dealing with desktop humidors

[dinnerplate]

here's a question for those of you with only desktop humidors. i doubt there are many of you, from what i've seen in the posts. if your humidor holds anywhere from 25-150 cigars, and you need to keep it about 70% full for optimum conditions, how often do you buy smokes, in what quantities, and how long do you let it sit in your humidor?

i've got a 125-capacity and a 50-capacity, and will soon have them filled to about 70% or so, but i can't think of a way to keep them in the humidor for the requisite minimum 30 days prior to smoking. i know some of you don't wait (or rather can't), and i'm among those people as well. i open both humidors about 3-4 times a day. granted, i'm seasoning one of them, but this is getting into obsessive territory.

also, in what lots do you desktop humidor guys buy cigars? buying boxes would be most economical, but clearly, it would limit your selection. me, i've just purchased three different boxes of smokes (total 75 cigars) to add to the various 5 packs of NCs that i also bought.

as a side note, this newfound "hobby" is starting to become an absolute addiction. i'm about one or two months in from the time i bought my first humidor, and i find myself looking up cabinets almost every day, even though it'd be sheer madness for me to spring for one right now.

[Shelby07]

Oh my God! You're supposed to enjoy this hobby.

Buy what you want, when you want, get a cooler with some beads and adjust your storage space as you go.

[Rogers72]

When I had a desktop, I would just buy singles. I had a 50ct. and would keep anywhere from 5 to 30 smokes in it and used one of those jars with the gel. I had small digital hygrometer and that kept it around 65-70%. Once you have sampled a little bit of everything, buying boxes is definitely more economical so you will need a bigger humidor. Either go with a cooler or a cabinet (anywhere from 300ct to 1000's...whatever your budget or your desire will allow you to fill) and use the 65% beads or an automatic system.

Even with the desktops, try to wait 30 days from receipt to smoke them. If you are in the US, just buy some non-cubans from a B&M to hold you over until your CC's are ready and always plan your online purchases in advance to where you won't run out of ready-to-smoke sticks before your more recent purchases are ready-to-smoke.

A good "next step" is one of the foot-locker style humidors from Tampa Humidor that will hold about 10-20 boxes plus plenty of singles in a tray on top. If you get the beads and a good calibrated digital hygrometer, you won't need to obsess over storage anymore.

[thechenman]

A cooledor is definitely the way to go on the economical side. If you have the money to spring for a cabinet though, by all means do so. They are great, and much more aesthetically pleasing. When I only had desktops I would not buy full boxes. Singles, 3pks, 5pks and some reasonably sized samplers. If you are only a few months into cigar smoking, my recommendation would be to hold off on buying boxes. Smoke a variety of different cigars, both from your B&M and you Cubans (that should be ordered from Czar). There is a lot of variety out there and you owe it to yourself to experience it. Plus, in the beginning, your tastes rapidly evolve. Good luck to you.

[Wiley]

Use the humidor for decor or to store junk, and go buy a cooler to keep your cigars in. It's just not worth the constant fight with desktops.

[dinnerplate]

Use the humidor for decor or to store junk, and go buy a cooler to keep your cigars in. It's just not worth the constant fight with desktops.

when you say cooler or coolerdor, what do you mean? I’ve thought of purchasing a wine cooler and just throwing my two desktops in there. Something like that, or are we talking something a little pricier like a Vigilant? And any suggestions for one?

[Shelby07]

A regular old cooler like you'd use when you go camping. Put some 65% beads in it and load 'er up.

[dochowl]

I picked up a 100qt cooler at a garage sale for about 10 bucks last year. This thing along with some of the 65% beads keeps a ton of boxes perfectly maintained. Cheap and easy... just like I like my women.

[thechenman]

Yup...economically speaker a plan old camping cooler is the way to go. The larger the cooler and the more boxes of cigars you store, the more beads you will need. Coolers because of the tight seal are great at maintaining humidity, but don't control temperature, so you need to make sure you store it somplace cool and out of the sunlight, as you wood a desktop. If you get a new cooler, it is best to open it up wash it down, and let it air out for a few days.

[samb]

Not to sound condescending, but the 65% beads they talk about are something alone the lines of Heartfelt.

[dinnerplate]

Not to sound condescending, but the 65% beads they talk about are something alone the lines of Heartfelt.

not taken in any such way. any info is helpful at this point. i actually did quite a bit of research on the coolerdors, and i can already see it on the horizon. the problem is, i live in los angeles, where it's a perfect 66-68 fahrenheit (19-20 celsius) right now. But starting in late spring, it’s going to get into 76 and higher (24 celsius), so it’s going to reach that point. I have no basement or other cool place to put the coolerdor, so it would make for a rather precarious situation. Then again, I’ve got the same issues with my desktop right now. Keeping the AC blasting during the summer even when I’m not there would amount to the cost of a good temp controlled humidor in no time anyway, so that’s not really an option.

As a sidenote, I’ve been using a diamond crown humidifier, and I’m making the switch over to the beads. Too many problems. I keep seeing everyone talking about 65% beads, but I like my cigars a little spongier. i’ve kept my humidors at about 66-68% before, and they’ve felt a little too hard for my liking. question for you guys: I know this is an obscure question, but how do your cigars feel (firmness), and do they make a SLIGHT crunching noise when you pinch them? I ask because I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong.

[samb]

not taken in any such way. any info is helpful at this point. i actually did quite a bit of research on the coolerdors, and i can already see it on the horizon. the problem is, i live in los angeles, where it's a perfect 66-68 fahrenheit (19-20 celsius) right now. But starting in late spring, it’s going to get into 76 and higher (24 celsius), so it’s going to reach that point. I have no basement or other cool place to put the coolerdor, so it would make for a rather precarious situation. Then again, I’ve got the same issues with my desktop right now. Keeping the AC blasting during the summer even when I’m not there would amount to the cost of a good temp controlled humidor in no time anyway, so that’s not really an option.

As a sidenote, I’ve been using a diamond crown humidifier, and I’m making the switch over to the beads. Too many problems. I keep seeing everyone talking about 65% beads, but I like my cigars a little spongier. i’ve kept my humidors at about 66-68% before, and they’ve felt a little too hard for my liking. question for you guys: I know this is an obscure question, but how do your cigars feel (firmness), and do they make a SLIGHT crunching noise when you pinch them? I ask because I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong.

Here in Texas, the heat really gets up there. I use a Vinotemp thermoelectric wine fridge. Works great to control the temp and the holds the humidity. My cigars make a very slight 'crunch' sound, but the wrapper does not actually crack. I keep my cigars about 65-68%.

[demiurgic]

here's a question for those of you with only desktop humidors. i doubt there are many of you, from what i've seen in the posts. if your humidor holds anywhere from 25-150 cigars, and you need to keep it about 70% full for optimum conditions, how often do you buy smokes, in what quantities, and how long do you let it sit in your humidor?

i've got a 125-capacity and a 50-capacity, and will soon have them filled to about 70% or so, but i can't think of a way to keep them in the humidor for the requisite minimum 30 days prior to smoking. i know some of you don't wait (or rather can't), and i'm among those people as well. i open both humidors about 3-4 times a day. granted, i'm seasoning one of them, but this is getting into obsessive territory.

also, in what lots do you desktop humidor guys buy cigars? buying boxes would be most economical, but clearly, it would limit your selection. me, i've just purchased three different boxes of smokes (total 75 cigars) to add to the various 5 packs of NCs that i also bought.

as a side note, this newfound "hobby" is starting to become an absolute addiction. i'm about one or two months in from the time i bought my first humidor, and i find myself looking up cabinets almost every day, even though it'd be sheer madness for me to spring for one right now.

been there, done that, since I'm an absolute addict. From booze, to no limit holdem (poker stars if anyone wants to play for cigars sometime) and all sorts of fun little things that catch my fancy like cigars.

cant help you with the addiction part brother since I'm in that boat myself. (keeps things lively, doesn't it?)

However, I will tell you two things I wish I had done from the get go.

I have 4 humidors, ranging from 50's to 200 counts. Should have never bought them since all I needed was one massive one.

Be it cooler or cabinet. So, BUY A LARGE STORAGE thing FOR YOUR CIGARS (and a small 50 count for your office desk perhaps)

And second is more valuable than the first, buy more THIN RING GUAGE CIGARS (thank Tampa for this one)

all the best,

Demi

[armedak]

You can't beat the coolidor set-up as everyone has discussed if you live in a climate which does not require temperature control. Next tip is buy the biggest cooler you can afford as you will fill it up. Trust me!!