Humidor
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A humidor is any kind of box or room with constant humidity (and often, temperature as well). Humidors are usually used to store cigars. For private use, small wooden or acrylic glass humidor boxes for a few dozen cigars are appropriate, while cigar shops often have walk-in humidors, sometimes covering a whole floor. Humidors of all sizes use hygrometers to keep track of the humidity levels.
Quick tips to maintain your humidor. Get one that has Spanish cedar, or get some for any plastic humidors that you may be using. You don't have to buy any, cigar shops should have some cedar blocks that come with most cigar boxes. They are usually thrown away since they have little use to the cigar shop after the box has been sold. Spanish cedar is good to have while aging your cigars for three reasons. The cedar holds more moisture than most woods, it will help you maintain your humidity. Second, the cedar aroma will impart itself on your cigars if you age them long enough. That is also why some cigars are wrapped in cedar planks when you buy them. The blender knows that this will give his cigars an extra deminsion in flavor. Last, the sap of the Spanish cedar wood repels tobacco beetles. These pinhead sized bugs can eat through cigars like a buffet. Another way to combat these beetles is to make sure your humidor does not get hotter that 75 degrees F. The beetles will hatch at around 80 degrees F.
If you have trouble keeping your humidor around 70% humidity, the ideal level, then try to fill your box close to the rim. You can either get more cigars or as above, get some Spanish cedar blocks. They will help take up space and age your cigars. The more empty space exists in your humidor, the faster your humidification device will dry out.
Each humidor has to be seasoned after being bought or having been dry for a while. Take a moist cloth and wipe down the interior to remove any dust. Then place a shot glass or an container of similar size in the humidor and fill it with water. Keep the humidor closed overnight. If the water is gone or mostly gone, then repeat for another 24 hours. When it seems as thougth the humidor is not absorbing anymore humidity, you can place your cigars in the humidor. Remember, your humidifying element or "sponge" does not keep the cigars moist. The wood in the humidor does that. The humidifying element keeps the wood itself moist. If you have dry cedar in your humidor, then you will have dry cigars also.
External links
- Case modding of a "desktop humidor" can be seen here (http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/humidor2/)
- Setup Instructions for cigar humidors can be seen here (http://www.cheaphumidors.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=ch&Screen=howto_setup)de:Humidor