Wanted: CURRENT Desktop Humidor Recommendations

[ronmart]

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

 

[Angry Bill]

If I was you, I would take the $200-300 you are going to spend on a nice desk top and invest that on an Avallo or build a great coolidor. You are going to need the room for the cigars that you will buy. In the long run, you will buy one or both in the End anyways.

This place has a habit of making buy more than we will ever smoke, lol.

 

[Smoqman]

^ heard it a thousand times and agree every time

 

[Sirspanksalot]

I'm working on a 48 quart coolidor myself. It'll be more than ample room for me...for now lol

 

[Master Shake]

I got a craftman's bench humidor from my fiancee about 5 years ago and she purchased it primarily based on looks. I've got to say that this is the finest desktop I have ever owed. The craftsmanship is impeccable and I've never had a problem with humidity fluctuations. Here is a link to their site: http://www.craftsmansbench.com/

Another solid humidor is Savoy. I don't personally have one, but I know someone who does and the craftmanship is excellent, though I would say some of their designs don't look as nice as some of the other stuff on the market. However, the price point is solid and is quite hard to argue with. Here's the link: http://www.ashtoncigar.com/Savoy-Humidors.jsp

I know there is plenty of cheaper stuff on the market, but to me (and judging by your post it matters to you as well) look is as important as function and I think some of the cheaper stuff will sometimes sacrifice both, but that's just one mans opinion and YMMV.

 

[jeffturneraz]

It's funny but desktops get treated like typewriters, around here. They look cool but functionally speaking, they are antiques.

 

[Master Shake]

If I was you, I would take the $200-300 you are going to spend on a nice desk top and invest that on an Avallo or build a great coolidor. You are going to need the room for the cigars that you will buy. In the long run, you will buy one or both in the End anyways.

This place has a habit of making buy more than we will ever smoke, lol.

This is unfortunately quite true. I never thought I would get carried away but when I started looking for my 4th desktop while already having tupperdor overage I knew it was time for a significant upgrade. I ended up going with an Aristocrat. Link here: http://www.aristocrathumidors.com/ I have nothing but good things to say about it, my only regret being that I didn't have more money available to go even bigger. It's furniture quality and I could put it anywhere in my house and display it with pride as it looks great. You can get a mini starting at $425 that'll hold 15ish boxes and and has a loose drawer that can hold 75ish singles if you pack them in there. You can make it slightly larger for an extra $100 to hold more boxes or add a second singles drawer if you want (I did, and because everyone on this site is a trigger happy jackass I'm glad I did...I have singles coming out of my f***ing ears now.) You can also add active humidification systems form their factory and I myself own a set and forget model and love it. However you can save money and just use kitty litter or beads on a smaller box if you wish. Having said that I've never heard anything but good things about the other major cabinet manufacturer: Avallo, and you can get their fantastic looking entry unit for $750 that comes with a highly rated active humidification system.

If you think that you'll be on this board or in this hobby for a while it might pay off to upgrade to a cabinet. If you are on the fence as to whether or not you'll need to go this route it might be wise to hold off on buying another desktop for now and just to see where your buying habits or desire to add to your collection takes you. If you notice yourself getting carried away (don't worry it happens to damn near all of us) then you can upgrade your storage situation to one that will fit your needs better without having previously wasted money on more desktop humidors that might just collect dust.

 

[AdamJoshua]

First, invest 6 bucks in some food grade silicone, one that is odorless, seal around the glass top (on the inside) just spread a nice bead of silicone and push it around the seam with your finger, you can also do the rest of the side joints whatever. It's worth a try and you might find that box isn't too bad with a little DIY. then spend the rest of the money on whatever.

Gel shouldn't make your sticks taste like anything, it's similar to the stuff in vaps that people smoke, it's not toxic etc,.

If you want I'd throw some beads in instead of you are worried about the gel.

 

[ItsBarbarino]

First, invest 6 bucks in some food grade silicone, one that is odorless, seal around the glass top (on the inside) just spread a nice bead of silicone and push it around the seam with your finger, you can also do the rest of the side joints whatever. It's worth a try and you might find that box isn't too bad with a little DIY. then spend the rest of the money on whatever.

Gel shouldn't make your sticks taste like anything, it's similar to the stuff in vaps that people smoke, it's not toxic etc,.

If you want I'd throw some beads in instead of you are worried about the gel.

+1, for starters. I had horrible humidity problems with the Xikar gel pucks once I got up to about 80 sticks, it just couldn't hold it anymore. I invested the pennies into some stockings and KL, and now I hold 64 with maintenance intervals being around once every 50 days or so.

If you're set on ditching the humi, I also agree with the wine cooler or upgrading in size with a cabinet. I started with a 30 count CAO humidor that I got for free with a box of CAO golds, moved up to a 100ct Montecristo branded one I got off eBay (which has been a great desktop), then added a tupperdor, now I'm looking at building a cabinet. Save yourself the trouble, invest the money and go big.

 

[ronmart]

I definitely want another decorative desktop. I appreciate those who offered some suggestions - more appreciated!

 

[rdomfoto]

I get what you're after Ron. I went the coolidor route after being here a few months and glad that I did. However, I now have this really great storage unit that works better than I could have hoped but isn't going to be sitting in our living room on display (my wife won't let me redecorate in a North Woods Camping theme). There are times when I want to have a nice looking, functional desktop humidor to store 20-30 sticks on display; especially when having friends over for dinner and I don't want to take anyone to my mess-o-rama that I call "the basement".

I'm saving up for the $5000 Elie Bleu desktop with a picture of Che on it because I love the irony! :rofl:

 

[H3rrington]

I had a gorgeous all glass tower humidor. With wood shelves that angled up to display my smokes.


And now I have this....

It's ugly. I won't be displaying it anytime soon. But I no longer have to check it everyday and worry about my precious sticks. And upgrading costs maybe fifteen bucks each time

 

[H3rrington]

And I know I'm not helping. I'm doing exactly what I hate. It's like me asking for a great diver for 500 bucks and everyone in the thread just telling me to buy a rolex. It's not helpful.


So I'm sorry for the thread derailment

 

[rdomfoto]

And I know I'm not helping. I'm doing exactly what I hate. It's like me asking for a great diver for 500 bucks and everyone in the thread just telling me to buy a rolex. It's not helpful.


So I'm sorry for the thread derailment

I wouldn't call it a derailment, brother - just another insight. When I joined here, only back in November I searched the forums for threads on good humidors since, somehow, I knew a 200 count humidor for $40 probably wasn't worth it. What I found were all these warnings about how getting into cigars was going to cause you to need more and more storage, so I moved to a larger Tupperdore and then, thanks to guys like you, I had to move to something larger.

So, yeah, we need to answer Ron's questions but, in the name of brotherhood, we should also prepare him for the inevitable.

BTW, I may have a solution for my need to have something decorative. Since I only want to have it out when people come over, I have a tall glass jar that seals really well that my wife picked up at Walmart for about $5. So I am going to try my hand at glass etching. If I can find a good design online or have an artist friend draw something, I'll try etching the jar.

 

[rdomfoto]

BTW Ron - how is the seal of the humidor itself? I know the glass is leaking like a sieve and air is probably coming out of the gap where the analog hygro is, but have you tried the paper test on the humi? Close it over a piece of paper and see if you can easily pull it out. If that seal is decent, then I'd definitely use the aquarium-grade sealant on the humi. Seal around the glass and then pop out the analog hygro. put some sealant on it and pop it back in.

You said you're willing to spend ±$200 but I am guessing that if you could get away with only spending $5-10, that would be your preferred route. Plus, you said you like the way it looks so if you can salvage it, why not.

 

[ronmart]

BTW Ron - how is the seal of the humidor itself? I know the glass is leaking like a sieve and air is probably coming out of the gap where the analog hygro is, but have you tried the paper test on the humi? Close it over a piece of paper and see if you can easily pull it out. If that seal is decent, then I'd definitely use the aquarium-grade sealant on the humi. Seal around the glass and then pop out the analog hygro. put some sealant on it and pop it back in.

You said you're willing to spend ±$200 but I am guessing that if you could get away with only spending $5-10, that would be your preferred route. Plus, you said you like the way it looks so if you can salvage it, why not.

The humidor seal is fantastic so I know it's the glass and analog gauge that are the culprits.

I'll try the cheap fixes suggested.

I enjoy displaying my favs, hence the question. If I were going to buy boxes (which I don't do), I'd go the coolerdor route.

I've got a nice mahogany desk set 5 pieces) that I got handed down from my dad. Today it would probably cost over $50k, so this is about decorating the desktop.

Personally I'm still at the phase where I enjoy leveraging my B&M's humidor (on a reservation Casino so no tax and near mail order prices) to let them deal with the hassle and just buy what I want one at a time.

 

[rraming]

Desktops are great - you can get carried away or keep it reasonable, your local B&M can be your humidor. I use desktops, have too many but that is not the point - ha!. You get what you pay for - a Savoy or Diamond crown both work terrific and I own both. The Savoy is in your price range, I would go to the X-large size it has a lock as well as holding 3-4 boxes of cigars. If you only want one desktop, buy a good one and it will last you the rest of your smoking days. I own a Salvador 250 as well, not as nice as the others, would not buy it again and would have been happier with another Diamond Crown. That's all my info but choose wisely not quickly!

 

[Wolf4birdie]

I have a couple cuban crafters humidors.. The quality is great!

 

[ronmart]

Desktops are great - you can get carried away or keep it reasonable, your local B&M can be your humidor. I use desktops, have too many but that is not the point - ha!. You get what you pay for - a Savoy or Diamond crown both work terrific and I own both. The Savoy is in your price range, I would go to the X-large size it has a lock as well as holding 3-4 boxes of cigars. If you only want one desktop, buy a good one and it will last you the rest of your smoking days. I own a Salvador 250 as well, not as nice as the others, would not buy it again and would have been happier with another Diamond Crown. That's all my info but choose wisely not quickly!

Where's a good place to buy the Savoy XL you suggest?

 

[ronmart]

I have a couple cuban crafters humidors.. The quality is great!

Do you have a link to what you've purchased? From what I'm seeing online they appear to be similar to what I already have.