Craigslist Deal Gone Wild!!!!
So you may have seen a previous thread.
http://www.cigargeeks.com/community/forums/?action=postnew&richedit=0 (//?action=postnew&richedit=0)
I went an took a look at the humidor today. It is BEAUTIFUL!!! It is BIG!!! It is going to be hell to get it up to the second floor...LOL But I can't pass this up...
I thought I would create this thread, because I know it is going to be a little bit of a project to get this cabinet up and running. So I thought I would document the process. You all can tell me what I am doing wrong...lol...and we can have a thread (like others) that can serve as a how to (or maybe a how NOT to...lol) guide for others. This is my first cabinet. I have several Humidors, A home made wineador, some tuppedor's, as well as some converted Camacho Liberty Boxes...But as I said....this is my first cabinet.
I don't necessarily spend a lot of time on craigslist. But I thought about trying to find a cabinet or a piece of furniture I could convert. started looking at coolers and different curio cabinets...and while I saw some potential pieces...most were either to expensive or just going to be too much work to convert. Most times when I search specifically for a "humidor", I see small 50-100 count boxes that I can get cheaper online. Some I can get cheaper in a B&M...lol But I decided to try the search and there it was...it is one of 2 (He actually may have a few more to sell eventually). He was selling them for $800 a piece. Too big for my needs even if it is a really good price. How big...try 4 ft wide, 6 ft tall, and 18 in deep. I really didn't have a place for it. I made my thread and who knows maybe someone would see and get a great deal.
Come Monday, I take another look, and he dropped the price to $600. Now the hairs are standing up on the back of my neck....Still a bit of cash to drop but such an amazing deal. I talked to the wife, because I knew she was going to kill me for bringing in such a monster...And she surprised the hell out of me and told me she would go in half for my birthday! So in essence I am getting this practically brand new 4000 count commercial cigar humidor for $300!!!
So in looking at the 2 humidors, One was is perfect shape and had a small oasis humidifier...like something for one of those foot locker or end table humidors. The other had some very slight door issues...nothing that couldn't be fixed with a little repositioning...and the pull knob was a little loose. all extremely minor issues. The is a Hydra LG in that humidor. I am grabbing the first one of course and he is going to let me switch the 2 humidifiers. So I get the Good Humidor, and the Hydra for 300. He says the Hydra works. If so, that is great, It will work well for the amount of cigars I will have in there to begin with. It will give me time to find a system I really like. If not...no big deal...I was looking for something better anyway...I just get it sooner.
So the deal is worked out. I just have to workout the logistics of moving it to my house and getting it to the 2nd floor. To make things harder, I had major surgery not too long ago and I still have 3 more weeks before I am allowed to lift anything over 10 pounds...So I am going to be of little help...
That is my story so far. The fun part will come when I get it to the house and start the process of getting it up and running. Many pics to come on that process...But for now let me leave you with this one pic...
So here she is:
Shameless (http://www.cigargeeks.com/../images/emoticons/bump.gif)
because of the (http://www.cigargeeks.com/../images/emoticons/spammer.gif)
Humidification -
So the unit includes a Hydra LG. I don't know if it works or not. It is also a little small for this size humidor. After a bit of shopping and research I have purchased a Le Veil DCH-60B. It can handle up to 55 cubic feet. I could purchase a second tank that connects to it if I wanted. However, if this has issues getting the humidity consistent all over, I could probably use the Hydra in addition in another spot f the humidor. I also plan to have small containers of passive gel beads to help keep things consistent. Lastly I will have two 80 mm USB powered fans on a timer to circulate air at a regular interval. This of course is the first plan going forward. We shall see what happens in practice. I am sure positioning of things will be big...
So this is what I was able to compile when looking and how I made the decision.
There were basically 5 systems I looked at. Everything else was a little too "boutique" or too expensive. I will put the links to each system at the end.
-Aristocrat Set It/Forget It -- Avallo Accumonitor -- Most-n-Aire -- Le Veil -- Oasis Magna 2.0
The Aristocrat and the Avallo were higher end. My Cigar Club in Ohio uses Avallo. And they are VERY happy with it. It is the epitome of low maintenance from this group of 5. The Aristocrat had both isolated and distributed options. Both of these received high marks...neither of them have a lot of information on their respective websites. Out of the 2 I had an affinity for the Avallo. But it was based on info from friends and reviews more than anything on the sites. I think the size I would need from either of these would take me out of my price range. Well...not really...I just would have waited a little that is all. They are about twice the cost of the others. I am a little impatient for the moment...LOL Plus...if the LG doesn't work...then I will be in a spot...That is A LOT of space for passive humidification...
The Moist-n-Aire had so many mixed reviews. I know of walk ins that use their systems...and they worked well...However...one complaint that kept coming up was about how often people had to refill the thing. That very well could be more of an indictment of the seals on their cabinets...but combining that with many who could not see the pattern as to what triggered the humidifier on...it seemed to do so even when humidity was at prescribed levels. Humidity seemed to vary and have highs and lows....Then again others LOVED it...In the end...I wasn't comfortable.
The Oasis Magna 2.0 is a great system from a good name. I like that it measures humidity in tenths...Does it matter a lot...no..not really...but I like it. This system and the Le Veil seem to be basically the same...Same price point. Same concept. Both use gel beads in their tanks. Both are pretty low maintenance...maybe not as much as the 2 high ends...They have alarms to let you know when it is low. My choice really came down to the Magna and the Le Veil. I was very close to grabbing the Magna on Amazon.
Two things I liked about the Le Veil was that you can get the slave tank if you wanted...while the Magna gave you a larger tank if you wanted. And secondly...it was stated often that the Le Veil fans were MUCH quieter than Oasis. So it would still be isolated. The reviews were varied similar to the Magna...but were a little more consistent...And both were well more consistent than the Moist-n-Aire. I was able to find a deal with Thompson for the Le Veil that was $10 cheaper than the Magna...usually it is the other way around...Hey...that is another decent cigar to add to the collection...LOL. So in the end...with the good deal...and the distributed option...I chose the Le Veil.
The Le Veil should arrive by Wednesday. The humidor will be here on Tuesday. Let me know your thoughts on the systems and or my plans...
Le Veil
http://www.stogiereview.com/2017/05/16/le-veil-icigar-dch-60b-electronic-humidifer/
https://www.amazon.com/iCigar-Pro-Digital-Humidifier-DCH-60B/dp/B077TLS86J/ref=sr_1_7_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1521996382&sr=8-7&keywords=le+veil+humidifier&dpID=41jXYS8qa1L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
https://www.thompsoncigar.com/product/LE-VEIL-DCH-60-GEL-HUMIDIFIER/79613.uts?cm_vc=8407&subCategoryId=8407&categoryId=8407&parentCategoryId=8389
Oasis Magna 2.0
https://www.cigaroasis.com/Humidifiers/cigar-oasis-magna.html
Most-N-Aire
https://www.cigarsinternational.com/p/moist-n-aire-electronic-humidifier-humidification/1438337/
Aristocrat Set It/Forget It
http://www.aristocrathumidors.com/electronic.htm
Avallo Accumonitor
http://www.aristocrathumidors.com/electronic.htm
Got some pics...am starting my documentation of my setup process and will post it when I am more organized and get all of my pictured sized correctly...One thing I found a little crazy is that the LeVeil I bought is about the same size as the Hydra...Yet the Hydra is technically rated for 16 Cubic feet and the Le Veil is rated for up to 55 cubic feet. I will be using both in the seasoning process...
So here she is at home!!! I think I will have a naming contest...more on that to come!!!
So I have started the process of Seasoning the Humidor. I calibrated all of my hygrometers and placed them in different areas of the humidor. They ranged from -2% to +6%. Based on the calibrated hygrometers, the Hydra is about 10% off on the low side even after turning the calibration knob all the way. All were labeled for easy calculation. I decided to use both the Le Veil and Hydra and I added 4 small dishes of the gel beads to help keep things equalized. I placed the Le Veil in the Lower left compartment meant for the humidifiers. The Hydra I placed midway up on the right side. Now I did not wipe down the humidor with seasoning pads from Humidicare as I would have done with a smaller humidor. I figured I can take my time and let it equalize on its own. This could take weeks or even a month...But I do have that flexibility. The humidor was holding 70% within a couple hours...BY the end of the day I saw it rising to about 72%. I had the Hydra set for 80% (remember it is off by 10% on the low side). So I decided to set it for 75% It has been about a day and a half and it has held between 68% to 71% depending on where in the humidor you measure. The lowest humidity is in the bottom of the cabinet on the right side. Where it took most of the day to rise from 63% to 68%. I am considering moving the hydra down one level. This should help that one section which would now be one level below it. and the fans up top should help keep the upper area nicely
Despite the humidor holding humidity pretty consistently...it can't possibly be saturated...I don't know how long it spent in storage...but even if the doors were constantly shut...with no humidification device...it is not going to keep saturated...So I have no plans to start loading it. But I am surprised at how well it is holding humidity and with how consistent it is.
I will have more pictures...I am taking a lot of them...but they all have to be resized. I also want to make a nice document with all of this in one spot. however, I thought I would post the progress so that I wouldn't forget things...LOL
A Naming contest will be posted as soon as I figure out what the prize will be... (http://www.cigargeeks.com/../images/emoticons/biggrin2.gif)