High Quality Small Desktop Humidors

[bigipps]

Originally Posted by Rob G

To be honest, you don't want solid wood. Aristocrats, with the exception of the doors, are not solid wood. Bob Staebell will tell you that MDF is far better for a humidor than solid wood, and high quality MDF is no cheaper than solid wood.



The life of a humidor is not an easy one. On the inside you must maintain 65% or higher RH. But the outside RH changes daily and seasonally. The contrast between the inside RH and the outside RH is not something that wood handles easily. That's why MDF is used. Because solid wood will warp under those conditions.

That's interesting. I would not have guessed that veneered MDF would be preferable to solid wood.

[macsauce13]

Originally Posted by jdouglas

go here: https://www.humidordiscount.com/

find the adorini travel humidor cedro. usually 122, currently 98.

its just what you described in the OP.

best regards, john

Thank you! I really like that one. Unfortunately my wife thinks it is too light. Still one of the best options I have seen. Much appreciated.

My wife reminded me of a site I mentioned several years back:
downeastboxes.com ---Looks pretty high quality but the prices have risen since I last looked.

[Smokestack Jack]

May I suggest something totally different than what you are looking for?

How about an Otter Box or some brand name version of one? I have a 40 count box that I use not only for trips, but for overstock also. I'm using it right now because my overstocked cooler is too full!

[Rob G]

I think Mac is looking for something presentable. Something that will look nice in any room. Coolers are hard to beat for storage, and a heck of a lot cheaper. But I'll take my Aristocrat over a cooler any day.

[macsauce13]

Originally Posted by Rob G

I think Mac is looking for something presentable. Something that will look nice in any room. Coolers are hard to beat for storage, and a heck of a lot cheaper. But I'll take my Aristocrat over a cooler any day.

Yep, I've gotten approval to display one in the living room if she gets approval of the box. Now to find the right one

[Rob G]

Originally Posted by macsauce13

Yep, I've gotten approval to display one in the living room if she gets approval of the box. Now to find the right one

There's your first mistake. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than approval.

[ElkTwin]

Elie Bleu!

[xrundog]

Wow! A thread that pushes most of my humidor buttons. The MDF vs. solid wood is an interesting argument. MDF might be more stable, but will a lot of these humidors be around in 100 years? Probably not. The MDF might last but the paper thin veneer or the crummy finish won't. It's true that solid wood can warp, but it really depends on the quality of the wood and the environment it's kept in. I have a solid walnut humidor I made 20 years ago and it still looks new. And a lot of the vintage humidors I've refurbished were still straight after 100 or so years. Most of the warped ones spent a lot of time in basements or attics.
Solid wood will cost more though. The materials alone will cost as much as a finished Chinese or Malaysian humidor.
For price vs. function the cheap MDF humidors are hard to beat. To my eye they are nowhere near as nice though. And they are always one good ding away from being ruined. Solid wood you rub a little stain and oil on it and call it character.

[Rob G]

Originally Posted by xrundog

Wow! A thread that pushes most of my humidor buttons. The MDF vs. solid wood is an interesting argument. MDF might be more stable, but will a lot of these humidors be around in 100 years? Probably not. The MDF might last but the paper thin veneer or the crummy finish won't. It's true that solid wood can warp, but it really depends on the quality of the wood and the environment it's kept in. I have a solid walnut humidor I made 20 years ago and it still looks new. And a lot of the vintage humidors I've refurbished were still straight after 100 or so years. Most of the warped ones spent a lot of time in basements or attics.
Solid wood will cost more though. The materials alone will cost as much as a finished Chinese or Malaysian humidor.
For price vs. function the cheap MDF humidors are hard to beat. To my eye they are nowhere near as nice though. And they are always one good ding away from being ruined. Solid wood you rub a little stain and oil on it and call it character.

My Aristocrat may not last 100 years, but neither will I, so I don't care.

Then again, it might. It's almost 12 years old and it looks the same as the day i bought it.

As for cost, high quality MDF can cost just as much, if not more, than solid wood. Just ask Bob Staebell, he'll tell ya.

[xrundog]

Aristocrats are nice. There are some craftsmen doing great stuff with modern materials.

But the good stuff isn't cheap. The cheap stuff is cheap.