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Old 12-18-2008, 07:29 AM   #1
Mad Dawg
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Closet conversions

Question for you guys who have converted closets into humidors: What have you used to cool the closet?

I'm pondering conversion of a workroom closet into a humidor....sort of. I won't have to worry about humidity control because I intend to store my coolers in the closet, and they do a great job of humidity control. I really only need to worry about temperature.

The cheapest solution I can envision is framing a small window A/C into the closet door, but I can't decide if that would vent too much heat into the workroom or if I'd have to worry about condensation.

Anyway, I'd appreciate hearing from you guys who've done something like this.
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Old 12-18-2008, 08:03 AM   #2
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Hey pm or call Rutkus (Brandon)....He did this very thing in his home office closet. Killer job. Heck he may have even put pix up on the site I don't remember though. Believe he used a vino temp or some other heat exchanger. No noticeable and or added heat are exhausted into his office, the unit is whisper quiet, it's small and looks great, and produces no condensation. If I were building inside this is what I would use.
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Old 12-18-2008, 10:04 AM   #3
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hey Doug, here are some pics of my conversion: pics

the pics aren't that great but they get the point across, i can take some additional ones if you would like.

i put 4 coats of an exterior grade latex paint on the inside, a threshold, and the unit that i use to cool it is a Koolspace Chillr: http://www.beveragefactory.com/wine/...olr_plus.shtml took about 2-3weeks after painting with a fan running to ensure that there was no detectable smell. it was nothing noxious, just damn sure didn't want to taint any of my smokes

that i got off ebay, for like $200!, I had been searching for one for a couple of months and finally someone put up a new one from their own home wine cellar build that they didn't use. i snagged it for a steal IMHO.

For humidification I use an an Essick Air whole house humidifier, its a 5 gallon unit with a digital display, on the unit i keep it at 55%, which translates to the mid 60s in actual humidity. I was going to go with a Staebell modified unit with the habitat monitor but I was too cheap to do so. it has worked out for me, my temps and humidity are rock solid.

the tile i had put in when we built our house about 2 years ago, i had planned this to be my humidor so i also had them put in a 2 gang outlet as well.

the modular closet unit i just picked up at the closest home depot, found the studs screwed them in, good to go.

I piggy backed off of a friend of mine's custom humidor build and the guy made some solid Spanish cedar shelves for the cost of the material. it was still pricey ~$400 but i love them.

I bought an oregon scientific 3 channel weather station :http://www2.oregonscientific.com/sho...scid=5&pid=671

along with 3 sensors, one for each shelf.

i stay at 65/65 and only have to fill my humidification unit about once a month. the wine cooler does not have condensation. it is super quiet as well.

my office circulates air back into the HVAC unit so any heat that is put into my office is sucked back in.

any info or pics you need lmk and i'll be happy to share.
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Last edited by rutkus; 12-18-2008 at 10:13 AM.
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Old 12-18-2008, 10:50 AM   #4
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Thanks, Brandon - that is a sweet conversion!

I stumbled across the Koolspace Koolr models (the Chillr models have been discontinued) on eBay yesterday. Problem is, the suckers run $400 for the 300 cubic foot model and $500 for the 600 cubic foot model.

The thing is, I don't even need humidification, just a way to keep a closet-sized space at 65-70 degrees through the Hosuton summer without running up a national-debt-sized electric bill...
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Old 12-18-2008, 11:48 AM   #5
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I hear you, my power bill went up like $5/month from what i could tell. honestly just being able to stand in a room to pick smokes is worth the price of admission. in the hot as hell summer we had, i was worried about temp fluctuations and it was solid. it didn't appear that there was any excess load on the cooling unit either.

the total project cost me less than another aristocrat would have lol.
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Last edited by rutkus; 12-18-2008 at 12:33 PM.
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Old 12-18-2008, 11:56 AM   #6
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Brandon,

so, this is the humidfication device?
http://picasaweb.google.com/bpinzon/...48374827460834

what is this?
http://picasaweb.google.com/bpinzon/...48392007330050

and is this the cooler?

http://picasaweb.google.com/bpinzon/...48443546937714

you mention, "the wine cooler does not have condensation. it is super quiet as well."

where is that?
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Old 12-19-2008, 05:12 PM   #7
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Damn. 16 48 qt. coolers. That's what I'm talking about. I have two and could use another... but if I wanna stay married I better not

The project looks very nice. Someday.
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Old 12-19-2008, 06:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ConMan View Post
Damn. 16 48 qt. coolers. That's what I'm talking about. I have two and could use another... but if I wanna stay married I better not

The project looks very nice. Someday.
I'm only up to about 8 coolers at the moment, but you gotta allow room for expansion!

This one won't have anything like the class that Brandon's walk-in does (or Mike's ), but it'll get the job done at a price that'll let me stay married.
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Old 12-19-2008, 06:36 PM   #9
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Can't wait to read all about it and see the pix ;o). Once you go down this path cigar buying will never be the same, muhahahahhahahaha!
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