How to make a humidor
out of a cooler
My first humidor was a rubbermaid box that held about 25-30 cigars or so, but I quickly found out that I needed more room. Its nice to keep extra cigars on hand for aging, especially since so many of them are shipped wet nowadays...and here's how ya do it with a cooler...
The Colemandor/Igloodor or as we'll call it, The Coolerdor
My humidor is made out of a Coleman cooler. Its a 54 quart model that I paid $16 for at The Sports Authority (it was mismarked, the normal price is $30). Many people prefer the Igloo cooler though, because it has slots that can easily accomodate a pre-cut shelf. With the Coleman, I just improvised and actually will be adding another shelf in the near future. Anyhow, here is what you'll need and how to do it:
1. Cooler.
Get at least the 54 quart size. This will hold several boxes and bundles, and give you quite a bit of room left over for singles.
2. Tupperware/Rubbermaid Sandwich Size container.
This will hold the oasis floral foam which you can get get from the florist. We'll discuss more on the foam in #4. You can get this type of container at pretty much any grocery store, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, etc. The container can be velcro-ed to the inside of the cooler door, so that you can remove it to add humidifying solution from time to time. This will be used to keep the humidor/coolerdor at 70% relative humidity.
3. Hygrometer.
To measure the humidity in you coolerdor. A good range is 68-72% relative humidity. This will keep your cigars in good smoking condition, not too wet and not too dry. Radio Shack sells a good thermometer/hygrometer for about $25. Its digital and can be calibrated fairly easiy. Remember, its not so much the temperature that is important, but the humdity inside you coolerdor.
4. Oasis Floral Foam
This is the "green brick" that florists stick flowers in. Most florists have tons of this stuff around and will gladly give you some. Make sure you get the "wet" oasis foam, not dry. The florist will know what you mean. You'll be putting this in the sandwich (or a soap holder works too) container and moistening it with your humidifying soulution. Just cut the brick to fit inside the sandwich container. Take the sandwich container lid and cut or drill holes into it and place it back on the container. Don't oversaturate the oasis foam, but make sure its not too dry either.
5. Humidifying Solution (Its just Propylene Glycol and Distilled Water.)
This is the "magic" solution that so many tobacconists sell in fancy little bottles for big money. This stuff is cheap, so make you own. Order a pint of the Propylene Glycol from your pharmacist (avoid the chain store pharmacies, they usually won't order it. Go to an independent pharmacist or order it on the web). Usually its around $5-8 for the pint (more if you have to pay for shipping). Mix this into a 50/50 solution with Distilled water and low and behold, you have you magic solution to keep you humidor at 70% relative humditiy. Pour this stuff on the floral foam as mentioned in #4 above. Most tobacconists charge upwards of $10 for a small bottle. At that price, you can make "hundreds" of dollars worth of the stuff. Seriously, you'll have enough to charge your credo/oasis for years
6. Cedar.
If possible, get Spanish Cedar as it is the best. But if you can't get spanish cedar, find some cigar boxes made out of cedar. Ask your local tobacconist to donate a few empty boxes to you. You'll be using this to line your coolerdor. You can cut it into shape and use velcro or tape to stick it to the walls of the coolerdor. Cedar assists in the aging/storage process and helps to keep the tobacco flavors fresh. Cedar door shims from home improvement stores work too, but not as good as real spanish cedar.
7. Velcro/Double stick tape
This is to fasten the cedar to the walls and door of your coolerdor.
8. Some Wood for shelves.
I cut some small pieces just long enough to wedge into the cooler
and act as a shelf. Works great.
*Thanks to Kevin Hamilton for his update suggestions.*
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Have at it and enjoy!