Tiny wineador questions

Hi guys, I have a small 6 bottle wine cooler that is no longer cutting it for wine. The board went and I replaced it about a year ago but the new board wont keep the cooler down to 45 where it needs to be for wine. It will however hold pretty well at the max 65 degrees which seems pretty convenient for me! I have read all the wineador threads I could find on the site but still have a few questions I couldn't find or couldn't find out why it needs to be that way?

http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3vbi7uug.jpg

Any way the few questions I have are, do I plug the drain hole in the back? In the few years I have had it there is no water in the tray so I assume it is ok to plug it? I also assume that helps lock in the correct humidity better.

Second, given it is so small I am open to suggestions on how to configure the inside. The metal racks inside are 7.25 wide by 12 long. Looking at the prebuilt trays some are 12 by 7 to be put in length wise compared to mine I think? How do those trays go in, on dowels and if so could I even turn them sideways to fit in mine lengthwise?

Maybe I dont even really have room for them and I should just keep the metal racks and get some empty cigar boxes? Try to stay as cheap as possible since I dont really know how long it will really last before I move up tom something bigger.

If the fan does quit completely, if I have it in a closet and it ebbs and flows like my desktop humidor to the temperature is it worth keeping? Or just toss it and get a coolador at that point?

Also given the size how what would be the most economical way to keep the humidity? Broveda or something else? All the wineadors I see are pretty large and I see multiple sources of humidity.

Sorry if these are noob questions and can be found someplace else and maybe I am putting to much thought into this but thought I would ask. I def wouldnt go out and buy one this size but free seems pretty good to hold an extra 100 sticks maybe?

This is what I would do if you had air conditioned home. Plug drain hole, slap some boveda packs in it, leave un-plugged, and keep it out of the sun. I have a 16 bottle wine cooler with about 10 boveda 65 packs. It holds 5 cedar trays, and 3 boxes of cigars. It stays un-plugged in a closet and sits rock solid at 65/65. It has been rock solid for 6 months and boveda packs feel as good as day 1. In terms of the metal shelves, I would pull them out and use old cedar cigar boxes as shelf material.

Good luck!

Thanks @Horseshoe but I have the one remaining house in NY without AC. Does that change what you said about leaving it plugged in and up?

So maybe 4 or 5 packs would do in a 6 bottle then?

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Originally Posted by restomod

Thanks @Horseshoe but I have the one remaining house in NY without AC. Does that change what you said about leaving it plugged in and up?

So maybe 4 or 5 packs would do in a 6 bottle then?

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You can try plugging it in and see how much moisture it pulls from the packs. 1 large pack is designed for 25 sticks. I go 20 sticks to 1 pack and add some gel black ice pies to over humidify and force the boveda to pull the extra rH. Put your hygrometer and a couple packs, plug it in, and see what happens. If it holds for a week, use it. Heck it may work just fine. Still plug the drain hole.

Boveda and / or beads will do fine for the humidity control. I have one unplugged in my basement which never gets warm even without a/c and it holds fine. As Horseshoe said - the trays are nice or use old cigar boxes. For shelves you can buy some Spanish cedar planks, cut them to the width or the wineador and they will slide right in. I have bought them on ebay from Gym_Bob_in_Maine - he's a great seller and will probably even pre-cut them for you if you ask and send measurements.
Congrats on the upgrade Kevin - look like we're going to need to fill that sucker up now........

I went to school in Ithaca, so I think I know the climate pretty well.

It's really only warm enough to matter for a couple of months in the summer. Small, gradual temperature changes aren't too bad, you just want to avoid rapid ones, as those can stress out the wrappers.

I think the wire shelves should be okay, because you can always remove them if you find cigar boxes that are the right size. You could also break some down and lay the pieces on top of the wire shelves.

It should work, because they're designed to hold a temperature and be airtight.

At you local B and M they will give you old cigar boxes. I grabbed some of the bigger ones and cut them to size. I used these in a small wine cooler as shelves for some time now. I am currently working on my 281 build

Thanks guys, I will plug the hole and get some supplies. I will try it plugged in and if that doesn't work just put it in the basement unplugged and see how it goes. Local B&M is a long ways away but I will need to plan a trip, haven't bought much there so I don't know what they do with their boxes but will give it a shot. I think that is my best way to go, keep the wire racks for now and get boxes. Not like I am starting out with a ton of sticks and have to fill it immediately, what I have now fits in my desktop so this will be for future expansion.

Slowly but surely Tony I will get it filled up I hope.

They sell boxes at my B&M for a couple of bucks each.

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Originally Posted by Zeede

They sell boxes at my B&M for a couple of bucks each.

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Thanks!