Things You'll Need
Instructions
Choose a size. Humidors come in a variety of sizes that range from those that contain only a few cigars, for a night out, or a weekend, to those the size of a bookshelf, that potentially contain thousands of cigars. Many cigar lovers use humidors that contain 20-500 cigars, and that will be the bulk of what is discussed here. A 20-100 cigar humidor is usually referred to as a desktop humidor and is usually around 12 inches wide, 10 inches deep and, depending on capacity, from 3 to 7 inches in height. Humidors with a capacity of 200-500 cigars are referred to as footlocker humidors. These sit on the floor and are about 20 inches wide, 12 inches deep and 18 inches high, which varies slightly depending on manufacturer and exact capacity.
Decide how many cigars you will want to keep at home. Choose a humidor that will house a limit of at least 50 percent more than you plan on keeping because your collection will surely grow and because it's always a good idea to have some extra room in your humidor to allow air to circulate.
Choose controls. Regardless of size or style, it is vital that your humidor contain a humidifying element and a hydrometer. A hydrometer measures the humidity in your humidor. While most quality humidors come with quality controls, it is entirely possible that you may have a quality humidor and inferior controls. An inferior analog (dial) hydrometer will be gold colored plastic to resemble brass. These are usually inaccurate. A quality hydrometer will have a metal construction, usually of brass and will be much heavier in your hand that the same sized one made of plastic. Additionally, digital hydrometers, while plastic, give the best accuracy. If you find a humidor you like but it comes with a plastic dial hydrometer, ask the dealer to upgrade it to a digital model.
Humidifying elements are simple vented plastic boxes containing floral foam and there is little difference between them.
Consult your humidor dealer to make sure you have a humidifier which will reliably maintain a humidity of 65 percent to 70 percent humidity and also contain a hydrometer which will give you accurate readings.
Choose a quality. Regardless of quality, all humidors are basically wooden boxes made from, or lined with Spanish cedar. The quality comes from how well they're put together, the quality of their hinges and how well their lids fit.
You can get home humidors for as little as $20 for small models and as much as several thousand dollars for a very large model which will resemble a bookshelf with doors on it. As of June 2010, you should pay between $85 and $125 for a large desktop or a footlocker humidor as that price will get you a good quality and ensure that your humidor is large enough to allow your collection to grow as your interest grows.
Regardless of size, inexpensive humidors can often be obtained as "deals" from your local cigar dealer and will make a good starter humidor. These humidors usually consist of simple wooden boxes laminated on the outside with cigar-related graphics with a clear coating over them creating the impression of quality.
More discriminating consumers should look for humidors created entirely from wood carefully crafted from inlaid pieces of wood in elaborate patterns. This level of craftsmanship will indicate that great care went into the assembly of this humidor and serve as an excellent indicator of quality.
A quality humidor will keep air from escaping, thereby keeping humidity inside. Test this quality by standing in front of the humidor and allowing the lid to slam shut. If you can feel a breeze puff out of the humidor as the lid closes, it will contain the humidity without allowing it to escape.
Because your humidor will experience repeated openings of its lid, you will need to make sure it has strong hinges. The best hinges are piano-style hinges that run the entire length of the humidor rather than having one small hinge in each of the back corners.
Choose features. Most humidors, especially inexpensive ones, are nothing more than simple boxes lined with Spanish cedar and not much more. However, there are many nicer humidors that are much more sophisticated and designed for the discriminating smoker. These are made with multiple compartments and trays, which can be lifted out. These more expensive humidors will help you divide, separate, and rearrange your cigars if you choose.
Full boxes can be kept in the bottom of larger, foot-locker size humidors, while individual cigars can be kept in shallow cedar trays which sit on top.
Choose a design. Even though there are many more important factors than appearance in selecting a humidor, most people enjoy displaying their humidors and, therefore, would like on that goes with their home or office decor.
Cigar manufacturers market a great many humidors with their own logo on the lid. While these "marketing" humidors are designed to remind you to buy their products, they, very often, are very good humidors. If you don't mind having a particular cigar company logo on your humidor, these are a very good option.
Outside of these marketing-style humidors, humidors are available in a variety of styles. They can be obtained with elaborate designs on them such as world maps, cigar leaves, elaborate wood inlays or any other of a variety of designs and colors. The outside design of the humidor has no effect on the humidor's function. It is only meant to please you, the collector.