HUMIDOR

[Woodythepecker]

One of my clients has asked me to make a rather large Humidor (1500mm x 750mm x 375mm) in Rosewood with a Birdseye Maple Burl inlay.

The trouble is i do not smoke cigars and i do not know the first thing about humidors, and so before i accept/or decline this commission i am hoping that someone can give me some advice.

He wants to store up to 3000 cigars and as i understand it these have to be kept at the right humidity otherwise they will spoil. Is this correct? If so how do i go this keeping the humidity

He also wants the inside lined in Spanish Cedar as this will also keep the cigars in first class condition, something got to do with the smell, is this right?

As well as fitting lights, crystal ashtrays etc, he also asked me to fit a Hygrometer. What is this?

Any advice will be first class.

Regards

Woody

 

[Chris Knight]

Woody,

Making humidors used to be a favourite of the American woodworking forums and you will find lots in their archives I think. The one you talk of is very large compared to the usual thing that may hold 100 or so.

Kits of bits are avallable from USA suppliers for the smaller ones - don't know about such a big one.

A hygrometer measures humidity.

Poke around these links for eample

http://cigars.about.com/od/humidoressentials/

 

[Woodythepecker]

Thanks Chris, i will take a look around the U.S sites.

The reason it is so big he stores a lot of expensive cigars for some of his clients.

Thanks again.

Woody

 

[J.A.S]

Woody,

I've looked into building humidors; in fact that was the reason I became interested in woodwork. I smoke cigars :shock: .

You're absolutely right about the humidity; most people favour a relative humidity of between 65 and 70%. Too low, and cigars burn hot and can crumble. Too high, and the cigar will often go out and have muted flavours. The RH is maintained by a humidification device, which can take the form of a piece of florist's foam dampened with a 50-50 mixture of propylene glycol and distilled water. The foam is usually contained in a small plastic vessel, which has holes in it.

Moreover, the quality of the lid's seal determines how long one can go before having to recharge the humidification element. The seal is created by, essentially, having a box inside a box: the cedar liner protrudes above the bottom outer box ( or the lid of the outer box).

In addition, Spanish Cedar (Cedar odorata) is definitely what you're after: it helps to buffer the RH, and gives a slight and very pleasant taste to the cigars. Honduran mahogany is also sometimes used. Steer well clear of American red cedar, or cedar of Lebanon: these have an odour that is far too strong to use.

A hygrometer is a device that measures the relative humidity, and most tobacconists and online cigar merchants carry them; they vary in accuracy and size. Your client may be asking you to fit an analogue one, but most agree that digital versions are more accurate. Whether analogue or digital, their accuracy needs to checked with the so-called salt test.

I have a couple of links on how to build a humidor; Taunton's Fine Woodworking is perhaps the best:

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00069.asp

http://popularmechanics.com/home_improv ... r_humidor/

http://www.whitemountdesign.com/WoodworkingArticles.htm

A useful forum, which contains a very useful section, 'The Cedar Room', on all things humidor-related, is http://www.cigarweekly.com/
Click on 'Forums' on the left-hand side of the site's front page.

One of the biggest online cigar merhants is http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/ and you can get an idea about humidor accessories on that site.

Let me know if you need any more help.
Good luck!
JS

 

[mahking51]

Also check out Alfred Dunhill, they have awesome humidors in their store.
Marti

 

[Woodythepecker]

Jas, thank you for the tips and links, i really appreciate the help.

Marti, thanks i will take a look at Alfred Dunhill's

I think i am going to enjoy building this and i will let you know how it turns out.

Regards

Woody

 

[houtslager]

well the Dunhill ones are some of the best, a colleque and I made 70 for them many years ago[for a pic look here. http://groups.msn.com/ukwoodworking/woo ... otoID=1600 , and herehttp://groups.msn.com/ukwoodworking ... otoID=1601, and again here http://groups.msn.com/ukwoodworking/woo ... otoID=1602 ]
And for John boy, here is the same one I made oh about three years ago, I gave it away in the end - too mush of a dust collector but it went to a 2year old girl 8) http://groups.msn.com/ukwoodworking/woo ... otoID=1603

all the best ppl, NOW IN FLORIDA hahahahahahaaaaaaaaa :twisted: laughing in the sunshine

 

[Woodythepecker]

Thanks Houtslarger, very nice work.

Regards

Woody

 

[frank]

karl have you got your shorts ,shades ,hat ,and a few cool beers you lucky so and so it wont last cos its back to work all to soon . its nice and cool in the uk .

frank

 

[houtslager]

woodywoodpecker - thanks we sweated over those boxes, and sweated even more before Dunhill paid up.

Frank - :lol: yep shorts AND tee shirt are de rigor here now, and as you said back to cool UK/Europe before I know it

 

[Woodythepecker]

Karl, isn't it always the same the major companies are always slow on paying their bills?

By the way you haven't mentioned the corks and string to hang off your hat.

Have a nice one.

Regards

Woody