Question about different wood in a humidor and sealant

[lvfcrook1503]

Hey guys/gals, as some saw in a previous post, I am turning my mini fridge into a humidor. Now I know that with it only being for box storage I could just leave it as is and use it, but that just doesn't work for me lol. I want to replace the glass shelves with Wooden ones that have slots cut in them for air flow. Also going to glue then pieces of cedar to the walls and bottom.
Now, I know Spanish Cedar is not actually cedar. It's a hardwood that we just like for it's ability to be a medium for humidity and for the smell. My question is this:

If I don't need it for humidity reasons (only going to be storing boxes really), couldn't I use just about any other hardwood to make shelves? Or are there any that I can't use?? I only ask because a friend of mine has a bunch of different hardwoods around his shop that he could use to make the shelves for me for free, instead of ordering Spanish Cedar.


Also, does anyone have a specific sealant they've used with cigar related things that's odor free? Once I pull the coolant lines off I'm going to need to seal the holes up.

Thanks in advance all!

[Browns7213]

You could just get some old cigar boxes, break them up and glue them to the walls of the fridge if you want some wood. Most people use Aquarium silicone/sealant for fixing air gaps and should be fine to hold the wood to the walls of the fridge. You could also use velcro to attach the wood with no odor. Here's a link to other woods you should consider for protective reasons.

http://www.humidor-guide.com/humidor-construction/spanish-cedar-in-humidors

[Tatuaje]

Any wood that's non-aromatic, and known for good anti-rot capabilities would be fine.

Since spanish cedar is actually a mahogany, African or Honduran mahogany would be my first choice if I ruled out spanish cedar.

White oak is a great choice, but can be very expensive, and much harder to work than the mahogany for home type tools.

[ChiefIlliniwek]

People use SC because it's aromatic, rot resistant, and is a natural insect repellant. If I didn't do Spanish cedar, I'd go with mahogany. Just remember that your humidity in the humi is going to be 60 to 70% depending on your personal preference, so you'll want a relatively stable wood.

[Indyhp]

Mahogany

Aquarium-grade silicone sealant

[Aithos]

To be honest - I wouldn't worry about gluing anything to the top or sides, if you're going to do drawers or shelves that is plenty of Spanish cedar. Also, I've heard that many glues will have an overpowering smell that will not go away easily.

As for other woods - Spanish cedar is used for the aroma and anti fungal, but also because it deals with the humidity better than most woods because of the characteristics of the wood. How hard or soft a wood is, whether it had open pores, etc all make a difference.

I would stick with SC and just do drawers.

[lvfcrook1503]

Thanks for the suggestions fellas!

[ammodors]

We use this stuff in all our humidors: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-Polyseamseal-10-fl-oz-Clear-All-Purpose-Adhesive-Sealant-1675279/202699069

Its a caulk/glue/sealant all in one. Drys clear, low VOC, non-toxic, inexpensive, easy to find and easy to work with.