How to make a humidor out of tupperware.

Yes, tupperware.  And it works great!

How to make a cheap humidor

Alot of people light up a cigar and start to complain about the taste. The problem is one of two things:

A. They are smoking dog rockets bought at the drug store.

B. They spent too much on a premium cigar and then didn't store it properly, hence the need for a humidor.

So, here's how ya do it and do it cheap...

1. Rubbermaid/Tupperware Box.

Go to any store, such as a Meijer's, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc.etc. and buy a rubbermaid style box, no bigger than a shoebox.
Cost: right around $2.50.


2.  Credo/Oasis Holder.

Pick up a small container to put in the box. Smaller than a soap dish, but not too large as to take up any more than 1/8 of the inside.  If you get an enclosed soap dish/holder, you will need to cut holes in it.  I recommend an open dish.
Cost: $1.00.

3.  Cedar to line the humidor.

Now, head to any home improvement store, and purchase a small bundle of cedar door shims.
You could also use old cigar boxes that are made out of cedar, which is even better.    Just cut up the box into pieces that fit in your new humidor.  Spanish Cedar is recommended, and is the best, but it can be tough to get a small piece of it.
Cost: right around $1.00 (more if you buy actual spanish cedar).

4.  Propylene Glycol/Distilled Water (magic humidor juice)

Go to the pharmacist and tell him/her that you need a bottle of Propylene Glycol. (stay away from chain stores, as they usually won't order it for you.  Go to an independent pharmacy.  You can also order PG over the web) When they get past the point where they look at you like a fool, just smile and thank them and get out of the store.   Pick up a bottle of Distilled Water on your way out as well.  You'll be mixing the Propylene Glycol and Distilled Water together  (see below) to make "Cigar Stay Fresh Juice".   Most tobacconists charge upwards of $10 for small bottle of this.  You'll make hundreds of dollars of the stuff for under $10!
Cost: $6-7, but it may be a few bucks more with shipping or more if you have to order a bigger sized container via the web).

5.  Credo/Oasis Foam

Finally, go to your local florist and ask him/her for a brick or two of oasis foam, the stuff they stick flowers (usually fake flowers) into.   Note:  Make sure you get "wet" oasis, not dry.  The florist will know what you are talking about when you ask them.Again, just leave before strange questions are asked of you.
Cost: probably free, maybe a buck or two.

You are now ready to contruct a humidor capable of doing what the expensive ones do - keep cigars fresh.

Constructing your new "cheap" humidor:

1. Take 4 pieces of the cedar door shims and staple them together. Stick them in the bottom of the humidor to be. You can tape them down if you want.  Or, lay the pieces of cigar box (cedar) or spanish cedar so they fit nicely on the floor of the box.

2. Place the small soap type dish (or any squarish small container) inside the box. Cut a piece of the oasis foam from the brick you got from the florist. Remember, this brick is enough oasis foam to fill 15-20 humidors of this size, so you don't need a huge piece. Again, you can tape this down.

3. Mix the propylene glycol with a bottle of distilled water. Make a solution that is 50% of PG and 50% distilled water. Put this in its own container. This is enough solution to "charge" the oasis foam for 3 years or for 12 humidors of this size.

4. You are now pretty much done. You can add weather stripping around the seal of the box if you want.

5. Add enough of the solution to dampen, not soak the oasis foam. Check the foam every month and add distilled water by itself to keep moist. Add the PG/Distilled water solution every other month to keep the humidity around 70%.

Hygrometers

These, of course are optional, but are nice to have in the humidor to tell what the level of humidity is. Cigars should be kept around 70% humidity to stay fresh. A few points up or down is no big deal, but too high or too low will result in wet, hard to light/smoke cigars or dried out cigars that burn fast and taste hot. Radio Shack sells nice ones, but they are around $20. To stay cheap, go to a clock shop and get a small one that people insert into homemade clocks. These are only a couple of bucks.

The total cost of the humidor should be around $10-15. You'll have enough of the PG/Distilled Water solution to use on another dozen humidors. Same with the oasis foam. If you smoke alot of stogies and need a larger humidor, use an igloo cooler as the container. Just use a larger soap-style dish and a bigger piece of oasis foam. And don't forget to open it once a week or so, to let fresh air circulate. Amonia build up in the humidor can make the cigars taste like, well, amonia.

Now... you either know far too much about this subject or else you are ready to send me a Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagas, or a La Gloria Cubana Wavell...Hell, I'd even take a AntonioYCleopatra, but make it a maduro, ok?
NO Swishers Sweets!...

*A thank you to Kevin Hamilton for some updating suggestions*

Tell me about your humidor!
E-Mail Darren