Looks wise, I love my desktop humidor but I have to accept the reality that it's crap.
While I recognize any design with a glass viewing window is going to have shortcomings, I can't help but believe that there's stills some decent units out there for a reasonable price that can both look good as well as do an excellent job of holding the humidity level in my humidor.
Click here for my review of it, but the bottom line is that in Seattle this time of year - despite the rain outside - it's about 30% RH in my house, and with this humidor it's been tough to keep the humidity at 67% (anything higher is near impossible). While 67% should be good enough, I'm frustrated with a couple cigars having the wrapper have a pinky fingernail-sized part pop up, and some cigars just tasting sour despite spending a few months in the humidor at RH levels between 64% - 68%. It either has to be my humidor or perhaps the three Xikar 4oz Gel Jars potentially transferring some flavor to the cigars (which I thought wasn't possible).
I don't want a coolerdor, etc... - I'd really like a nice desktop humidor for under $200 if such a thing exists (would go slightly over if worth it). I wouldn't put more than 40 toro sized cigars (avg 54 ring gauge) in it, so it doesn't need to be huge. My current one claims 60 count but after the gel jars and boveda's it can only hold about 41.
FWIW, I'm using a Xikar Digital Round Hygrometer which appears to be accurate after calibration, and the crap analog one is just for show. I did season this humidor with distilled water several times before using it as well.
If you were in my shoes, what would you suggest? (links and pics appreciated)
Thanks
Ron
While I recognize any design with a glass viewing window is going to have shortcomings, I can't help but believe that there's stills some decent units out there for a reasonable price that can both look good as well as do an excellent job of holding the humidity level in my humidor.
Click here for my review of it, but the bottom line is that in Seattle this time of year - despite the rain outside - it's about 30% RH in my house, and with this humidor it's been tough to keep the humidity at 67% (anything higher is near impossible). While 67% should be good enough, I'm frustrated with a couple cigars having the wrapper have a pinky fingernail-sized part pop up, and some cigars just tasting sour despite spending a few months in the humidor at RH levels between 64% - 68%. It either has to be my humidor or perhaps the three Xikar 4oz Gel Jars potentially transferring some flavor to the cigars (which I thought wasn't possible).
I don't want a coolerdor, etc... - I'd really like a nice desktop humidor for under $200 if such a thing exists (would go slightly over if worth it). I wouldn't put more than 40 toro sized cigars (avg 54 ring gauge) in it, so it doesn't need to be huge. My current one claims 60 count but after the gel jars and boveda's it can only hold about 41.
FWIW, I'm using a Xikar Digital Round Hygrometer which appears to be accurate after calibration, and the crap analog one is just for show. I did season this humidor with distilled water several times before using it as well.
If you were in my shoes, what would you suggest? (links and pics appreciated)
Thanks
Ron