building a coolidor

[Boz]

Originally Posted by Wallbright

As far as a coolers go I have a Coleman and am really pleased. Like I believe I said before it was $16 for this 48QT. In all honesty just go ahead and buy one like this because a) it is dirt cheap b) you will need a bigger one before you realize. I thought I would never fill this one up and I am almost at maximum capacity.

I have the red but they also make it in the blue as shown here.


If you buy your cooler in person let the lid drop shut from like half way open. If you hear a swoosh when it closes or feel it push air when it shuts closed then it has a good seal. You can also do a dollar bill test I guess but that is more for wooden humidors.


As far as the beads go, the benefit is that with the 65% beads your cigars stay around 63-65% versus the 68-70%. (The ranges are as the beads start to need recharging but in my experience they hold about dead on for a while). Now this next part is just my opinion and I am sure some others agree and some disagree. In my opinion anything above 67% makes my cigars too moist for how I like to smoke them. I prefer around 63% to be honest. So the benefit of 65% beads is that they keep your humidor at a slightly lower humidity. It comes down to personal preference, like I keep repeating like a broken record haha, on how moist you prefer your cigars. Like anything in life people may tell you that one way is the sure way to go and others tell you the exact opposite is the way to go. It ultimately comes down to your preference really. It also isn't that big of a deal as all this makes it seem. Just buy a cooler and some beads and you are set.

This is exactly the cooler I have (i got mine from Bass Pro) with 1lbs of 65% heartfelt beads (overkill) and an accurite digital hygrometer from Walmart. I was planning on a nice cabinet but Im more than happy with my cooler setup.

Awesome thank you so much guys! I'm in love with the forum already. The responses are so fast. I can't wait to get this done. And ill be sure to post some pics!

Originally Posted by gray8188

Awesome thank you so much guys! I'm in love with the forum already. The responses are so fast. I can't wait to get this done. And ill be sure to post some pics!

Haha well we are pretty damn good at enabling, and quick too! Good luck and for sure post up some pictures. You can also check out the show us your humidor thread to see some of the guys setups. But like we have all said just buy a cooler, air it out or whatever, throw some beads in it, put your boxes in and fugetaboutit.

[BlindedByScience]

For singles, I would recommend stopping by your local B&M and picking up a couple nice cedar boxes. Or, PM me with your address and I am sure I can find a couple to send along....

Good luck with your project...!!....if I can pull off five of them, it ain't exactly rocket science.....

Cheers - N.F.H.

Originally Posted by NotFromHere

For singles, I would recommend stopping by your local B&M and picking up a couple nice cedar boxes. Or, PM me with your address and I am sure I can find a couple to send along....

Good luck with your project...!!....if I can pull off five of them, it ain't exactly rocket science.....

Cheers - N.F.H.

I just might have to take you up on that. Thanks man! This forum gets better amd better lol.

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by gray8188

I just might have to take you up on that. Thanks man! This forum gets better amd better lol.

If you do get some boxes from Notfromhere make sure you get a copy of the CA newsletter, I really learned alot from it.

Originally Posted by gray8188

I just might have to take you up on that. Thanks man! This forum gets better amd better lol.

Just NEVER EVER ask for Cigar Asylum stickers or to be added to the newsletter list.

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

If you do get some boxes from Notfromhere make sure you get a copy of the CA newletter, I really learned alot from it.

Lol hmm I'm guessing there's a story to these cigar asylum stickers and newsletter? Lol

Originally Posted by Boz

This is exactly the cooler I have (i got mine from Bass Pro) with 1lbs of 65% heartfelt beads (overkill) and an accurite digital hygrometer from Walmart. I was planning on a nice cabinet but Im more than happy with my cooler setup.

I think with the dimensions we only need like 4oz. That thing must get back to 65% AS you are closing the lid with that amount of beads. You can never have too many beads on hand though and now if you buy another cooler you can just do 1/2 and 1/2. Wait I think I should probably get some more beads. Hm.....

[Boz]

Originally Posted by Wallbright

I think with the dimensions we only need like 4oz. That thing must get back to 65% AS you are closing the lid with that amount of beads. You can never have too many beads on hand though and now if you buy another cooler you can just do 1/2 and 1/2. Wait I think I should probably get some more beads. Hm.....

Haha that was pretty much my thinking. Now I have enough beads to spread em out a little bit if need be.

Alrite I'm looking at a few coolers at my local wallmart. These are the 2 I'm considering.
:http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-M...6437965?pos=30
:http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-I...ooler/16437961
Any thoughts? I like the marine one I think it would be a little easier to kinda hide in my closet and I'm thinking the seal might be better because there meant to not leak or allow odors out.

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by gray8188

Alrite I'm looking at a few coolers at my local wallmart. These are the 2 I'm considering.
:http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-M...6437965?pos=30
:http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-I...ooler/16437961
Any thoughts? I like the marine one I think it would be a little easier to kinda hide in my closet and I'm thinking the seal might be better because there meant to not leak or allow odors out.

I think the marine cooler is a better unit, but the red one is larger and cheaper.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by gray8188

Alrite I'm looking at a few coolers at my local wallmart. These are the 2 I'm considering.
:http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-M...6437965?pos=30
:http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-I...ooler/16437961
Any thoughts? I like the marine one I think it would be a little easier to kinda hide in my closet and I'm thinking the seal might be better because there meant to not leak or allow odors out.

Do not buy the second one. The Island Breeze coolers leak like sieves. I picked two up last year for like $6 at the end of the year clearance from CVS, neither held humidity for squat. I just use them for food/drinks now since they were worthless for cigar storage.

Originally Posted by T.G

Do not buy the second one. The Island Breeze coolers leak like sieves. I picked two up last year for like $6 at the end of the year clearance from CVS, neither held humidity for squat. I just use them for food/drinks now since they were worthless for cigar storage.

Alrite thanks I guess that ones out of the question. Is the marine one good you think?

[T.G]

Originally Posted by gray8188

Alrite thanks I guess that ones out of the question. Is the marine one good you think?

I don't have one of the marine ones like you linked to, so I have no personal experience with it to say. I do know that a lot of people use marine coolers successfully, but I don't know if that is the brand that many use or not.