can't just go and buy from somewhere.

I was going to start this thread a few weeks ago when I stripped the paint and got it ready by guting the interior but I decided to wait until I had it finished because I know how impatient you all are with pictures. Just kidding. I worked on it a little bit and then I had to get back to work so I stopped working on it until three days ago when I took off a few days from work and go the materials to finish the humidor.

The interior is lined with 1/4" spanish cedar, and the shelves are 3/4" spanish cedar. The fronts of all of the shelves are made of Purple Heart that has been oiled but not stained. I like the natural look of the wood. All of the shelves and the singles drawrs are on 100lb ball bearing full extension slide outs. I wanted to make it easier to access everything in the humidor.

The outside of the humidor is Flat black with white accent peices. I left all of the origional chrome on the freezer and I think that It turned out very good. The humidification system is one of Bob's from aristocrat humidors the "set and forget systems" I thought that It would be worth the money to buy one of his systems for this unit. So without further delay I will start to post pictures of my little project.

I guess the files are too big Im going to have to upload them to Photobucket.com and then you all can see them there. I wish that I could put them on the page but I dont know how to make them smaller so that they will fit.

Here are some photos taken from my phone since on ones from my camera are too big. I will post the link to photobucket where all the photos from start to finish are at once they finish uploading and I tag them all. I hope you guys and gals like what I have done.

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Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Outstanding, congrats on the find and the conversion!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

good work!! that looks very nice :tu

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

great choice, that is awesome!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

That's awesome, Justin! :tu

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Looks great from what I can see!

Bigger pics would be awesome too :D

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Can't wait to see the full size pics, from what I can see it looks amazing! :tu

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Looks like a hobbit took your pictures..... Just Kidding

Looks great! I can't wait to see the closer up ones but I can tell you did a great job on it.

:banger

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

OMG !! it's SO... Empty....:r

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Here is the link to Photobucket where you can see some more of the photos of the project from start to finish. I will take some more later and post them.

http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/...0GE%20Humidor/

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Very nice & just like all old things that use to be made in the U.S.A it will last you forever... :tu :tu :tu

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

I've been interested in converting something like this myself. Your renovation looks great :tu Couple questions--does the humidification system also do temperature control? Did you have to mess with any of the freezer's cooling or electrical stuff? And will you need any inside air circulation for something that big?

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Would love to see pics of a size that you can really see. This thing looks amazing in small pics, that style of fridge is just awesome, get us some bigger pics please!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Looks great! Are you doing temperature control??

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Nice Justin it looks great! Any chance of getting some bigger pics?

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

I posted A link to Some bigger pics on Photobucket. I will Edit the origional post so that it is there as well.


http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/...0GE%20Humidor/

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

My bad, I missed that post some how :confused:. Looking closer at it, it still looks great!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

No Im not doing a temperature control. I talked to Bob from aristocrat about that and he said that because of the insulation inside it was not necessary to do for the cost that it would be.

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Thank you very much, The humidification system does not control the temp but you can get a system that will do this. I did have to mess with the electrical and cooling system before converting the freezer. I had to drain the system and remove all of the freeon that was inside the system. Air circulation is necessary for the unit because it is so big. The seal on it is amazing so it does not require that many fans. I am going to run two on top of the humidification unit. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

I saw those too, awesome word dude.

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

It's beautiful! Great job!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

How much more would it have cost for temperature control??

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Looks awesome!!!!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Very nice work! Can't wait to see it filled up also.

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

PM Sent,

Way too much for my budget.

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Awesome!! :D

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Thank you all...I appreciate the positive feedback..

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

What an awesome resto-mod!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Got my set and forget humidification system in today....ill post pics tomorrow of it

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

I guess I'll swing by when I get back in to town and check it out! Y'all pictures don't do this justice, Justin you did a fantastic job brother!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Nice work, Justin.

If you roll over one of the Photobucket pics, a dropdown appears. Click on the IMG code box. Paste here like this. And voila!

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor292.jpg

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Thanks peter...I'm not the greatest w technology

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

That is nice - great job!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Here are some more pictures so that you do not have to go to the photobucket to view them.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor288.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor287.jpg

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Before
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor179.jpg

inside before
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor180.jpg

Breakdown started
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor182.jpg

Paint removal
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor187.jpg

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

preping for new primer and paint
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor190.jpg

Primer started
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor192.jpg

Paint on the body of the freezer
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor195.jpg

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Getting ready for cedar
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor238.jpg

Purple Heart for the Front of the shelves and drawers
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor240.jpg

Putting the peices back together
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor251.jpg

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Cedar lining is finished 1/4" thick
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor263.jpg

First three shelves are in
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor280.jpg

All on 100lb ball bearing drawer slides (full extension)
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor282.jpg

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Singles need space too
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor283.jpg

more singles space
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor284.jpg

Humidor is complete (prior to putting oil on the Purple heart)
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor286.jpg

Complete with 2 coats of oil on the Purple heart
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor292.jpg

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

I thought I would make it a bit easier for everyone to see the pics of the humidor. I just started putting my sticks in there and I will try to upload some more pics of that when I take them.

The humidification system is the same as in Aristocrat humidors by Bob. I talked with him and purchased the system from him it was a great investment because it works very well.

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Also here is the outside finished and put back together.
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...humidor258.jpg

Flat black

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Great work Justin!!!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

thats awesome!!

BTW, i remember my grandmother had that same exact fridge..

good work man, gotta love DIY!

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Just picked my new project up. Man was that heavy, I have a lot of questions for you if you have some time. Like where did you get the cedar planks, trays, and drawers?

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Well I'll be that is a cool idea. I have one just like it but is currently a smoker. Nice work looks good

Re: 1953 GE Freezer converted to "A" Humidor
 

Well I'll be that is a cool idea. I have one just like it but is currently a smoker. Nice work looks good