How to Build a Humidor

A humidor is a storage box that keeps stored cigars at an ideal temperature and humidity similar to the tropical climate where the cigar was manufactured. A good do-it-yourself project is building a humidor. Here's how to build one to store your own cigars or to give as a cool gift.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Build the Humidor Box

1. Choose the wood for the humidor. The best choice and most traditional wood used to construct a cigar humidor is Spanish cedar. Make sure the cedar is kiln dried or sap will leak out of the wood and ruin the cigars.

2. Construct a box of 12-x-9-x-5-inches with internal dimensions of 10.5-x-7.5-x-3 5/8 inches. This humidor will store about 50 cigars. Use rabbet and groove joints.

3. Glue the box with waterproof glue and clamp together to dry.

4. Build the box in one piece and use a band saw to slice it open. This is a delicate procedure so be careful and use a 1/2-inch, 3-teeth-per-inch (TPI) blade with a very little set. Use masking tape to make a smooth cut.

5. Mount strong quadrant hinges to keep the heavy lid from going anywhere.

6. Spray the inside of the box and lid with flat lacquer to slow down moisture absorption, then line the box with 3/16-inch-thick pieces of Spanish cedar. Line all six sides inside the box.

7. Finish the outside of the box with several coats of lacquer, sanding between every 3 coats. After the last coat of lacquer has been applied, let it cure for one week. Then sand with 1000 grit paper and water, power-buff with auto glazing compounds and let dry another week. Finish by waxing the wood.

Add the Humidifier

8. Purchase a humidor humidifier and mount it in the center of the inside lid. A good humidifier can be purchased from the Beal Tool Company by calling [phone].

9. Season the humidor before placing cigars inside. This is done by placing a cup filled with wet paper towels in the closed humidor box. It will take several days to reach the optimum 70 percent moisture content.

10. Test the humidity of your humidor often by feeling the cigars. A good cigar should feel soft but not crunchy or spongy.

Tips & Warnings

• The joint around the edge of the lid and the lining around the bottom will establish how well the humidor will hold humidity after you build it. If you will be opening the box frequently, make the seal tight. If you will not be opening it very often, make the seal less tight.