Well, I finally did it

[projectsunfire]

that's a really nice looking humi. I started with one about the same size. Then jumped to a 48 quart coolidor. you should just get a wineador now and save yourself the trouble

[boro62]

ive for some reason have always found a need for my old tupperadors and coolidors. When I got my second wineador, I thought for sure I'll never need the extra tupperadore or wineador again....boy was i wrong lolz.

Nice looking new humidor, but keep the tupperadore around for emergency overflow.

[Aithos]

that's a really nice looking humi. I started with one about the same size. Then jumped to a 48 quart coolidor. you should just get a wineador now and save yourself the trouble

This is my opinion too. I started with a 100ct and filled it within a couple months and then I had 3 tupperware containers once I got a couple groupons and some gifts. Now I have a full wineador...

edit: forgot to mention - I started my cigar collection just under a year ago (end of june)

[Zeede]

Update:

Day 4. I checked the hygrometer, and it read 77%, and 72 F. I'm especially happy that the temperature is a cool 72 F, since it's sitting on some furniture, not directly in contact with the cold marble floor of my bathroom like my OXOdors are. I removed one of the 84% seasoning Boveda packets, and will check in another two days to see if the RH has fallen, increased or stayed the same.

I believe that even though the ambient humidity is that high, the wood hasn't finished soaking up the moisture yet. However, my understanding is that as long as the ambient RH is holding steady, it's safe to put cigars in, because moisture is moisture. The wood can continue to absorb moisture with or without cigars in it. I just don't want to put the cigars in too early, and have the cedar suck all the moisture out of my stogies.

Daniel Marshall humidors also have some of the thickest cedar in their humidors, so I imagine that means more time for more absorption.

[Zeede]

Day 6: The RH is at 74%, so I removed the last Boveda seasoning packet and will check again in two days to see if the RH holds.

If it's still 70%+, it's probably done, right?

[RockysPatel]

If its holding at 70+ put 1/2 your sticks in and check back after 2 or 3 days. If its still good then put the rest in. Dont be afraid to see a drop of RH once you put the sticks in. It will right itself if properly seasoned over a short period of time.

[CamoSutra]

Day 6: The RH is at 74%, so I removed the last Boveda seasoning packet and will check again in two days to see if the RH holds.

If it's still 70%+, it's probably done, right?

Congratulations on your properly-seasoned humidor!

Here's a little secret: Many of us older BOTLs -- I'm tempted to say most of us -- lacked either the knowledge or the patience to do it right the first time. In my case, it was lack of patience, and I ruined my first desktop humidor long ago by trying to rush the hydration. (I sprayed the interior until water pooled on the bottom.) Fortunately it was a cheap box, and I learned my lesson with it. I think it ended up as a child's "treasure" box, at least until the swollen-and-shrunken joints finally gave way and it fell apart.

I also ruined quite a few cigars back then, or at least over-humidified so that they didn't smoke as well as they deserved to. It was quite awhile, and another humidor or two, before I stopped adding (too much) distilled water to the florist's-foam humidifiers every time the RH dropped below 70%, then had to fight to get it back down. Beads were unknown back then, and I think Bovedas were still new. It's a wonder I stayed with the hobby until I learned the value of patience -- and until better humidification devices became common.

[allusred]

Thanks for a very informative post that is likely going to be very useful to anyone just getting started with seasoning a humidor for the first time. And, (no small and either) excellent advice on the patience needed to get the humidity where the cigars are smoking to their liking.Herf & Turf was written the masterwork on the subject.
Your post I think is concise starter on the subject. Maybe "Cliff Notes."Thanks.

Edit: One extremely fine looking Humidor you've got there Zeede, Enjoy

[BryGuySC]

that's a really nice looking humi. I started with one about the same size. Then jumped to a 48 quart coolidor. you should just get a wineador now and save yourself the trouble

This is quickly becoming my plan!

[Zeede]

Hehe, after I finish paying off the ex-wife for her share of our house and get my business up and running again then maybe