Stogie Tips: The Mighty “Fridgeadorâ€
30 Apr 2008
If you’re a serious cigar collector, there will come a time when your desktop humidor – no matter how large, how elegant, or how treasured – no longer fits the bill. Maybe you’ve run out of space and you’re tired of buying small humidors (or impressing Tupperware containers into service) to supplement your main unit. Or maybe, like me, you live in a region where spring and summer temperatures can easily crack the triple digits. In such cases, heat regulation inside a desktop box is a lost cause.
When you’re ready to make the leap to larger storage space and manageable temperatures, you have several options. The first, and perhaps the “best†choice, is to go with a temperature-controlled cabinet from a reputable company like Avallo or Staebell. These companies produce furniture-quality humidor-cabinets, with prices reflective of their luxury. If you’re rich enough to buy one, go for it. But if you’re not – and most of us probably fall into this latter category – you’ll need a more innovative solution: the “Fridgeador.â€
A fridgeador is a wine refrigerator slightly modified to store cigars. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t refrigerating cigars a bad idea? Under normal circumstances, absolutely; a conventional fridge will suck the moisture right out of your stogies. But most wine fridges use thermoelectric cooling, a process that will avoid such harmful side effects. If you’re buying a wine fridge for cigar-storage purposes, make sure to buy a thermoelectrically cooled model. Many enthusiasts swear by the cheap and reliable Vinotemp 28-Bottle Wine Refrigerator, which can be had over the internet for roughly $150 to $200.
Having ordered your wine fridge, next you’ll want to invest in some Spanish cedar planks for use as shelves. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find these at your local hardware outlet; otherwise, you can order some on sites like www.woodcraft.com. If you plan to use wood glue to fashion the planks into shelves, make sure to use a nontoxic, relatively odor-free variety. Remember: you don’t want to put any chemicals in your fridge that you wouldn’t feel comfortable smoking later on.
For humidification, you can go with active (Cigar Oasis, Hydra, etc.) or passive (beads, floral foam) methods. Personally speaking, I recommend several pounds of humidity beads from a company like Heartfelt. The beads are easy to use, low maintenance, and good at what they do: maintaining RH levels at anywhere from 65-70%, depending on your preference. Next, if you’re the micromanaging type, you can buy one or two small, battery-powered fans to help circulate the air inside the fridge. Oust-brand fans seem to be popular for this task, as they run on cycles and are not constantly operating.
Finally, you’ll want to plug the condensation drain at the bottom of your fridge; doing so well help prevent moisture loss when the cooler is in operation. Some condensation may develop along the back interior wall of the fridge. Be sure to place a small container of beads or foam at the bottom of the fridge to collect any water droplets that may form.
Assuming you go with a Vinotemp 28-bottle fridge, your finished fridgeador (including wood and beads) will run you about $300, give or take $100. That’s a mere fraction of the $2,500+ you’d spend on a fancy cabinet, and about the same price you’d pay for a large desktop humidor. If you ask me, it’s a steal.