Cigar Humidor Selection, Set Up & Maintenance

When choosing a humidor, make sure to buy one that's somewhat larger than what you expect to need, or you'll run out of space quick when cigar fever hits or that special box goes on sale unexpectedly. The typical humidor will hold around 100 loose cigars and will generally cost somewhere between $50-$100, depending on the manufacturer and materials used. Humidors that store thousands of cigars are readily available, but don't forget your visa card, they are very expensive, usually in the $1,500-$3,000 range. Once you determine the capacity of the humidor you'll need, you can then begin to choose a model that appeals to you. From experience, most people know what they want in a humidor, be it glass top, dome, a table design, or a plain old milano, when it comes to the outward appearance the sky is the limit. The humidors appearance should match and add to the decor of the room it will reside in, but also match the person that it belongs to. Setting up a humidor isn't as simple as filling the humidifier with water and tossing in your cigars. You'll need a solution of Propylene Glycol and distilled water, mixed at a ratio of 50%/50%. The prop-glycol solution is readily available at most cigar shops. Apply this solution to the element of your new humidor just once to start, all subsequent recharges should be pure distilled water only. You should re-up the prop-glycol/distilled water solution once every couple of years. Never use tap water. The minerals will clog your element and render the device useless. If the humidor is constructed of solid spanish cedar you can use a damp cloth to lightly moisten the inside surfaces, giving you a substantial head start in preparing the box for cigar occupants which are anxious to get in and relax. If your box is lined, I don't suggest this method, it could cause damage to the wood if it is thin. Watch the humidity inside the humidor. If it refuses to rise, place a small saucer of distilled water in the bottom of the box and close the lid. Leave this in until the humidity builds and reaches 70% or greater. Remove the saucer and watch the hygrometer. Once it pegs 70% and sustains this reading for 2 days you can slowly begin to add your cigars keeping a close eye on the humidity. If you suspect a faulty hygrometer test it. Place the hygrometer in a zip lock type bag large enough to accommodate the gauge and a small container of salt and water, heavy on the salt. Heavy so much that it makes a sort of paste. Close the bag and leave it for 6 hours. The humidity reading should be a perfect 75%. If it isn't then throw the culprit hygrometer into the floor and smash it with your boot, or take it outside and blow it to smitharines with a gun, or melt it in a blast furnace. The most annoying thing on this earth is a faulty gauge. Do the right thing and make sure no one else could ever wind up with this demonic barometer. A trip to the vise, perhaps. The best hygrometers are digital models, because they are always accurate, never needing calibration. A wise $20 investment in the future comfort of your prized puros. Once your new humidor is fully loaded with cigars you will need to keep a close eye on your perfectly calibrated hygrometer. The first weeks and even months of the new humidors life can be a thirsty time. The inner surfaces are all absorbing moisture and it takes from the element, which means it will need to be refilled more frequently in it's infancy, less as it matures and begins to soak in the sweet smell of it's guests.