There are many styles of humidors ranging from the smallest travel humidor to the large cabinet and even room humidors. By far the most popular humidor is the glass top humidor, also known as a desktop humidor.
While many people will opt to purchase a ready-made humidor, for those who are more inclined, the art of making your own humidor can be a very appealing idea and grant bragging rights at the same time. By making their own humidor, the cigar aficionado can choose the materials, size, design, and specific humidor for their personal creation. The only limit is the imagination of the individual. Whether you choose to do a simple rectangular box design or you decide to go more elaborate, choosing to woodwork intricate designs, there is no wrong approach.
By doing a simple search for a humidor plan, you can find a wide variety of designs and plans, some free and others at very affordable prices. If you want, there are even plans online to make a humidor out of Tupperware®. Any humidor can be made, from the travel humidor to the glass top humidor to the cabinet humidor. The most important question to ask yourself is how much time and effort you want to invest in the finished product.
The main materials to start your own project include:
-Cherry or rosewood (for the external sides of the humidor)
-Spanish cedar (for interior finishing)
-Hinges (for the top)
-Hygrometer (externally mounted for monitoring)
-Humidify (to maintain humidity levels)
-Propylene glycol and distilled water (to maintain humidity levels)
– Weatherstrip material (to maintain a watertight seal)
The basic process for making a wooden humidor with the hygrometer and the mechanical humidifier is as follows:
-Cut the cherry wood to make a bottom, the four sides and the top
-Cut the Spanish cedar to fit inside the cherry and to use as internal lining
-Make a hole in the front wall of the humidor to receive the hygrometer
-Place weather stripping around the hole where the hygrometer will be inserted and mount the hygrometer
-Fix the walls and bottom of the humidor according to design. Usually with smaller boxes you can use plain wood glue with small nails for support.
-Insert the humidifier according to the instructions for the specific humidifier purchased
-Mount the lid hinges to the lid and then mount it to the rear wall of the humidor
-Place weather stripping along the edge of the humidor where the lid will sit
-Turn on the humidor and let it run for at least 24 hours to test the operation and ensure that the humidifier maintains an approximate 70% humidity level.
-After checking out, place your cigars in the humidor and enjoy
There are many variations of humidors, affected by taste, requirements, and available funds. However, the plan above outlines simple steps to build an effective humidor.
