falconman515's NewAir AW-280E 28 Bottle Wineador Build!

[falconman515]

I had started to document my NewAir 28 bottle Wine cooler build a few months back with notes and pictures and even though its done (well I still want to order some drawers from Forrest but I haven't had the cash to do so with a wedding coming up and all) I still want to show the progress here with pictures and walkthroughs to hopefully help out an Asylum brother that may be on the fence about getting one of these units.
Or just to show a few more ideas and pictures for us new guys looking for a little help with a walk through on their progress and what was used to build a low cost amazing looking wineador.

So here is my progress that I documented.... Sure hope it helps and you enjoy......

There are many threads with builds dedicated to Vino and Edgestar but nothing that I could find on the NewAir thats very detailed. Since this unit is being talked about and is going for such a great price I thought for us new guys interested in getting into a wineador this thread would help if anyone is thinking of purchasing this specific unit.

I got this unit from Air and Water (seems to be a very reputable company and has great customer service) on their eBay website for $175.22 (They are located in California so if you live in CA. add $13.58 for tax) with Free Shipping!

Here is a link to their direct website and also to their eBay store online:
http://www.air-n-water.com/product/AW-280E.htm
http://stores.ebay.com/AIR-and-WATER...id=p4340.l2563

Once this unit arrives I will journal my progress with updates and pictures. I will be using certain items in this unit as far as humidity control, air flow, temp and Rh gauging, drawers / shelves /Trays and etc. and will be specifying what I use, where its purchased from and the price it was bought for.



I hope this thread helps others in assisting them with their NewAir 28 build as well.

I'm sure there are few members that have a NewAir 28 unit here and I urge them to please come in on this thread and post pictures and suggestions as well to help out future BOTL as well.

Chris (falconman515)

[falconman515]

Just and FYI for those interested in this unit and have noticed it's been out of stock for a while..... They are shipping into port on the 26th and will be available by the 1st. the rep. from Air & Water said.

The 281 model is an option as well.......

http://www.air-n-water.com/product/aw-281e.htm

I believe the inside dimensions are the same except this model has a stainless steel door and racks and also the inside has double the slots I believe like the vinos and edgestars..... the 280 black model that I have has less slots and can only use a double drawer not a single.

But for the price difference and all I wanted in the future was double drawers and I myself like the black better I went with the 280.

Just wanted to let you know of the NewAir options.

[falconman515]

List of basic items I currently have and also a few that I ordered to go in the the new Wineador!


The 2 Caliber III Digital Hygrometer / Thermometer Qty.2 purchased from eBay for $18.50:



The ExquisiCat KL for humidification from Petsmart for $13.99 ($16 regular price I think):



The few Filter Media Bags for the KL from Petsmart for 99 cents a bag:



And 2 of the Oust fans for air flow purchased from shopcrownhouse.com for $9.99:




These are just the basics so far but the main items needed (aside from the drawers and shelves that I have to save for).

Let me know if I can help with any questions you may have about these items.

[falconman515]

In its new home (was going to go in the office but just decided to keep it in the kitchen . breakfast nook area).



One thing though to answer a question I brought up earlier about the condensation... I have plugged the hole with electrical tape and it has been running for a few hours (getting the new motor smell out) and I have yet to have ANY condensation at all!

At the moment I am just trying to get the plastic smell out as much as I can... I have wiped it down a few times with warm water and baking soda then cleaned with unscented dish soap and now I have a few pieces of cedar in there to start masking the smell a bit and a tupperware bowl of Baking soda to soak up the smell.

Later tonight I will turn off the unit and stuff it full of newspaper (heard this works well) to let it sit overnight, then repeat the wash down process tomorrow and may throw in some activated charcoal. I know the smell wont go away completely (Its plastic guys you cant get rid of a smell 100% of what it actually is) but I want to get rid of the overpowering plastic smell do where its a dull faint smell and after seasoning trays in there with cedar cigar boxes there wont any smell left.

I still I will be moving over my two trays of smokes from my earlier build to this new once I get the smell gone and just have the trays with my singles and have the rest of my cigars just in ziploc bags sitting on the metal shelves.

I would like to get some to Drawers from Forrest but not sure if I can afford em yet.

But I put the two $10 SC trays sitting on top of the shelves in there and it actually loks nice. For 10 bucks a cedar shelf (Cheap Humidors Cedar Cigar Tray with Divider) .... If interested search for their eBay site they are still $9.99 but have free shipping) with there only 6 spots for trays (not counting the bottom since most of your KL/Beads should go there) its not a bad deal if you dont want to go the entire drawer route (Sorry Forrest just throwing out options for the new guys who may not have the money you know).

Not sure the route I am going just since I kinda like the way the trays look just sitting on the metal shelves (plus its easy access if you want to pull them out and look through the tray you can... its more difficult with built in drawers).

Well that's where I am at right now guys.... I Will continue updating with Pics and changes as the build moves on.

Thanks for checking out this thread and I sure hope this helping out some present and future BOTL on their builds or ideas on what you want to do yourself.

[falconman515]

Used some newspaper stuffed in it over night and now today I have it sitting outside airing out.




FYI on leaving it outside.... its black plastic so if you leave it in direct sunlight it will burn the plastic a bit and bubble it up..... Lesson learned as the bottom of the cooler is all un-even plastic and bubbled a little bit.... cooler is fine and still works but if you run your hand across the plastic you can feel a little warp and bubbling.

Not to pleased with that happening but at least it happened and and I can let you guys so you don't make the same mistake.

Its not back in the house airing out some more.... Gonna give it another baking soda bath and soap wipe down then let it run overnight... and tomorrow throw in some cedar cigar boxes and we'll see if its ready for the trays of smokes by then.

[falconman515]

Got it cleaned out with some baking soda again and a soap wipe down.... been airing out since it came in now its closed with some empty cedar boxes in there with some DW to kinda start infusing that cigar.cedar smell.

Gonna let it run all night and keep spraying the cedar periodically.

I found that doing this helped with the plastic smell a lot on my last small 8 bottle built.

I have my bags of KL ready to go in and start regulating the RH later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Hopefully it will be ready to throw my tiny stash of cigars and 2 trays in there tomorrow night.

More pictures to come of that as well.

[deadrise]

very cool project I need to start one myself

[falconman515]

MY NEW COOLER JUST ARRIVED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to start getting out the plastic smell...............





I will continue to update with more pics as it moves along!!!

[Remo]

Looks nice, good luck

[falconman515]

My plan was to be able to order Forrests (GolfNut) drawers and shelves very soon but I am going to have to wait on them.

For now I am just sticking with the metal racks and using the Spanish cedar trays I got from Cheaphumidors (Cheap Humidors Cedar Cigar Tray with Divider).

I have 2 of them (its the two in the last picture above in the middle) already from my small 8 bottle wine cooler... the NewAir has 7 levels so I will be using the bottom level for my KL and fans and the remaining 6 for the trays

My plan is to buy 4 more (total of 6) and use that for time being till I can afford Forrests drawers system.... then the 6 trays I have at some point the wine cooler will be too full and if that happens I will be buying a Coolerdor set-up and use the 6 trays in my large 100+quart cooler.

So I placed my order for the Oust fans, another Caliber III hygro and 4 more trays.

At that point the build will be done for the moment and put on hold till I get the drawers system.

I will update with all findings as far condensation, KL and Rh, etc. as this goes along.

Thanks for watching guys and I sure hope this thread helps out a future BOTL.

[falconman515]

Here is what I did to close the hole where the condensation exits......



Some people seem to get more condensation in their units and then you may have to re-direct the condensation into some beads or KL but for me I plugged it with electrical tape and it barely condensates at all.

[falconman515]

Just ordered another 4 cheaphumidor Spanish Cedar trays and another Caliber III Digital Hygrometer (so I can have one at the bottom and top to make sure Rh is even).

I will update with pictures once they arrive (and get seasoned for a few days) and get put in the cooler with the new hygro.

[falconman515]

2 wine coolers with all $10 Cheaphumidor Trays!

Not mine of course but this is kinda what lead me to just starting of with all trays..... Don't get me wrong I'm saving as we speak for some Drawers from Forrest!

Found a thread talking about the cheaphumidor trays for coolerdors and also saw a guy using them in his wine coolers as well.

Another thing I found using these trays as well is that normally you use the bottom shelf for beads/KL but these trays aren't as deep as a drawer system so there is plenty of room behind them to lay some media bags of KL horizontally and you wont see the beads at all...which in turn frees up the bottom shelf for a 7th tray!!! Thats what this guy did looks like... he has small cedar trays of beads behind like every other tray and they cant be seen at all... its shown in picture 2.

I wanted to post it cause this is a good cheap route to start and though I am using the trays I never thought about installing handles as well so they can be easily grabbed and pulled off the shelf.

Check it out.... I think I may go look for a some cheap handles and do this......not a huge fan of the black but I want to try and find handles that match the handle on the front of the NewAir door.... that would look cool!

[falconman515]

Here is a great idea if you want a little better seal on your drain for the condensation......

Hot melt glue 101

Hot melt is just a plastic that melts at a fairly low temperature. It is used a lot in arts and crafts. The gun you use can be had for a couple of dollars at any craft or sewing store. To use the gun you plug it in, shove the plastic stick in the back of it, wait for it to heat up, and pull the trigger to make it come out the front (that's what she said) It re-solidifies in a few seconds. The glue is not really glue it is just plastic.

To remove from a smooth surface you can often just pop it off with a little pressure or take a q-tip dipped in alcohol and rub around the base of the glue. It will loosen the joint and you can pop it off with no damage or junk left behind. It is very friendly stuff.

[falconman515]

The remaining Trays are here from Cheaphumidor.com.......

I have drilled the holes for the handles and they are sitting in the igloo cooler with a few sponges of DW to season for a few days.

Once seasoned I will put on the handles and place everything in the cooler and take a semi-final picture of the cooler.

It's coming along.... At least now with these new trays I don't have to worry try to fit my stash into just 2 trays.

It's coming along!

[falconman515]

After everything above its pretty much done for the moment until I get some money for a full 6 drawer with false bottom set-up from Forrest. At which point if a brother is looking for some Cedar trays they will be fore sale.

Put everything in with all the KL, fan, trays and all the smokes and here we have my sticks new home......

!!! Watcha Think ??? I kinda like this look !!!

[Angry_Pirate]

Nice thread!!! Reconsidering purchasing one now.

[irratebass]

Dude the way you have been keeping us updated from beginning to now is beyond amazing! This looks great, I am not even close in my collection to getting one of these yet, but when I am there I will be coming back here for reference. Amazing job brother.

[deadrise]

wow nice set up I am ready for one myself

[kelmac07]

Looks great!!