Few questions from a noob

[Tom Major]

As this is my first post here - hello all.

I smoke cigars for about two years now, but never got too serious about it - usually just bought what I wanted and smoked it without any storage etc.

Now things have changed a little. Few days ago I was given 4 Cohiba Siglo III from my workmate. Sticks bought in Cuba about 10 years ago. Here the problem starts, they all are very dry. I've seen some articles on how to revive them and will be doing so in few days, but I have no humidor at the moment, so would like to get one. My requirements are nothing special, just want simple box that will do it's job. Found this

http://www.mysmokingshop.co.uk/index2.php?mod=catviewind&idPrd=16354&np=Mysmokingshop%20Alsace%20Rawhide%20Cracked%20Leather%20Finish%2025%20Cigar%20Humidor

Will this be good enough?

I also have few R&J and Monte Christo in tubes. If I manage to bring Siglos back to life, is it good idea to keep them all in one place? I ask cause I'd like to get more into collecting them, so not sure if flavours will not mix too much? Of course I'd like to add some more and build up collection, not only of Cuban cigars.

I know these questions are probably very common, but just want to make sure I will not mess it up before I start . The most important thing - is the humidor ok?

And last question (for now) - anyone knows any good shops in Chesterfield or somewhere close? I've found only one, but selection is quite modest...

Cheers.
Tom

[PeeJay]

Welcome to the forum Tom, late bird or night worker?

Take it from me that humidor is way too small, just get a decent sized Tupperware box until you're sure you want to stick with us

As for the Siglos, put them in a small Tupperware with a small 65% Boveda pack and just leave them alone for a few months. They will come back to a smokeable state though may have lost some or all of their flavour.

[cigarmo]

If the siglos have been stored outside of a humi for 10 years, they are dead you can have some fun rehydrating them but will smoke like a roll of newspaper.

Welcome to the forum

[El Catador]

Hi Tom.. and welcome to the forum.

Excellent advice from PeeJay (as usual) especially regarding the size of humidor and using a Tupperware box.

Regarding the cohibas.. do you know how they've been stored?

Regards
El Cat

[Tom Major]

Thanks for the welcome folks

PeeJay - late bird, starting work at 6 am.

Way too small? I would think it's even more than I need now, after all I only got in total about 8-10 sticks, of which some will be smoked soon... Did you mean that collections tend to qrow quickly, or did you have something else in mind?

Cigarmo, even if they are, I think it might be good experience to try and rehydrate them . They are dry, but wrapper is not cracked on any of them and they don't look too bad to be honest...

Thanks for replies!

[Tom Major]

El Catador, thanks for joining in.

All I know is that friend bought them, then quit smoking and just kept them in some cabinet/closet. Would assume standard English house humidity.

Edit:

Apologies to Mods, expected that this post will be added automatically to my previous one...

[PeeJay]

8-10 sticks is almost half the capacity of that little humidor. Once you get into smoking you will probably be inflicted with TAD (tobacco aquisition disorder) which causes you to desire and buy more and more cigars. Then you will look at your little humidor and realise I was right. We've all done it I assure you, me included

[Tom Major]

I see . Will have a little more research then and instead of little humi will just get more sticks

[Streetfighter]

Hi tom major, welcome to the forum, great advice from [MENTION=13402615]PeeJay[/MENTION], regarding size of humidor double the size you think you need times it by 2 add 20 times this by 10 (you get what I mean) this hobby takes over... Enjoy the forum...

[Johnny Thunder]

As everyone else has said, I started a little over a year ago with a 50 count humidor.
I had outgrown it within three months. I now have a 100 count humidor, a large display cabinet and a scuba box.


Welcome to the forum.

[TonyN]

Take peejays advice like he said we all have made that same mistake myself included
get yourself a Tupperware to store your cigars in, if after a while this hobby fades away you are not left with an empty humidor collecting dust.
If like the rest of us members your bitten by the bug get yourself a decent humidor bigger than what you think you need.

[SHAMZ84]

Hi tom....welcome to the forum... These guys on here are great and full of advice.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Tom Major]

Once again thanks everyone for the welcome and good advice!

Took PeeJay's pointer and bought myself two airtight food containers. One will be used for restoration of my dead Siglos, the other for rest of stock.

Here got few more questions if you don't mind...

As much as I love Cuban cigars, I like to smoke often something little less interesting, like Chinchaleros etc. I guess it won't be shame to admit that I've tried some cheap sticks, and even like few of them. I tend to smoke few times a week, so quite often have some Perlas or Novillos. Should I get another container to store them, or is it good idea to keep them with Cubans?

What do you do with cedar lining from tubed sticks? Again - is it good idea to put them in the boxes with cigars? I know it will help to keep humidity level more constant, but what about mixing flavours?

Should I make few holes in containers, or just leave them and open every now and then, say - once a week?

When Boveda packs arrive - I am going to keep wrapped sticks in cellophane, but I guess tubes will need to go?

How do I prevent mould appearing in the boxes? Are packs safe to use without worrying about it damaging my sticks?

Sorry if these questions are plainly awful, but I've seen fairly few tips and they seem to contradict themselves.

All the best,
Tom

[TonyN]

Once again thanks everyone for the welcome and good advice!

Took PeeJay's pointer and bought myself two airtight food containers. One will be used for restoration of my dead Siglos, the other for rest of stock.

Here got few more questions if you don't mind...

As much as I love Cuban cigars, I like to smoke often something little less interesting, like Chinchaleros etc. I guess it won't be shame to admit that I've tried some cheap sticks, and even like few of them. I tend to smoke few times a week, so quite often have some Perlas or Novillos. Should I get another container to store them, or is it good idea to keep them with Cubans?

What do you do with cedar lining from tubed sticks? Again - is it good idea to put them in the boxes with cigars? I know it will help to keep humidity level more constant, but what about mixing flavours?

Should I make few holes in containers, or just leave them and open every now and then, say - once a week?

When Boveda packs arrive - I am going to keep wrapped sticks in cellophane, but I guess tubes will need to go?

How do I prevent mould appearing in the boxes? Are packs safe to use without worrying about it damaging my sticks?

Sorry if these questions are plainly awful, but I've seen fairly few tips and they seem to contradict themselves.

All the best,
Tom

In your shoes because I'm very fussy when it comes to cigars I'd get myself another container, cheap as chips to store your cheap cigars in.
The container you bought today I'd store my top end cigars in.
Cedar lining in your tubes I would leave the cigars in them the way you bought them and put them in with your top end Cuban cigars.
You must not put air holes in your plastic containers only open them if your taking a cigar out or checking your hygrometer to read humidity.
Mould will not appear by using boveda pouches they give humidity and obsorb it as well
place your boveda pouches on top of your cigars after taking them out of the plastic sleeves they come in they will not damage your cigars.
Hope the above answers all your questions if not keep asking away.

[Tom Major]

That answers a lot. Thank you Tony!