wkoti Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 So getting back to Vegas, I'll have a place to work again, and because my father and I have outgrown 4 28 bottle Vinotemps, and then a Aristocrat M+ 25D, it's time for something bigger. But I don't feel like paying Bob Staebell pricing again, so he's what I have in the works. I have a considerable amount of singles and boxes, and need plenty of places to keep them both of them. It's a dual zone humidor, the right side being controlled by it's own active humidifier and it's own peltier, so I can age boxes at ideal conditions for long periods of time, without constantly changing their atmosphere by opening the door, rummaging through my singles, and closing it again. The left will be it's own conditions, slightly lower RH (65% instead of 71% for the aging side) so I can just grab and go without effecting the aging boxes. I know that keeping the door open for a couple of minutes to find the cigar I want to smoke won't do much, because being bundled together and inside of a cedar box makes for a good buffer, but leaving boxes in unchanged conditions for long periods of time will make it even easier to have solid aged smokes for later. It will be about 32 cubic feet, made from 3/4" furniture grade MDF that I will veneer. I'll line it with sapele or spanish cedar, and make the drawers out of a combination of mahogany and spanish cedar. Outside dimensions are 48" wide x 48" tall x 24" deep. Let's hope this will sustain the collection for a little while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phidelt076 Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Were you planning to seal the mdf before you veneer it in Spanish Cedar? I'm in the very preliminary phases of designing my own and researching materials. I would be nervous using mdf since it doesn't react well at all with moisture. Especially if using a veneer. I was looking at a spanish cedar plywood as a possible option. I imagine lining a cabinet with 1/4"-3/8" would be pretty pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkoti Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 I'll veneer the outside of the cabinet so it's not hideous. From what I've heard MDF is the ideal wood to use for humidor because it won't warp and is very forgiving and absorbent of moisture, I also hear it doesn't mold easily. So I wasn't going to seal or veneer the inside, I would just veneer the outside, line the inside with 3/16" spanish cedar, install the drawers and shelves and call it good. Also what I heard is Aristocrats are made from furniture grade MDF, that is veneered, unless otherwise requested. It's not going to be a overly cheap project, but far cheaper the the best stuff out there. The project will be expensive, just because of the spanish cedar, sapele, and mahogany. The drawers will be 18 1/4" deep, 5 1/4" tall, 22" wide x 8. That's not going to be pleasant on the wallet, but I have more expensive options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Depending on the thickness of the MDF, how you store it (eg on its side), uneven moisture and heat, you bet it can warp or swell. Oh, and mold can grow on MDF unless it has been pre-treated or you are using moisture resistant MDF. Normal MDF will suck up moisture like a sponge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkoti Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 Depending on the thickness of the MDF, how you store it (eg on its side), uneven moisture and heat, you bet it can warp or swell. Oh, and mold can grow on MDF unless it has been pre-treated or you are using moisture resistant MDF. Normal MDF will suck up moisture like a sponge. I was going off by what I heard and read, but I've been wrong many times before, this wouldn't be the first if I am. Thanks for the information, I was encouraged to use MDF, maybe because both places I live have less than 12% humidity max, and not many climate issues. But I don't know the best option, just the one presented to me. Have any tips or comments to add, I would hate to spend all this making it, and it being useless a year later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckSARTech Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I was going off by what I heard and read, but I've been wrong many times before, this wouldn't be the first if I am. Thanks for the information, I was encouraged to use MDF, maybe because both places I live have less than 12% humidity max, and not many climate issues. But I don't know the best option, just the one presented to me. Have any tips or comments to add, I would hate to spend all this making it, and it being useless a year later When your outside humidity is that, but your inside humidity is 60-70 % RH, that's not a good material to use. Do a search of some past threads. You'll find lots of different suggestions on construction materials and such. Best of luck to you. It's quite an undertaking (I know directly), but one that will be well worth it when it's done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Oh, and MDF contains formaldehyde. The dust is something you do not want to be inhaling. Not to mention that the gases can slowly seep out of the MDF. Don't get me wrong, MDF is useful, but just not in humidor building. You would need to seal all edges and panels from moisture if you are deadset on using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjellfrick Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I just thought it was a funny coincidence that my recently retired cabinet looks almost like your drawing! Btw, good luck with your project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkoti Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 That's exactly what I was thinking of, drawers for a crap ton of singles and boxes for aging... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PigFish Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Concept great! The devil is in the details!!! Cooling your humidor will require some serious thought, including insulating your box. A vapor barrier would likely be a good idea as well. MDF okay... Veneer on outside okay... Fir inside, then fill with flat type insulation, fir to fit. Vapor barrier on top of insulation, over with T&G or shiplap cedar. You can get SS brads to nail, or SS screws to firing. ...Obviously wire the interior beforehand!!! Cheers. -the Pig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
next Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Very good...... Why are there some boxes in plastic bags??? What is different about them??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtonium Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 I just thought it was a funny coincidence that my recently retired cabinet looks almost like your drawing! Btw, good luck with your project! Holy crap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tel RNB Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I built this one using mahagony plywood for the box, and lined it with solid spanish ceder, the drawer and shelves are SC as well. For the top I used cherry and finished it with tounge oil, with beads, the box is rock solid at 68%. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartolomeo Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tel RNB Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Thanks Bart, but it has to go. Can't afford to keep it full now. I'm selling it and looking for something much smaller and hopefully seasoned. That's the best part of a cab, opening it and smelling aged cigars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMWBen Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Looks awesome! This is exactly what I plan on building except instead of lining with Spanish cedar I think I'm just going to use a single Spanish cedar shelf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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