Of course it's a good cigar Edith, it came in its own test tube ......... Archie Bunker.
Started by Caveman Steve, 01/01/2014 02:49 PM
That really came out nice and looks like a store bought unit! Great job and glad my project inspired someone else to try their hand at a conversion.
Did you seal the glass on the doors? I found that I had to use some clear silicone on mine to cut down on leakage as well so, I used painter's tape to limit the silicone to just where I wanted it without any smearing on the wood or glass since that stuff is a pain to clean off. Which humidification unit did you decide on?
QuoteVroomp - 1/2/2014 8:36 AM That really came out nice and looks like a store bought unit! Great job and glad my project inspired someone else to try their hand at a conversion. Did you seal the glass on the doors? I found that I had to use some clear silicone on mine to cut down on leakage as well so, I used painter's tape to limit the silicone to just where I wanted it without any smearing on the wood or glass since that stuff is a pain to clean off. Which humidification unit did you decide on?
I did not seal the glass. It seems to be very solidly installed by the original manufacturer. (no rattle) and I agree, silicone is a pain! I'm using the Hydra LG Commercial series for humidification, with 2 auxiliary fans that are installed behind the center mullion and blow air up in between the two drawer sections. The unit holds humidity very well, although I am filling the reservoir more lately. (RH in the house is 38%) I figure that's normal this time of year.
Thanks again for the "Inspiration"!
QuoteFNA - 1/2/2014 3:43 PM "The only thing I didn't do myself was the Spanish cedar trays used for the drawers", but then "It seems to be very solidly installed by the original manufacturer". So I'm a l;ittle confused - if the only thing you didn't do yourself was the trays, aren't you the "original manufacturer"? How much did materials cost you, if you don't mind saying?
Sorry for the confusion. This is an old cabinet that I retrofitted into a humidor. The exterior of the unit was manufactured by someone else. I built the interior portion. (a cabinet that I constructed and inserted into the cavity of the original cabinet) Does that make sense?. As far as costs are concerned, I didn't keep great track, but including the 8 trays that I bought, I probably had about $300 in it, not including the Hydra unit.
QuoteBlgove - 1/3/2014 12:12 AM Wow, Steve. What a beautiful cabinet. It looks like you have a Hydra for humidification. Do you have any wide variations in RH in different locations? I have a tower with 8 drawers near the bottom. I have to augment the Hydra with beads in the top two shelves. If I have the Hydra cranked up so the top is around 65, the drawers near the bottom are around 80%
That was definitely a concern of mine. I built this unit with about a 4 1/2 " void in between the two drawer sections. I have two auxiliary fans mounted a little below the midpoint of the unit, above the Hydra, that circulate the heavier, more humidified air from the bottom. I was sure to leave gaps on the sides and behind the drawers (3/4"-1") as well, so air can flow as freely as possible. I set the unit at 68, and the top drawer will typically read 66. I can live with that. (Although I do lose some storage capacity!)
