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Last post 9 years ago by banderl. 31 replies replies.
Stinking humidor
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tonygraz Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 1:30 PM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
One that I bought on ebay has an unpleasant smell to it that hasn't seemed to be passed to the cigars that were in it. Any ideas other than gasoline and fire to make it inhabitable ?
DrafterX Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 1:37 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
throw one of those urinal cakes in there..... ThumpUp
delta1 Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 1:43 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,776
Try putting an open box of baking soda in it and let it sit for a couple of weeks. If there's still a smell, let it sit in the sun for a day or two. If the odors are gone, you have to re-humidify the box before loading it up.
Buckwheat Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 1:47 PM EST
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
DrafterX wrote:
throw one of those urinal cakes in there..... ThumpUp


Have you tried wiping the inside with distilled water and leaving it open for a while? If that doesn't work then I would leave it open outside in the sun for a while (at least 1/2 a day in full sunlight) as a last resort before pitching it.

Be careful using chemicals as that would probably just result in replacing one objectionable smell with another... or a urinal cake if you have one. Brick wall
cacman Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 1:54 PM EST
Joined: 07-03-2010
Posts: 12,216
delta1 wrote:
Try putting an open box of baking soda in it and let it sit for a couple of weeks. If there's still a smell, let it sit in the sun for a day or two. If the odors are gone, you have to re-humidify the box before loading it up.

Or fill it with kitty litter.
delta1 Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 2:10 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,776
^ d'oh! Shame on you
DrafterX Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 2:14 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
cacman wrote:
Or fill it with kitty litter.



then set it outside in the sun..?? Huh
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 2:26 PM EST
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
return it.
reckless Offline
#9 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 2:38 PM EST
Joined: 11-07-2013
Posts: 3,852
active charcoal or crumpled newspaper for a couple days
madspackler Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 3:01 PM EST
Joined: 03-07-2000
Posts: 3,608
reckless wrote:
active charcoal or crumpled newspaper for a couple days


+1 on the activated charcoal. Put it in for a week with the lid closed. If it still stinks after that, use it for firewood.
frankj1 Offline
#11 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 3:51 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
Thunder.Gerbil wrote:
return it.

seemed obvious
Abrignac Offline
#12 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 3:58 PM EST
Joined: 02-24-2012
Posts: 17,261
tonygraz wrote:
One that I bought on ebay has an unpleasant smell to it that hasn't seemed to be passed to the cigars that were in it. Any ideas other than gasoline and fire to make it inhabitable ?



It was prolly used to store Gurkha's. Retail price is $1999.95. They are on sale for $3.75. Throw it away and get a new one.
RodneyB Offline
#13 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 4:00 PM EST
Joined: 02-20-2013
Posts: 645
Put one of those pine tree air fresheners in it.
Philly Jack Offline
#14 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 4:23 PM EST
Joined: 08-31-2012
Posts: 1,791
Light sanding wipe with distilled water and vodka should kill any organism the lite sanding will freshen up the cedar just like a hope chest that sells of mothballs that will freshen it up right. then just season it good to go
wheelrite Offline
#15 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 4:28 PM EST
Joined: 11-01-2006
Posts: 50,119
tonygraz wrote:
One that I bought on ebay has an unpleasant smell to it that hasn't seemed to be passed to the cigars that were in it. Any ideas other than gasoline and fire to make it inhabitable ?


Does it smell like a Clam ?


wheel,
tonygraz Offline
#16 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 6:48 PM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
No clam smell, not used for Gurkhas. I'll try some of the suggestions and maybe even the urinal mint. Too late to send it back, bought it 3 years ago- looks great smells awful. Gonna be tough to use the vodka, but what the hell - one for me one for the wood.
CelticBomber Offline
#17 Posted: Fri, Sep 26 2014, 7:00 PM EST
Joined: 05-03-2012
Posts: 6,786
The same stink for 3 years? That thing is firewood.
KingoftheCove Offline
#18 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 10:24 AM EST
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,631
I'm confused Tony..............but that's normal these days.
So you HAVE been using this humi these past 3 years depite the "stink"?
If not, how long, and where, has it been "stored" closed and empty?
ZRX1200 Offline
#19 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 10:59 AM EST
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,580
Have you tried putting your weed in it?
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#20 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 10:59 AM EST
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
tonygraz wrote:
No clam smell, not used for Gurkhas. I'll try some of the suggestions and maybe even the urinal mint. Too late to send it back, bought it 3 years ago- looks great smells awful. Gonna be tough to use the vodka, but what the hell - one for me one for the wood.


Burn it.
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#21 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 11:01 AM EST
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
On a serious note, what type/how big is it? You could always use it to store accouterments like spare cutters, lighters, etc.
ZRX1200 Offline
#22 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 11:06 AM EST
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,580
Or you could take a steamer in it and send it to someone special.
cacman Offline
#23 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 11:21 AM EST
Joined: 07-03-2010
Posts: 12,216
cacman wrote:
Or fill it with kitty litter.

Seriously! Fill it to the brim and let it sit for a couple days. Allow the unscented kitty litter to come in contact with the wood and absorb any odors. KL is in fact made to absorb odors.
delta1 Offline
#24 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 2:13 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,776
I hear cacman (^) uses it to humidify his super premiums too...
tonygraz Offline
#25 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 7:14 PM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
It's supposedly a 300 ct. (actually holds 100-150) with 2 accessory drawers and I do store spare lighters, cutters and other accessories in those drawers. The orininal humidifiers started to get some growth on them a couple of years ago, so I replaced them and cleaned the area up. Last year I replaced those humidifiers with beads. Tomorrow it goes out in the sun, then a vodka bath, followed by a re-seasoning in a couple of days. If that doesn't work I'll try my aromatic pipe tobacco in it along with the accessories.
KingoftheCove Offline
#26 Posted: Sat, Sep 27 2014, 8:36 PM EST
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,631
If you really want to save it..................put 75 of your best cigars in it...................and send it to me.
I'll work on it for a few weeks (free of charge of course)................and then send you back your humi........................
tonygraz Offline
#27 Posted: Sun, Sep 28 2014, 6:43 PM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
After spending a day open on the deck, the smell is gone. Tomorrow or tuesday, I'm going to have a vodka party. Thanks for the good advice and the humor too.
cacman Offline
#28 Posted: Mon, Sep 29 2014, 10:09 AM EST
Joined: 07-03-2010
Posts: 12,216
tonygraz wrote:
After spending a day open on the deck, the smell is gone. Tomorrow or tuesday, I'm going to have a vodka party. Thanks for the good advice and the humor too.

Use 99% Isopropyl Alcohol instead of Vodka. The Isopropyl Alcohol will evaporate much faster than vodka ever will.
DO NOT WIPE YOUR HUMI DOWN WITH VODKA!!! Vodka contains a higher water content than Isopropyl Alcohol and could damage the veneers.

You drink the vodka comrade!
tonygraz Offline
#29 Posted: Tue, Sep 30 2014, 4:04 PM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
Sounds even better.
Philly Jack Offline
#30 Posted: Tue, Sep 30 2014, 6:14 PM EST
Joined: 08-31-2012
Posts: 1,791
cacman wrote:
Use 99% Isopropyl Alcohol instead of Vodka. The Isopropyl Alcohol will evaporate much faster than vodka ever will.
DO NOT WIPE YOUR HUMI DOWN WITH VODKA!!! Vodka contains a higher water content than Isopropyl Alcohol and could damage the veneers.

You drink the vodka comrade!

You mean that's not how you make a Dirty Martini
banderl Offline
#31 Posted: Tue, Sep 30 2014, 6:20 PM EST
Joined: 09-09-2008
Posts: 10,153
Watch it with any alcohol, if the finish is lacquer you'll end up stripping it.
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