lids open?

[grumpybaldy]

About to stock my coolidor. Does it matter if the lids of the individual cigar boxes are open or not? Also, can the boxes be stacked if necessary (so with lids shut), or is there a need for better air circulation than this would mean?

[TonyN]

Woulden't of thought it matters look at walk in humidors in tobacconist's.

[gojira]

Mine are closed.

[frrb]

Mine closed but with a matchstick (head removed) to prop the lid open slightly

[PeeJay]

Closed

[WDave40]

Closed for me. I think you'll have enough circulation if you've broken the seal to open and take a look

[smokey joe]

I store boxes closed but 1st I take out the little tack thats used to nail the lids down.

[Shaun]

The boxes are not airtight, sealed or not. With the lid closed air exchange will be slower and maybe the cigars will age better(and slower) if you believe that theory.

[grumpybaldy]

Thanks all.

[Simon Bolivar]

Not necessary to prop lids open with matchstick, as Shaun correctly says, boxes aren't airtight. To prove this, I bought a box that were still sealed from the '70's at auction. Now I am not recommending this & it's always going to be a gamble but when I opened them, they were in perfect condition & just the right humidity. If you have a nice display unit like Johnny Thunder, then having your current boxes open looks great & like you have your own cigar shop (I have seen some members collections which have more boxes than some shops!) but for aging purposes keep them closed. Open them occasionally to check for any possible mould or worse but close them again. Simple proof this is a good idea? My 70's box were amazing. Open a box or cab that has been closed for 3months & stick your nose in & inhale deeply (unlike the President). Wonderful! Now do the same to a box you have open for 3 months. Hmm. Keeping it closed concentrates the aromas. Whether the chemical magic that is going on in the aging process is much different I am not qualified to say but safe to say all the cabs & boxes in the Boli Cave are closed.
I know some members vacuum seal their boxes to slow down the aging process even more. The best I can think this achieves is that it might help you resist having the occasional smoke until you have decided to open them. But why would you want to slow the aging process down from say 5-10yrs to what??? If you have 5 boxes of ERDM DT's & you want them all to taste like they are 5yo then having some in vacuum sealed may in 7yrs time yours still taste like 5yo but are any of us going to actually tell the difference?
In the end it all comes down to preference & what works for you. I wouldn't vacuum seal personally, I like to inspect them & know they are OK. Besides I have aged boxes 10yrs+ so I know I can resist smoking them until I have finished the previous box.

[grumpybaldy]

Wise words. Thanks.