Gents,

Wondering if you could help me out. I'm thinking about moving to a coolidor to centralize my cigars. I know there are a million threads out there on how to build a coolidor, and as I recall, it is more complicated than simply buying a big cooler. I used there search function, and there were too many hits to be useful. If you remember a good post on how to do this -- or even the poster who wrote it -- I would be grateful if you could top the thread, link to it, or just let me know the poster. I'm really looking for the most basic coolidor -- I am not handy at all. Thanks much.

Check the seal on the lid before purchasing. Thin strips of adhesive-backed rubber (used on roofs) can be used to help the seal.
The only hard part about setting-up a cooledor is getting rid of the plastic smell. Wash the interior with a baking-soida solution, then fill with crumpled newspaper for a day or so while airing it out.

That, and proper two way humidification like Heartfelt beads or Bovedas

You can use broken boxes to line the interior for that cedar look and proper aging...use Gorilla glue.

Also...plug the drain hole.

Thanks -- this is very helpful. What do you use to plug the drain hole?

Simply line the screw-on plug with a small piece of rubber and screwed it tightly on. If it seals water it will seal the air.
Cork or a rubber stopper from your home-brew supply store also works.

If you stand the cooeldor on end like a cabinet, position the drain hole at the bottom.

thanks. perfect.

Funny I never plugged the drain hole form the inside on any of my former coolers. Simply kept it plugged on the outside. Found handy to unplug every once in a while if the humidity was trending high. Nice easy way to stabilize it.

Depending on how you are going to setup and store I would highly recommend finding a shelf if possible. Some Igloo coolers still have this as an option. Not sure about others. IIRC there are some after market Spanish Cedar shelves available as well.

There is no reason to line the sides if the cigars are to be stored in their boxes. Just plug the drain hole with the caap that comes with the cooler. I have two enormous Coleman coolers from Walmart @ about $55-70 each iirc. Don't over-think this. A few boveda packs will suffice if the cigars are boxed and the lid fits well.

Oh my God. Do NOT use gorilla glue unless you want gorilla glue flavored cigars. Stay away from any adhesives. Just stuff it full of full boxes of cigars. That's plenty of Cedar.

+1

Wal-Mart usually keeps the 150 qt Coleman Extreme (personally have 4) for 60 to $70. wash and air it out, take a piece of paper to test the seal all around and you will find one with a better seal while shopping. Add some beads that are to your liking and add cigars, above folks are right about the cedar . Most boxes come lined or you can get the slip sheets between the layers in many boxes at your local for free, they usually but not always charge for the empty boxes. Acclimate with the beads of your choice and you are done.

Yes the Coleman still has the divider slots that can be used stood on end and a guy on the Puff forum makes custom shelves to fit, if you desire, I never bothered, I have too many boxes

# 5 jimbud...

To plug the drain hole.. ...

stick ur ****** in it.... LOL

#9 rfenst is CORRECT!!!
" DON'T OVER THINK THIS!!"

OLD COOLERS FROM YARD SALES CHEAP $$
ARE GREAT!!! get a good unused CLEAN ONE...
ALL the plastic oder/ gas is long gone...

I HAVE three or four 48 QUART RUBBERMAID COOLIDORS
ALMOST ALL OF THEM FULL....
RUBBERMAID USES REFRIGERATOR GRADE PLASTIC W/ ALMOST NO ODOR "GAS OFF" FROM THE PLASTIC...one or two are old colemans long sinced gased off.
also each coolidor has
/ FANCY museum BEADS in mesh socks that drawstring close...I also have those Cat Pearls in each one in the same bags...also a very small and cheap humidifier and a digital guage..
the museum beads works well releasing moisture in the winter and cat pearls suck it up in the summer.
ALSO: KEEP THEM ALL IN YOUR BASEMENT.

Mr. Jones is a cooler humper. I knew it.

😂

#14 sd72

LMAO!

U
****--er--U

Cbid roughins'....
I forgot...

There may be no reason, but it sure looks cool and doesn't hurt anything or the aroma.

Lined my cooler with cedar sleeves from cigar boxes. Used a carpet-style double-adhesive tape to "veneer" the interior. The thin cedar sleeves bend well around the curves of the cooler. Didn't want to use any type of glue due to worries about adding a chemical smell or any potential reaction with the cooler plastic. Used large 50ct RP Edge boxes for shelves and to line the interior lid. All acquired from my local B&M for only a few bucks.

What I do with my overflow coolerdor is just throw good smelling boxes and scrap cedar (like sheets, separators, etc...) in there.

I'm not worried about presentation with it.

What ! No coolador warming parties ?

There was absolutely NO odor to my coolidor at all using Gorilla Glue. It came recommended to me by a couple of local carpenter friends because it doesn't have an odor when it dries and it would bond well with wood to the plastic interior. I don't know maybe you just glued it, stuffed it full and then closed the lid...that's NOT the way I did mine. I had plenty of time and wasn't rushed. I didn't slather it on like mayo on a Turkey on rye either. Thin even coats and I made sure the glue was going to "marry" up to the cooler and not some blank space. It took a little time to get the cuts right but that's where having used boxes came in handy.

I have one cooleridor that I just leave the cigars in the boxes for aging and the other is lined like I detailed. Yeah, its more work than most would put into it but it was something I wanted to do for my singles...FWIW...it does a great job and that's why I recommended it.

You have to spend some time doing the dollar bill trick finding a cooler with a great seal. Oh, what's that? Don't use a dollar bill it might smell? Yeah...whatever. Don't freaking panic and cry like a little bitch. Place a dollar bill on the open ridge of the cooler...close it...if you can pull the dollar bill out with little to no effort...find another one until it's snug and offers resistance. What's that? You're not supposed to have a good seal either? Well, I don't know what these other people do but I don't have a basement here in Florida...my cooleridor stays at a consistent 65% and I don't soak the beads...lightly moisten them and run your finger through them or put the beads in a pair of panty hose...what's that...oh yeah...don't use them first like the crybabies...put the beads in them and moisten it with distilled water...DON'T SOAK IT! Put it in a container of your choosing...I use a Glad food container...what's that? Yeah it's **** safe. Don't put your sandwich in it or use it for anything else BUT your humidor.

If you want...because it's an investment you could slipline the lid ridge and make it a tighter seal...but I didn't do that...I just found one that already had a tight enough seal at the store when I bought it.

There was someone here that posted pics of theirs and they used that white wire closet shelving material to make dividing trays...it was a nice touch...looked great...I would rather buy another box of cigars than that though...that's just me. I guess, it really is up to you and what you want to do. It's yours...it's your cigars too. I can tell you that once I went to the cooleridor I got rid of the 10 humidors I had around the house. They're not the nicest to look at but I'm not fiddling around trying to get the humidity right in mine though...been there and done that.

Meh, smoke 'em if ya gots 'em. If you're worrying about it too much...let your wife build it.