Most new small humidors come with some type of humidification device but being that the humidity if the whole point of the humidor we are making an upgrade here. It is inexpensive and will make using your new humidor much easier.

Our new humidor came with a standard foam type humidifier but we picked up the superior Xikar Crystal 50. It is easier to maintain and is more reliable. We picked this one up from Little Anthony’s next to Moe’s downtown for about $13. Just make sure when you fill it you use distilled water.

Below is the humidifier that came with the humidor.

With our recent humidor purchase we also grabbed a new travel case. Previously found through Otter Box but now under separate management our new case is a Cigar Caddy 2-Stick hard travel case.

Here are a few of the specifics.

The Cigar Caddy and Cigar Humidor 2-Stick

• Crushproof, waterproof cigar travel case that can float.
• Keeps Cigars moist and fresh for weeks. It is airtight.
• Cigar travel humidor fits perfectly into a golf bag, glove compartment, or tackle box.
• Protect cigars to water depths of 100 feet guaranteed!

All Cigar Caddy cases are guaranteed to protect cigars to water depths of 100 feet.

Like we said before, we picked this one up with our  recent humidor purchace from cheaphumidors.com and we are really glad we did. The exact same one from cigarcaddy.com is $5 more. This is a great case for carrying a few sticks to the poker game because it is small enogh for a front pocket or for putting cigars in luggage and backpacks that would otherwise crush or bend them even in some leather cases.

We’ll do other post on setting up the humidor, seasoning, configuring the hygrometer, etc. later. Don’t worry it won’t be that hard. But first since we are going to have alot of pictures we are just going to have a post on unpacking our recent order from cheaphumidors.com.

Again as a reminder, Packing List:

25-50 Cigar Humidor (The Capri)
2 Cigar Travel Humidor (Cigar Caddy 3140)
HygroSet Round Digital Hygrometer (Adjustable)
Guillotine Cutter (Ring Gauges: Up to 54)

We placed our order with CheapHumidors.com on a Thursday and had it here by the following Monday. Had I ordered it on Wednesday I would have had it in by Friday. I did just the basic ground shipping so I thought as far as filling the order and shipping went it was a 10 out of 10.

Here’s a few un-boxing pics:

Now up until this point I was a tad worried that the other items I ordered may not have been shipped. It’s just that the packing was so tight and taped well that it didn’t appear it had ever been opened. However, indeed my additional items were shipped inside the humidor. Here are some pictures of the rest of the items.

We’re going to do separate post for each of the items in this purchase to highlight each one throughout the rest of the week.

We are going to show you the process from start to finish with a small entry level, affordable 25-50 humidor. It is ‘The Capri’ from cheaphumidors.com. We picked it up for just $21.99 with a $20 digital hygrometer upgrade. It comes with a humidifier but we are going to pick up a better one from Little Anthony’s that works much better (We’ll have a post for this later). The methods and things we will go through for this humidor will apply to any one you find around the same size. Here is a little information about the humidor we have ordered:

25-50 Cigar Humidor
The Capri
(item # HUM-25)

Features

* SureSeal™ Technology Standard
* Comes with Humidifier
* Scratch Resistant Felt Bottom
* Lined with Kiln Dried Spanish Cedar
* Solid Brass Quadrant-Hinges
* Beautiful Mahagony Finish
* Lifetime Warranty
* 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
* Setup Instructions

Dimensions: 10 1/4” W x 8 3/4” D x 4 1/4” H

As soon as it comes in we will document the process from unpacking to seasoning. Enjoy…

This article below from cheaphumidors.com will help anyone getting there first humidor or thinking about getting one ready to set it up.

When most people get their new humidor home, they are anxious to fill it up with their collection of smokes. If you do this without first re-humidifying the wood, you may ruin your cigars. Why? The wood has not had a chance to reach its equilibrium. So when you put your cigars in, the wood will absorb their moisture and you will be left with dry useless cigars. Not exactly the reason you bought a humidor, huh? To solve this problem, all humidors should be re-humidified before their first use.

Re-humidifying your humidor is easy, just follow these simple steps:

• Place a shallow container filled with distilled water in the humidor
• Place calibrated hygrometer inside humidor
• Charge your humidification device
• Place humidification device inside humidor

You have to check the relative humidity every day. Depending on a number of factors this can take a few days to a few weeks. When you get in the 70 range it is safe to store you smokes inside. As long as you constantly recharge your humidification device you will never have to wait to store your cigars again. I always suggest waiting at least 7-10 days, no matter what the hygrometer says before putting cigars in a new humidor.

There is nothing better than sitting at home with a fine cigar and some scotch. But what if you want the same pleasure while on the go? Bringing your prized cigars with you on business trips, outtings, meetings, or vacation is actually very simple if done correctly.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have the correct device to store your cigars. If you are going to be out for a few hours then you can use a simple leather cigar holder or Ziplock bag. If you plan on being out for a day or two then a device with a humidifier is prefered, and for a few weeks on the road, it is advised that you use a specially designed travel humidor that has been properly rehumidified.

After you get your storage device, choose the cigars that you want to bring along. It is best to take cigars that have already been stored in a humidor for a period of time as they will have stabalized at the perfect humidity. Make sure you bring only enough cigars for the excursion. You really want to avoid bringing any cigars back with you that you took from home. Not that they will go bad, but the likelyhood is higher than if you enjoy them while out. For example, it is not advised to bring 25 cigars if you are going to a wedding and plan on smoking 2 during the evening.

Now that you have the cigars you want to travel with, and they have been sitting in a proper humidor for some time, you can simply take your storage device and load it up. If you just got cigars from the tobacco shop, it is advised to leave them in the wrapper and place them in your travel case.

Remember always to close your case, tube, etc. when you are done with your cigar. This will help maintain the humidity and preserve your cigars longer. Also, try to not put the case in direct sunlight or any place where the heat will get extreme. It is best to carry the case with you at all times. As an example, bring it on the plane with you, rather than in the storage below.

SOURCE: CheapHumidors.com

In many ways, fine cigars are like wine, orchids or humans traveling in space. They are natural, organic and sensitive to their environment. They are the mature products of a carefully controlled combination of temperature and moisture.

The first thing to know is that cigars should stay in a humidor (the first syllable rhymes with “you,” as in the word “humid”) until they’re ready to be smoked. When necessary, you can get away with keeping properly humidified cigars in a sealed plastic bag with a small, damp paper towel for a day or so. But, if you want to become a true aficionado, a humidor is an essential piece of equipment.

A humidor is an elegantly simple device that keeps cigars at their best by maintaining them in conditions similar to those in which their tobacco grew, fermented and was rolled.

…read full articles of "Storing Cigars"

Preparing to smoke a cigar can be a wonderful experience in itself. You will be spending quality time with a quality product, and it will be to your benefit to reflect upon its creation before lighting up. Unlike cigarettes, you do not simply pull out a cigar, light the tip and start puffing. First of all, almost every premium cigar has a closed head that must be cut before you can begin to smoke. Also, you would do well to use something other than a paper match for your source of ignition. There are several ways to cut a cigar, the best being what suits the individual. However, there is only one way to effectively light a cigar.

CUTTING YOUR CIGAR
Watch the actors in old movies and you’ll see that there are a host of ways to open the closed end of a cigar before smoking it. Some characters used a pocket knife to cut a neat V-shaped notch. Others used horseshoe nails as piercers. Certain film stars in tough-guy roles bit off the end and spat it out. Some people today still use these methods but, for the most part, cutting cigars has become a bit less colorful, and a bit more elegant.

The better the cigars you smoke, the more attention you’ll want to pay to the cut. A bad cut will ruin a cigar.

…read full articles of "Cutting and Lighting"