James, sorry about your friend and the loss of your stash, this was just recently posted, and it couldn't have come at a better time for you

http://cigarobsession.com/2013/05/18...igar-coolidor/

Good luck man
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Man James sorry to hear that, Hang tough brother God never closes a door without opening a Window!
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I posted this a while back in the accessory forum:

Step 1: obtain cooler. 152quart Igloo can be had at Academy for $85

Step 2: Wipe down interior with rubbing alcohol, followed by a clean paper towel with distilled water.

Step 3: Let air dry 24 hours. Sunlight optional.

Step 4: Fill with cedar boxes (obtained from your local B&M or us). This will help with the plastic odor and help to aromatically season the box (worked for mine).

Step 5: Obtain humification beads. I'm a fan of Shilala Beads. Plus it's fun to say 5 times fast. ALWAYS buy more than the specs call for. If the calculations say buy 1 pound, buy 1.5.

Step 6: Obtain hygrometer. Calibrate it using these here instructions.

Step 7: Remove all boxes from cooler, place beads (65% recommended) and hygrometer in cooler.

Step 8: Close door.

Step 9: Leave door closed for a week. MINIMUM!

Step 10: After one week, open door to check hygrometer. You should be close to 65% if not right on it.

Step 11: Fill box with smokes...preferably in cedar boxes. Mainly because it smells amazing.

Step 12: Don't freak out if the hygrometer drops for a week. It will bounce back in time. If after a month, you find your readings are consistently low, follow the instructions sent with your beads to increase humidity.

Step 13: ???

Step 14: Profit!!
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In step 9, are you accomplishing anything here? You can't season or stabilize plastic to a specific humidity. The air, certainly, but as soon as you open it, you have disrupted that. If the cedar boxes are in the cooler, they would absorb a certain amount of humidity.
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Well a bit of an update. Some mis-information about his passing was spread. He did not die in the line of duty but rather very unforeseen I guess is how one might phrase it.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story...ugo-restaurant

Either way very tragic and sad. I won't keep going with the "feelings" component of the thread as this isn't Oprah but yesterday is lingering heavy.
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I was just following the directions that came with the beads. :-)
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Ha! Thanks for the link. I really do not like cigar video reviews but love Bryan. He cracks me up.
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Only way to go is up, brother. Hang in there.
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Ok either I'm just that freaking out of it or their webpage sucks. With the Heartfelt beads am I correct in assuming you activate them with distilled water? How much? Is the indicator that they are needing to be recharged coming from your hygro?

My brain is all over the map I don't even remember how to calculate the freaking cubic feet or inches of the damn cooler. This is further down the road as not one, not two but three sincere BOTL here at CA have all sent me offers to provide me a humi so no I'm more or less just info seeking. I dont have the sticks for one now anyways.
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I use HCM beads. No "refilling", no using distilled water.

Either those or Boveda packs would be the way to go for you. :-)
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http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/faq.asp

You choose the RH you want, say 65% beads, you spritz some until they turn clear and you are good to go.

Super easy. You don't need additional hygro's or anything. Just give them a spritz when your RH goes down or get on a schedule. You will quickly learn how your humi reacts as there are many variables that determine RH.
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Cooler is 24" long and 12" deep & 12" width.
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So almost 2 cubic feet and a half pound according to their page is good for 2.5 cubic feet at 65% RH. Being .5 more cubic feet would you drop to the 60% RH beads?
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http://cigarbeads.com/faq.aspx

There's a calculator on that page.

So you have 3456 cubic inches, or 2 cubic feet.

You would need .4 pounds or 6.4 ounces. I would say round up to 1 pound and you're good to go.
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Guessing that would take a butt load of packs and I'd rather invest in a solution that appears to be longer term than multiple bags every 2-3 months.Thanks for the input.
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I know lots of guys who use Boveda in their tupperware. FWIW, I was suggesting it because of the easy, no-thought aspect of them, considering your post saying you didn't want to have to worry about extra stuff like recharging.

Which is also why I mentioned HCM beads. Simpler than heartfelt, and do not wear out or need replacing. More expensive than heartfelt, but well worth the investment.

www.hcmbeads.com
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I appreciate that. I've gotten a few PMs about the HCM Beads since posting and read up on them and for a cooler they seem like the best option to me.

Thanks all for the input.
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