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How to Make Your Own Humidor From a Plastic Airtight Container

Humidors are a type of box or container made specifically to maintain a constant humidity. The more complex humidors also feature temperature controls. The ability to maintain humidity and temperature make humidors an excellent place to store and preserve cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobacco. These products last longer when stored in areas that closely resemble the growing environment of the ingredients. Humidors are typically made of wood, but inexpensive humidors can be made from a plastic, airtight container with very few modifications.

Things You'll Need

X-Acto knife
Clear vinyl
Duct tape
Combination hygrometer/thermometer
Screwdriver
Humidifier

Instructions

- 1
  Place the lid on the airtight plastic container and make sure that the seal fits snugly on all of the sides and corners. Seal the lid completely, and then gently lift up one corner while pushing slightly in the middle of the lid. Allow a small amount of air to escape. This may cause a small "burping" sound. If the container doesn't seal properly, choose another container and repeat the process.
- 2
  Wash the container inside and out until all manufacturing and material odors are removed. This may take several washing cycles.
- 3
  Cut a small square in the lid of the container using the X-Acto knife. Cut a piece of clear vinyl that's 1 inch larger than the hole in both length and width. Tape the edges of the vinyl square over the square in the lid with the duct tape. The vinyl should be taped on the underside of the lid.
- 4
  Remove the clip from the hygrometer/thermometer by removing the screws with a screwdriver. Tape the hygrometer/thermometer to the underside of the lid so that the display can be seen through the hole in the lid.
- 5
  Fill the humidifier with water according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Place the humidifier in the bottom of your container. Place the cigar box in the container. Seal the lid on the container and monitor the display on the hygrometer/thermometer until it displays a humidity rating of 70 percent. Add or remove water from the humidifier as needed to reach this rating.
- 6
  Place cigars in the box and re-seal lid. Monitor the reading often and adjust the location of the box and the amount of water in the humidifier to maintain a proper environment.

Cigar Collecting