Bead Containers [Archive] - BOTL Cigar Forums

Jwrussell

01-12-2005, 05:56 PM

OK, so what's everyone keep their beads in?

Obviously the tubes from Viper are one option, and I've heard that alot of people use panty hose. What else? Reasons for one thing over another?

jordon

01-12-2005, 06:38 PM

my container of choice is the pool sock. Its a sock that you add to a pool filter to help keep it clean. Works great.

The reason I use it is because I have convinced myself that it provides a greater surface area of beads exposed to direct air.

I have also used many different types of plastic container. They all work.

Black Dog

01-12-2005, 07:01 PM

I'm currently using canning (mason) jars. I've been wanting to try the panty hose but at the moment I don't have a SO and can't quite bring myself to browse the ladies undergarment aisle at the local Walmart.
Right now the jars are just open at the top but I want to find some netting to put under the screw on ring that would keep the beads in if it were to tip over.

RonC

01-12-2005, 08:21 PM

I have used kitchen canisters that had holes in the lid. I guess like a grated cheese shaker. But I do know that the beads work best with more surface area exposed.

coastalwader

01-12-2005, 08:47 PM

Right now I'm using the Gladware 1/2 cup containers.

Hard to explain unless you are looking at one, but they have some very easy to remove with a razor blade "flutes" in the lids. A LB fit in 4 and a half of these. You get 8 for about $2.50.

Working well so far.

GuyMcBeerdrinker

01-12-2005, 08:50 PM

panty hose. I heard of someone making tubes out of mosquito netting. but I don't know what that person was using for the caps on the ends.

Garnivore

01-12-2005, 08:55 PM

I came across these bags the other day when I was looking for some supplies for my fish tank. I haven't used the beads yet so I don't know how these would work. They are media bags to hold various filtering media for fish tanks. Take a look and see what you think. Might hold the beads also, I don't know know why not.

Media Bags (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+113266)

Black Dog

01-12-2005, 09:29 PM

Garnivore, those media bags look perfect! I'm going to look into those at the local pet shop. It'll save me the embarassment of buying Leggs!

Wasch_24

01-12-2005, 09:35 PM

Viper139

01-13-2005, 12:55 AM

sucol

01-13-2005, 06:04 AM

I use a "Gladware" container ... costs about 50 cents.

Pulse

01-13-2005, 08:33 AM

I cracked open the plastic container that came with my Vicksburg and removed the floral foam and filled some pantyhose with beads and snapped it back shut. Plenty of beads fit, and plenty of surface area is created. I used pantyhose to contain the small particles that can result from the absorption and the evaporation.

Hmm, I never thought to use this as a container....In theory it's not a bad idea at all. How long have to you had it like this and have you noticed any additional maintanence needs etc over the normal occassional bead touch up etc. Bottom line, how is it working so far?:smt025

Wasch_24

01-13-2005, 08:39 AM

I just got the Vicksburg in December, around the 5th, and it was in my wife's closet seasoning until Christmas (she wouldn't let me see or touch it until Christmas day). I would say, IIRC, that I had her put that in the humi, while empty, after it reached a suitable level of humidity for a few days around the 18th of December and I have only added about 25ml of water to it since then. I don't think I even needed to do that but I can't help but tinker with things. When I put it in the humi the RH inside was around 78% and within a few days the beads dropped it to 65% and it hasn't changed since.

vernonator

01-13-2005, 09:13 AM

In my coolerdor I use a cople of tupperware sandwich containers. I cut the middle out of the lid (leaving the lip) and sandwich a piece of fiberglass window screen in there. Have two with appx 3/4lb in a 150qt cooler and it stays rock solid at 65%....In my daily dor (one of those Thompson 5 drawer deals) I just lined one side of a drawer with tinfoil and filled that with appx 1/4lb beads

sunivy

01-13-2005, 09:54 AM

I'm using a couple of different things. S/O will bring home one of those floral/scented things for your drawer from Victoria's Secret every so often and they package it up in a small drawstring mesh bag (looks very similar to the aqua bags above except it looks more like nylon/pantyhose and is colored). Lays nice and flat with good surface area. I've also taken an empty tube from a cigar (like a Boli or Punch tubo) and placed it inside part of a nylon/pantyhose, then placed the beads around the tube. The tube lets you pull the nylon/pantyhose a little tighter and the beads distribute pretty evenly around the outside of the tube (increases porosity as just a pantyhose bag seemed to bunch up the beads).

Jwrussell

01-13-2005, 11:38 AM

Hmmm...Beads are going to be replacing the humidifier that looks like the picture you posted Wasch, might just do the same thing...
Either that or I'll just fill a media bag or pantyhose with it and stuff it in the cedar container that is made for the humidifier.

Seriously, are you guys that afraid of walking into a store and buying a thing of hose? :lol: I've done it multiple times in my life, either for the SO, or when I was in ROTC for use in shining shoes.

Wasch_24

01-13-2005, 11:43 AM

Don't forget your days hittin' up the local stop'n'rob :smt071

Jwrussell

01-13-2005, 12:25 PM

Nah, I was in a higher class of robbers. I only ever used ski masks. :twisted:

mike toro

01-13-2005, 12:58 PM

panty hose. I heard of someone making tubes out of mosquito netting. but I don't know what that person was using for the caps on the ends.

I'm going the mosquito net route, simply because panty hose tends to stretch and ripe over time. After 3 months with six .25 lb. panty hose bags of beads, several have developed "runs" and whenever I move them the smaller beads pop out and make a mess.

I'm making tubes out of mosquito screen and am thinking of using old wine corks for the ends, attached with a healthy amount of silicone, but all said, another R&D trip to HD is needed. I want them very thin tubes (small in diameter), with great exposure, that run 14" long –– the depth of my wine-cooler.

When I get a final design and build a few I'll update.

xrundog

01-13-2005, 07:03 PM

I saw a post on CW where a fellow made a wood box to keep his beads in. It struck me that I can probably make a thin lid mount box of spanish cedar and some nice 1/8" plywood. Line it with some paint strainer material and voila! As little water as the beads take, I'll bet it never even touches the wood. And I can custom fit them to the humidor. I'll have to make one to test.

Jwrussell

01-14-2005, 09:25 AM

I saw that post from CW as well X, that's a nice lookin' box.

David

01-14-2005, 09:46 PM

I steal my wife's pantyhose.

Viper139

01-14-2005, 10:12 PM

I steal my wife's pantyhose.

Now that is dangerous!!!!!!

xrundog

01-17-2005, 01:44 PM

I had kind of a half-ass setup in my large glass-top using Nintendo cases. Yesterday I made this:

http://galleries.cigarweekly.com/xrundog/Cedar-humi-bead-humidifier

It measures 6.5" X 2.75" X 1" thick. Almost 1/2 lb. of beads in there. I squirted two 3 ml syringes of distilled water in the holes in the back. The water never reached the wood. Paint strainer material keeps the beads in. I will have to see what happens over time of course. Very do-able for the home wood hobbyist.

Jwrussell

01-17-2005, 03:03 PM

That's cool, looks just about perfect for my glass top. Right now I'm using a few of the tubes (one from Viper and two old drymistat tubes) and everything else is in pantyhose.

smokinafuente

01-18-2005, 12:33 AM

In this humidor ....

http://galleries.cigarweekly.com/SmokinAFuente/2nd-Annual-Hurricane-Hurf/2nd_Annual_Hurricane_Hurf_057

.......I have two of the travel soap dishes (one for each side). There about $.50 each and all I had to do was drill about 8 holes in each lid. Each dish holds about 1/4 lb of 65% beads. Here are some pics.

http://galleries.cigarweekly.com/SmokinAFuente/2nd-Annual-Hurricane-Hurf/humidorBeads_001

http://galleries.cigarweekly.com/SmokinAFuente/2nd-Annual-Hurricane-Hurf/humidorBeads_010

Jwrussell

01-18-2005, 08:23 AM

chinaboy

01-18-2005, 08:35 PM

i took out the humidifer. put a ziplock bag as lining for the wooden holder. put the beads in there.
http://www.tdotaquaria.ca/uploads/humidor 002.jpg

Jwrussell

01-18-2005, 09:33 PM

Can't see the front clearly, but that looks exactly like the humi I have Mike. Does it have two stripes down the front? Actually, yours looks somewhat deeper than mine.

I think I like your idea better than the panty hose full of beads I currently have stuffed in my holder. I might just try to find something to line that holder with though...we'll see...

chinaboy

01-18-2005, 11:28 PM

hehehe, my humidor is a samsador.
http://www.tdotaquaria.ca/uploads/cigar001.jpg

smokinafuente

01-19-2005, 01:44 AM

Very nice! I love that humidor. I hadn't even thought of this and I even have a spare soap container just sitting around that I bought for use with floral foam and never used. By the way, I like what you've stocked that door with!:smt007

Thanks man! I won the humidor and the box of the Sambas in the 1st pic at the "2nd Annual Hurricane Hurf" in Sep.

schuellk

01-31-2005, 09:35 PM

I've used the small project boxes from Radio Shack, but the travel soap dishes are great too!

Viper139

01-31-2005, 10:42 PM

I have 2 different containers in the works. I will post the info here as soon as they are done.

Jwrussell

02-01-2005, 12:02 PM

Awww crap, something else to buy from Viper! ;)

I went with the travel soap container with holes drilled in it, but I'd be interested in seeing what you have coming out. I'd like something a little nicer looking.

Rush

02-03-2005, 01:09 PM

Hmm, I never thought to use this as a container....In theory it's not a bad idea at all. How long have to you had it like this and have you noticed any additional maintanence needs etc over the normal occassional bead touch up etc. Bottom line, how is it working so far?:smt025
I also convert my floral foam humidifiers into bead boxes with the pantyhose. They work FANTASTIC!

I also use my empty coffin boxes without the lids. Those work good too.

Rush

02-03-2005, 02:14 PM

I have 2 different containers in the works. I will post the info here as soon as they are done.
I look forward to seeing them - I'm hoping you'll have a drop-in, turn-key replacement for the rectangular black plastic humidifiers that are so popular as most humidors have a special place or two for those units. . .

Jwrussell

02-03-2005, 02:22 PM

I'm hoping you'll have a drop-in, turn-key replacement

:lol:

You don't work in the electronics industry do you Rush?

scottsins

02-03-2005, 09:52 PM

my pantyhose problem is this:

when I put a tsp. of dist water in the pouch, there's always a little hissing, etc, which I know is from bead cracking, etc.

For some reason, i guess from this repeated process, the panty hose lets some dust out in the humi. No big deal, but if you blow on it to get it out of the bottom corner, make sure and close your eyes first.

Viper139

02-03-2005, 10:03 PM

I look forward to seeing them - I'm hoping you'll have a drop-in, turn-key replacement for the rectangular black plastic humidifiers that are so popular as most humidors have a special place or two for those units. . .

That is one of 'em.

Viper139

02-03-2005, 10:05 PM

When you apply the distilled water use a spray bottle, get it at any supermarket, and spray the beads instead. They will fracture much less if at all.

Cyclone

02-21-2005, 04:34 PM

I've decided to make my bead container out of an old Padron 3000 box. Looks classier that way...

I will be cutting as many holes as possible in the lid and the mesh will be speaker grille material (my bro'-in-law has a custom car audio business).

I have a pound of Viper's bead in my Wine Coolador and they work great.

cheers,

Rudy

Wasch_24

02-21-2005, 07:04 PM

That will probably work great.

gvlagos

02-22-2005, 04:05 PM

question...if these the beads are "wet"...and they are in pantyhose, doesn't this make whatever the pantyhose are sitting on moist or damp or wet???
-George

David

02-22-2005, 04:38 PM

question...if these the beads are "wet"...and they are in pantyhose, doesn't this make whatever the pantyhose are sitting on moist or damp or wet???
-George

If that happens, you have definitely added too much water!

gvlagos

02-22-2005, 05:26 PM

If that happens, you have definitely added too much water!

thanks for the reply...i currently use something that i think is like the beads....it is some gel stuff that came in a little cup-like container...i just popped the cap and put some water in there...i've had it for over a year and it still holds perfect humidity...and it was CHEAP! here is what i have http://www.bargainhumidors.com/bh/itemdetail.asp?SKU=ACC-CIGEL

It's tiny too!! Seems pointless to me to use anything other than this stuff!!

-George

Jwrussell

02-23-2005, 08:21 AM

The Gel works well too, but I've not seen it in a 65% format. I like the beads for that reason, and also that they are more a solid than the gel. I have more options in how I keep the beads than I do the gel.