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FEATURED ARTICLES
Cigar FAQ
Some Cigar Basics
Bands On or Off?
Nip the Tip
Properly Aging Cigars
Intricacies of the Humidor
Cigars in the Phillipines
Creating a Cigar Dossier
Making a Cooler-Dor
Tobacco Beetles
Cigars and Alcohol
Growing and Harvesting
Connecticut Shade Wrappers
Back to Basics
Salt Test
Hecho A Mano?
Microwave: The Anti-Beetle
The Origin of Bundles
Unlocking The Mystery I
Unlocking The Mystery II
Flight to Quality: Trends
Cigar Rolling Process
Mark Twain on Cigars
Cuban Cigars: Legend Relived
Blending In
Stale and More on Aging
Flavored Cigars
Decline of Cuban Cigars
PICTORIALS
Brothers In Arms
How to Roll a Cigar
RTDA 2002
RTDA 2003
RTDA 2004
RTDA 2005
RTDA 2006
RTDA 2007
IPCPR 2008
CIGAR 101
MAKING A COOLER-DOR

A Cooler-dor is an economical way to store a larger number of cigars in the perfect environment. Using materials that you may already have at home, you can create a "Cooler-Dor" very inexpensively. A Cooler-Dor allows you to add to your collection of fine cigars without worrying about running out of space. So, start that collection and turn all your friends green with envy.

HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT:

1. Buy a cooler - search for a bargain. Overpaying is a sin! A 56-quart cooler is the most popular choice. If you really want to go nuts (and why not?) go with a 150 quart cooler.

2. You'll need some Spanish cedar - you can buy it at some lumber stores that deal in hardwood or you can use strips from the inside of most cigar boxes. DO NOT BUY WHITE CEDAR. Only Spanish cedar will work! Or if you've been patiently saving those swatches of cedar that come inside boxes of cigars, now's your chance to finally use them.

3. Wash out the cooler with a mild detergent and water. Let it dry out with the lid open for several days. This gets rid of the plastic smell.

4. Get yourself either the foam that florists use (it MUST be the kind that holds water... there is another kind for dried flowers that repels water) or get a sponge (good idea to get one that has a microbial growth inhibitor in it). Put this in a Rubbermaid or Tupperware or other plastic container. Saturate it with a mixture of water and Propylene Glycol (PG) mixed 50/50. Place it in the 'dor and close the lid.

5. If you lined the cooler with Spanish cedar, take a clean cloth, moisten it with distilled water and then lightly rub the cedar with it. The cedar then will act as a reservoir for moisture.

6. At this point it would be wise, but not necessary, to add a hygrometer. This will display a read-out of the relative humidity inside your cooler-dor. A digital hygrometer will provide you with both the temperature and humidity.

7. Close the lid and allow relative humidity to rise to around 70%. Add boxes and place any loose cigars in old empty cigar boxes.

8. Don't worry when your new cooler-dor becomes too full for any more boxes, it's even easier to build your second one!