I pulled the trigger a couple weeks ago on a wineador build. I opted for the New Air 180E as the platform to build from since I felt it offered a lot of growth potential without taking up space I didn't have (the wife has been supportive on finding space for it though). Hate to say it but I probably could have done a 280 now that I know where its going. Oh well, more room for growth and another project down the road.
After some ordering some supplies here is where I stand with it...
- 1.5 #s of heartfelt 70% beads ordered and arrived.
- Two empty medium tubes for beads ordered and arrived.
- Boveda hygrometer calibration kit ordered and arrived.
- Xikar 833XI (rectangular) hygrometers ordered and arrived.
Since it all arrived while I was out of town it was all here for me to begin set up when I came home. This is a blessing as I am not normally a patient person.
- First order of business get the New Air out of the box and aired out. This only took a couple days with the cooler plugged in, door open and setting on my workbench in the garage. It was actually good after a day but I left it for one more just for good measure. I had the wife sniff it (I think she's part bloodhound) and she was good with it as well.
- I then divided the 1# bag of heads between two shallow tupperware dishes added distilled water per the recommendations and set them on the bottom.
- I inserted one hygrometers in the wineador so I had some idea of what was happening while the other one was placed in the calibration kit and left it for 24 hours (2/3% off). The next day i swapped them and the reading was way off but I had to head out of town for a couple more days so I just left it in there. When I got back and checked it today it was only 1% off. The second one took longer to get a good reading but in the end it got up to 74% (in the calibration kit). Not bad and I guess its acceptable BUT not for that money. I ranted in another thread about these and I have adjustable units ordered.
Ive not used the remaining 1/2# of beads yet. They are in the tubes and ready for use if needed. Maybe once I get drawers/shelves and cigars in there I may need them.
Today the whole kit was moved upstairs and placed at the bottom of the pantry (its new and approved home). I noticed a good amount of water build up at the bottom of the New Air so Im going to need to rig it up to drain into the tray like others have done. I saw that heartfelt has humidifying sheets. Maybe I could get one of those and just let it soak up the condensation. The good news is that the beads are keeping it at 70% and I have made arrangements to move forward.
More stuff ordered:
- Two round Hygrometers ordered from Boveda (these are adjustable) and I got two for the price of one Xikar.
- Four cedar trays from Cheaphumidors (plus a few sticks for tasting because one does not simply visit a cigar website without ordering cigars).
- I'm #1 on the December waiting list for a drawer/shelf set up from John. The wife is picking up the tab on these as part of my xmas gift (she really is awesome)!
Now all I have to do is wait for more stuff to show up, reroute that condensation into a dish and start filling this thing up.
Oh, I also need to figure out of Im going to go with a temp control system or not. I got a couple good recommendation on another thread but I also found this today and though its a bit more spend it seems to be plug and play. Check it out here: http://www.etcsupply.com/ranco-etc111000000-prewired-digital-temperature-controller-p-87.html
We all like pictures so heres a couple for you:
In its new home. The power cord will be secured out of the way later once I figure out what Im going to do for temperature regulation.
Full money shot here. I had that bog of La Glorias that were so dry they were falling apart so I tossed the sticks but kept the box. I put it in the cooler to help with RH and for a nice aroma.
After some ordering some supplies here is where I stand with it...
- 1.5 #s of heartfelt 70% beads ordered and arrived.
- Two empty medium tubes for beads ordered and arrived.
- Boveda hygrometer calibration kit ordered and arrived.
- Xikar 833XI (rectangular) hygrometers ordered and arrived.
Since it all arrived while I was out of town it was all here for me to begin set up when I came home. This is a blessing as I am not normally a patient person.
- First order of business get the New Air out of the box and aired out. This only took a couple days with the cooler plugged in, door open and setting on my workbench in the garage. It was actually good after a day but I left it for one more just for good measure. I had the wife sniff it (I think she's part bloodhound) and she was good with it as well.
- I then divided the 1# bag of heads between two shallow tupperware dishes added distilled water per the recommendations and set them on the bottom.
- I inserted one hygrometers in the wineador so I had some idea of what was happening while the other one was placed in the calibration kit and left it for 24 hours (2/3% off). The next day i swapped them and the reading was way off but I had to head out of town for a couple more days so I just left it in there. When I got back and checked it today it was only 1% off. The second one took longer to get a good reading but in the end it got up to 74% (in the calibration kit). Not bad and I guess its acceptable BUT not for that money. I ranted in another thread about these and I have adjustable units ordered.
Ive not used the remaining 1/2# of beads yet. They are in the tubes and ready for use if needed. Maybe once I get drawers/shelves and cigars in there I may need them.
Today the whole kit was moved upstairs and placed at the bottom of the pantry (its new and approved home). I noticed a good amount of water build up at the bottom of the New Air so Im going to need to rig it up to drain into the tray like others have done. I saw that heartfelt has humidifying sheets. Maybe I could get one of those and just let it soak up the condensation. The good news is that the beads are keeping it at 70% and I have made arrangements to move forward.
More stuff ordered:
- Two round Hygrometers ordered from Boveda (these are adjustable) and I got two for the price of one Xikar.
- Four cedar trays from Cheaphumidors (plus a few sticks for tasting because one does not simply visit a cigar website without ordering cigars).
- I'm #1 on the December waiting list for a drawer/shelf set up from John. The wife is picking up the tab on these as part of my xmas gift (she really is awesome)!
Now all I have to do is wait for more stuff to show up, reroute that condensation into a dish and start filling this thing up.
Oh, I also need to figure out of Im going to go with a temp control system or not. I got a couple good recommendation on another thread but I also found this today and though its a bit more spend it seems to be plug and play. Check it out here: http://www.etcsupply.com/ranco-etc111000000-prewired-digital-temperature-controller-p-87.html
We all like pictures so heres a couple for you:
In its new home. The power cord will be secured out of the way later once I figure out what Im going to do for temperature regulation.
Full money shot here. I had that bog of La Glorias that were so dry they were falling apart so I tossed the sticks but kept the box. I put it in the cooler to help with RH and for a nice aroma.