Humidor Help! (Purchase)

[73mountaineer]

I have muddled along with an el cheapo humidor for the past couple of years, and enough is enough. I'm not putting $2-3 sticks in it any more, now they are more like $5-10 sticks. Not top shelf by any means, but nice enough that I want them to stay nice in my humidor while I wait for the right moment to break them out.

I currently have a small-sized super cheap humidor, probably cost $15-20 new, several years ago. Very, very, very thin spanish cedar lining, glued to pressed wood garbage.

So basically what do I want? A decent humidor that keeps a good seal, looks nice in our living room, holds 25-50 cigars (or more) and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. A glass top seems like it would be nice, but it isn't a deal breaker.
I am not looking to spend a bundle on this thing, I just want to find something in the $50-100 range that looks good and does what it is supposed to.

Suggestions? I looked at a Savoy at on of my local B&Ms today and it seemed exceptionally nice for $100, but I would like to stay below that number if possible.

[jwhite]

I got mine here (http://www.tampahumidor.com/), and I've been happy with it.

[drewmac]

I have about 300 cigars spread out amongst a bunch of humidors. What I've been doing lately is buying empty cigar boxes off eBay. The way to do it is look for the boxes from ultra-premium cigars (eg. Montecristo Platinum/White) that are designed to be humidors. I bought a Montecristo Platinum humidor (http://www.absolutecigars.com/Montecristo-Platinum~-Michel-Delacroix-Humidor-25-Capacity-detail.html) off eBay last month for $15 with shipping.

[Laney1566]

I have a wonderful $90 Humidor made by "Cuban Crafters".

Takes a good break-in. be sure to follow the directions, but is a fine piece of work.

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Steve:
I got mine from Canadian Cigar Accessories (off of Ebay). I have been very satisfied with their Humidors. Great construction, solid woods (inlays also), multi-lacquered high gloss finish, fully lined with premium kiln dried Spanish cedar, brass hinges and hardware and lids that forms tight seals. Trust me...these are very well made Humidors.

http://stores.ebay.com/Canadian-Cigar-Accessories/Humidors-/_i.html?_fsub=3&_sid=125685703&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322


"If I cannot smoke cigars in Heaven, I shall not go". Mark Twain


NOTE: Good Humidors should have a tight seal and I can not stress this enough. Raise the lid about 2 inches and let it drop (it shouln't slam) and you should be able to hear (and feel) a 'whoosh' sound. That noise is the sound on the air escaping the Humidor, which then will tell you it's a well-constructed humidor. .

Christopherhttp://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/leederbottoms/smoke.gif "Cigar smoking knows no politics. It's about the pursuit of pleasure, taste, and aroma." Anonymous

[invizable]

I made a Cigar Jar a couple years ago. Of my 3 humidors, the Jar holds the most stable humidity and looks awesome.
I used a 1 gallon glass jar with lid from World Market.
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3604661

Of course you'll need a jar of humidification beads or sponge puck at the bottom. With the jar mostly full, you can't see the humidification device in the middle. I store my best cigars in the jar now because the heavy glass lid has a great seal. Depending on your humidification this could cost less than $25-30 and mine holds at least 30 cigars.

[Don Barbiere]

Cuban crafters or Tampa are best for the money,sometimes its a hit or miss but you get what you paid for!

[73mountaineer]

After an exhaustive 2-day search-fest online, I finally decided on this one from CI last night:
http://img.cigarsinternational.com/p/500/m/a/m-a0037.jpg

I'll probably end up augmenting the hygrometer with a digital model, but I like the look of the analog dial on the front.

I found a few similar models elsewhere for slightly less, but shipping costs negated the price difference in almost all, and made the others even more expensive.

CI had a deal of the day that I wanted as well so I picked it up at the same time and got free shipping on my entire order. Spent enough that I got a free 5-pack promo of some cigars from 5 Vegas as well. So 15 quality cigars and a nice humidor for around $100, shipped. :thumbup1:

I would have liked to given my business to one of my local shops, but their selection of humidors was sorely lacking. One had nothing cheaper than a $100 Savoy, and the other had nothing cheaper than a $35 humidor stuffed with lots of crap that I don't need and sold as an $80 "kit". Neither had more than 2-3 models on hand. I still buy almost all of my cigars there, so not too much guilt for going online for a humidor I guess.

Thanks all of you for your input! :thumbup1:

[Don Barbiere]

Looks good,congrats,make sure you get it calibrated ,seasoned,and enjoy!

Edit: I would buy digital hygrometer as well, they are just more acurate,they can be off as well though,as long as you know by how much,any hygrometer will serve its purpose!

[Mr.Goodfella]

I am all about supporting the local B&M's but when you can get a humi for 1/2+ price online, it is a no brainer. My local shop had a humi for almost $300 when I could purchase it online for $110, I asked the owner about it, he lied and I called him out on it, that's the last time I made a purchase from his store.
Nice choice on the new humi!

[captp]

If you find a good local smoke shop, develop a rapport with the owner, purchase from him (or her). I buy my products exclusively from my local shop, and usually get tremendous deals from her. Yesterday, I bought 2 lighters (IM Corona and Dupont, 125 and 225 respectively). I paid a total of about 260 for them both. Same goes for humis.

[Mr.Goodfella]

If you find a good local smoke shop, develop a rapport with the owner, purchase from him (or her). I buy my products exclusively from my local shop, and usually get tremendous deals from her. Yesterday, I bought 2 lighters (IM Corona and Dupont, 125 and 225 respectively). I paid a total of about 260 for them both. Same goes for humis.

That's funny that you mentioned about getting to know the owner/workers. This is the same guy that when I came back from being deployed overseas I gifted him cigars, wine, and olive oil; we were also on a first name basis and he would give me 15% off on all purchases. The $300 price tag was with 15% already taken off.
In your case with the lighters you got a heck of a deal and if that was my case I would purchase exclusively through them. Our shop owner IMO is simply a money hungry clown.

[mouscacha]

When you receive your humidor, make sure it has a good seal. Drop the lid down about 1" before closing. It should close with a woosh, like a well-fit shoe. If it slams, return it.

[73mountaineer]

Shipping notification received today, should hopefully have it by the weekend to start the seasoning process and transfer all of my cigars next week. :w00t:

[captp]

That's funny that you mentioned about getting to know the owner/workers. This is the same guy that when I came back from being deployed overseas I gifted him cigars, wine, and olive oil; we were also on a first name basis and he would give me 15% off on all purchases. The $300 price tag was with 15% already taken off.
In your case with the lighters you got a heck of a deal and if that was my case I would purchase exclusively through them. Our shop owner IMO is simply a money hungry clown.

To be honest I should mention that I "semi-work" there. Years ago I was buying a couple of smokes and the Colonel (the late owner) said, "Ring your own damn cigars up." "Show me how to work the register." He did. They gave me a key to the shop and now I open or close for them if they have to do something to do, like bowl or golf. I'm probably their best customer in money spent, cigars sent to the troops overseas, advice given and general ponitfication. Bill (a retired Command Chief Master Sergeant in the Pa. Air Guard who works at the shop a couple days a week) usually gives me 20% off, more if it's for a box or bundle to send to the troops. He also usually gives a nice discount to any military about to be deployed. The one thing I'm proudest of is the Command Chief/Command Sgt. Major coin he gave me for support of the troops. After that are the unit coins an Army Colonel and an Air Force Major gave me for the same thing.

[73mountaineer]

My humidor arrived yesterday evening & it's a beaut! Seems very well-built and passes the "lid drop" seal test with flying colors! :thumbup1:

Calibrating the hygrometer now and will start the seasoning process this evening after I pop the hygrometer back into place.

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

My humidor arrived yesterday evening & it's a beaut! Seems very well-built and passes the "lid drop" seal test with flying colors! :thumbup1:

Calibrating the hygrometer now and will start the seasoning process this evening after I pop the hygrometer back into place.
Steve:
Good deal on your new Humidor. :yesnod:

Christopherhttp://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/leederbottoms/smoke.gif "A cigar is as good as [the] memories that you have when you smoked it". Raul Julia

[penmanship]

+1...ditto. I bought 2. 1 for me, and a fellow in my office bought the other........great boxes, no complaints!
Steve:
I got mine from Canadian Cigar Accessories (off of Ebay). I have been very satisfied with their Humidors. Great construction, solid woods (inlays also), multi-lacquered high gloss finish, fully lined with premium kiln dried Spanish cedar, brass hinges and hardware and lids that forms tight seals. Trust me...these are very well made Humidors.

http://stores.ebay.com/Canadian-Cigar-Accessories/Humidors-/_i.html?_fsub=3&_sid=125685703&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322


"If I cannot smoke cigars in Heaven, I shall not go". Mark Twain


NOTE: Good Humidors should have a tight seal and I can not stress this enough. Raise the lid about 2 inches and let it drop (it shouln't slam) and you should be able to hear (and feel) a 'whoosh' sound. That noise is the sound on the air escaping the Humidor, which then will tell you it's a well-constructed humidor. .

Christopherhttp://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/leederbottoms/smoke.gif "Cigar smoking knows no politics. It's about the pursuit of pleasure, taste, and aroma." Anonymous

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

+1...ditto. I bought 2. 1 for me, and a fellow in my office bought the other........great boxes, no complaints!
penmanship:
Good deal and thanx for your support and sharing. :thumbup:

Christopher http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/leederbottoms/smoke.gif "Gentlemen, you may smoke." King Edward VII of England