Hello, this is my first post so forgive me if I missed a previous topic on the subject. I tried a few searches and came up empty handed, so here it goes:

I'd like to build a small (4'x2.5'x8') closet in my basement to store my Cigars. I will be buying mostly boxes to keep and age as a collection, I'll keep my loose cigars in my humidor upstairs.

My plan is to make a 'sleeper floor' and use moisture resistant drywall, complete with plastic coverings as an added moisture barrier. Of course, the closet will be lined in spanish cedar bought at a local wood shop. I plan on installing two ceiling blowers to increase airflow in the closet, I can see myself having 200+ boxes in there.

My biggest hangup is how to control the moisture/temperature. I live in Colorado so our temperature swings are huge. I've found units that control humidity, but none that do both.

If anyone could offer advice or suggestions for my plan, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Ill help you out, what are your name, address, and hours that you work?

quote:

Originally posted by sarctonpsu:
Ill help you out, what are your name, address, and hours that you work?

Maybe I should have mentioned I am as passionate about my guns as I am my cigars.

(c;

After you send me that info, you can have a look at this guys setup. http://propellerhat.us/robs_humidor.htm

Are you drooling yet?

How hot does it get in your basement?I do
not think that the plastic will be needed.
Have you considered using a small house humidor
you can run it on distilled water.Do you plan
on putting an electric outlet inside,also what do you plan to do for lighting?

quote:

Originally posted by ccsmoker:
How hot does it get in your basement?I do
not think that the plastic will be needed.
Have you considered using a small house humidor
you can run it on distilled water.Do you plan
on putting an electric outlet inside,also what do you plan to do for lighting?

I don't have any ideas on humidifying systems yet, I need lots of suggestions. Robs Humidor looks really nice. I was considering doing a walk in, but I'd rather use that money to fill my humidor.

I was thinking a single ceiling can light would work for the room. The basement gets anywhere from ~65(normal) to 40 (winter) and 70 (summer)

If it is in your basement why not build the exterior out of steel. You can weld the whole thing then line it with tight tolerances on the inside with SC. You can make a refrigerator style door on the front, put electricity on the inside, and have lights on every shelf.

I think this is a great idea!

OR

You can take on of the giant wine fridges and convert that. Not the exact dimensions your looking for but I a sure its cheaper.

what is your budget,where in the basment do you plan on putting it. Is there any chance of water leaking in to your basement.Honduran mahogany would also work very well in case
you needed another option vs. spanish cedar.
You plan to put 200 boxes in there I would
not over due the cedar unless you like all
your smokes to have cedar tones.You can go to amazon.com to check out some small house humidifiers.Also remeber not to put the shelves
to close to the light,it will dry them out.

quote:

Originally posted by sarctonpsu:
After you send me that info, you can have a look at this guys setup. http://propellerhat.us/robs_humidor.htm

sarctonpsu

That guy is in Michigan isn't he? We should get his address and hours he works. He's probably closer.

quote:

Originally posted by ccsmoker:
what is your budget,where in the basment do you plan on putting it. Is there any chance of water leaking in to your basement.Honduran mahogany would also work very well in case
you needed another option vs. spanish cedar.
You plan to put 200 boxes in there I would
not over due the cedar unless you like all
your smokes to have cedar tones.You can go to amazon.com to check out some small house humidifiers.Also remeber not to put the shelves
to close to the light,it will dry them out.

Budget: Somewhere less than $3000 total including all hardware. I have a family friend who can rough in the walls, drywall, and line the room with cedar for about $120 a sq/ft.

Also, not much chance for leaking water.

Anyone have any suggestions for a single unit AC/Heater AND humidifier?

Finding a single unit heating and cooling unit can be a little difficult. But... for smaller spaces like the one you are talking about you may consider a peltier cooling/heating option. Here is a link to a company that makes a control board: http://www.hitechtec.com/controller.htm
You have to add the thermoelectric modules to match the volume of space you are cooling or heating. These types of systems are used in high end humidors like those found here: http://www.aristocrathumidors.com/deltatindex.html
The big advantage that these systems have is three-fold, the first that they do not effect the humidity level as they heat or cool like conventional heating or cooling,(except for the relative humidity which a good humidification unit can easily compensate for). The second advantage is that with peltier cooling the thermoelectric modules switch from heating to cooling by a polarity change from the control board which means only one system is needed to do both jobs.
The third is that they are all solid state so there is almost no maintenance. The draw back to peltier is cost... the larger the volume of space you are temperature controlling... the greater the cost, exponentially.

Also I might add, there are some systems that you may be able to utilize that are designed for wine storage. I don't have a link for you but that shouldn't be too difficult to Google up. The problem with these systems is that they are generally designed for temp ranges somewhat cooler than our smokes like. That doesn't mean they can't be modified...

Hope this helps!

http://propellerhat.us

Synquest you should take credit where credit is due, because the pictures you have on Rob's humidor are clearly signs of a mad genius. If he did all that work himself in building that humidor I'll bet he's an engineer that found a project he absolutely loved doing.

You hit that right on the nose! Rob is an engineer as a matter of fact. I, on the other hand, am just a computer geek by trade...
Also I forgot to mention that the cost of that peltier board is right around $375 last time I checked. The modules vary in price according to size and quantity needed.

Oh! And Rob did indeed do the work on the walk-in himself...
Here's the link again: http://propellerhat.us/robs_humidor.htm

What a timely topic, if I do say so myself. I am in the process of selling my house and buying a new one. I am planning on having a separate smoking room where I can enjoy my sticks in peace, sip some vino and read, listen to tunes or watch some tube.

Anyway, in addition to this room I alwasy wanted to build a personal, cabinet size humidor. Based upon what I have read in this thread I am still a bit confused as to how to properly seal the acabinet in order to ensure that the humi levels stay even?

Ideally I would like to be able to hold anywhere between 200-250 cigars along with several boxes in my cabinet. Now, that being said, would it just be easier/cheaper to purchase a ready-made cabinet instead of going through all the trouble and in the long run, it may not "work" properly?

If yuo are going to build something its because you want to build it. You can't go into a project without your heart in it, unless you don't mind it looking nappy headed rigged. If your not willing to put the time and effort into it just buy one.

quote:

Originally posted by Synquest:

Hope this helps!

http://propellerhat.us

I appreciate you taking the time to give me such great suggestions!

However that Peltier coolers look extremely complicated to me. However, I like the idea of spending a little more to insure my invests are well taken care of.

I'm going to try calling some local B&M stores to see what they are using.

quote:

Originally posted by LeefromCO:

quote:

Originally posted by Synquest:

Hope this helps!

http://propellerhat.us

I appreciate you taking the time to give me such great suggestions!

However that Peltier coolers look extremely complicated to me. However, I like the idea of spending a little more to insure my invests are well taken care of.

I'm going to try calling some local B&M stores to see what they are using.

I'd be interested in hearing how your humidor project turns out, in particular how you resolve the heating/ cooling issue.

For anyone else that may be interested, here is an online source for humidor hardware and Spanish Cedar:
http://www.rockler.com/search_results.cfm?filter=humidor