Help with Wineador build.

So i finally decided its time for me to start my wineador build. I decided to go with NewAir AW-281E. Figured i will regret going small at this point later on;). I seen a couple of threads on this but wanted to get some more clarification from some people who finished buildings these. so my questions are:

1. I know it will come with the plastic smell. What is the best way of getting rid of it.
2. Do i really need to make holes in the unit as i seen some other members done?
3. Do i need a drip pan?
4. This unit comes with metal/steel drawers, is it fine for them to stay for a while? (can't afford custom drawers yet)
5. Fan, is it necessary? If yes, i really don't want to screw with the unit as this all new to me. Any recomendations on a fan?

Any suggestions or recommendations are welcomed.

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/showth...or-Information

Heres a bunch of info and links

I think I can help here. I set up my NewAir AW-281E recently.

1. Plastic smell: Don’t rush it. First use Dawn dishwashing fluid to thoroughly clean it, then wipe it down with a mixture of baking soda and water. Let that dry overnight. It will take on a pasty white look. Wipe all of that out and let it dry. Then load it up with newspaper. Pack it in there. Let that go for a couple of days if you can. The carbon in the paper will absorb the smell. Do the baking soda thing again. I spent some time on this step since I wanted to be sure the smell was gone. Don’t put it in the sun to dry, that will warp the plastic – be patient.

2. The only hole you want to put in the unit is to widen the main drain hole in the back. This is a big step since it voids the warranty and you are doing some damage. It needs to be done, though, since you need to get some wires in there for active humidity if you are using that (Cigar Oasis) or for fans.

3. The drip pan is irrelevant. Since you should plug the hole in the back after you run the wires with tape or, as I recommend, with a glue gun, there is no way for water to drain anyway.

4. I used the wire trays with the unit until I was able to get my drawers built. They have wide spaces, so I took some string and closed up the spaces so my cigars wouldn’t fall through. Worked great and should work for an extended period until you can acquire the drawers.

Attachment 1340

5. I personally think fans are required. The unit didn’t seem to hold even close to the same humidity from the bottom to the top until I installed mine. I took a piece of cedar and mounted two 80 mm computer fans to it. I need to dig out the specs on those, but I found them at my local computer store. The main worry I had about the fans was the power source. I bought the following power adapter and wired it in parallel to the two fans: “PowerLine 90367 PowerLine 1300 mAh Universal Power Adapter with USB”. I found it on Amazon. It works great. I used a timer to run it for 5 minutes every hour. The rH is very consistent now.

I hope this helps. I was new to all of this when I started too, but I was able to get some great advice from fellow BOTLs. Ask any other questions you might have. It was really a fun project for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gordo1473

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/showth...or-Information

Heres a bunch of info and links

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Yay, someone is linking to that thread!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lapithicus

I think I can help here. I set up my NewAir AW-281E recently.

1. Plastic smell: Don’t rush it. First use Dawn dishwashing fluid to thoroughly clean it, then wipe it down with a mixture of baking soda and water. Let that dry overnight. It will take on a pasty white look. Wipe all of that out and let it dry. Then load it up with newspaper. Pack it in there. Let that go for a couple of days if you can. The carbon in the paper will absorb the smell. Do the baking soda thing again. I spent some time on this step since I wanted to be sure the smell was gone. Don’t put it in the sun to dry, that will warp the plastic – be patient.

2. The only hole you want to put in the unit is to widen the main drain hole in the back. This is a big step since it voids the warranty and you are doing some damage. It needs to be done, though, since you need to get some wires in there for active humidity if you are using that (Cigar Oasis) or for fans.

3. The drip pan is irrelevant. Since you should plug the hole in the back after you run the wires with tape or, as I recommend, with a glue gun, there is no way for water to drain anyway.

4. I used the wire trays with the unit until I was able to get my drawers built. They have wide spaces, so I took some string and closed up the spaces so my cigars wouldn’t fall through. Worked great and should work for an extended period until you can acquire the drawers.

Attachment 1340

5. I personally think fans are required. The unit didn’t seem to hold even close to the same humidity from the bottom to the top until I installed mine. I took a piece of cedar and mounted two 80 mm computer fans to it. I need to dig out the specs on those, but I found them at my local computer store. The main worry I had about the fans was the power source. I bought the following power adapter and wired it in parallel to the two fans: “PowerLine 90367 PowerLine 1300 mAh Universal Power Adapter with USB”. I found it on Amazon. It works great. I used a timer to run it for 5 minutes every hour. The rH is very consistent now.

I hope this helps. I was new to all of this when I started too, but I was able to get some great advice from fellow BOTLs. Ask any other questions you might have. It was really a fun project for me.

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Great information and easy to understand! Honestly would like to include this in the thread Gordo linked above!

Good luck with your build Alex, let us know how it goes and post pics!

For humidity control, I'm going to use Heartfelt beads. I have about 1lb and hoping that will be enough. @Lapithicus thanks a lot for the info. especially on how to clean the inside. I'm really trying to avoid in making any holes in the unit until the warranty runs out at least, just in case. I was thinking of using either battery fans or maybe a computer fan with ribbon cable. This way maybe i'll be able to sneak it through the door without compromising the seal.
@JollyRogers I will post pics as i start the process. If everything goes well, i will receive the wine fridge late next week.

my other question would be if you guys know of any computer fan that comes with a thin ribbon cable? I'm also trying to find a Oust fan.

So I finally got the unit at home and it's currently stuffed with news papers. But now a new question arises. The max temp on the unit is 66, is it possible to increase the thermostat to higher temperatures? Let's say I would want it to go up to 69 or 70 degrees.

My understanding is that a temp of 66 is fine, but you want your RH a little higher to compensate. Like 66 F / 73% RH.

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Originally Posted by NewYorker

So I finally got the unit at home and it's currently stuffed with news papers. But now a new question arises. The max temp on the unit is 66, is it possible to increase the thermostat to higher temperatures? Let's say I would want it to go up to 69 or 70 degrees.

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OK, you went there fast. You can't set the temperature higher than 66 degrees, but you can get a temperature controller that you can set the temperature you like on and it will power up the unit when it goes above that temperature, thereby cooling it back down. Then when it goes below your temp, it will shut the unit off. When the 281e starts up, though, it always starts at 54 degrees, so it will cool at that temperature until it gets back to your set temp. Saves on the run time of the wineador and theoretically the lifetime of the unit.

Here is a link to the one I bought for this purpose: Johnson-Controls-Digital-Thermostat-Control
You are getting in the advanced stuff, though (read: more $). Some B/SOTLs just put a cheap $5 timer on the unit and have it power up 5 minutes every hour and I hear that can be pretty consistent. Haven't tried that, though.

ok so tweaking the thermostat is starting to sound like a bigger project then i want to deal with at this time. I was hoping there was a quick fix with this.

I have had my Newair 280 for about a year now. One of the best purchases/investments I have ever made. Just to add to what has already been said...

1. I also did the baking soda/newspaper method and it completely removed all plastic odors in a few days.
2. I put electrical tape over the drain hole and have had no condensation issues at all since doing that.
3. I experimented with a fan at first and it did nothing to help even out RH in mine. It stays between 65-67 except for the bottom where it is closer to 60. That actually works out perfectly for me since I keep my cc's down there and want the RH to be lower anyway.
4. I went with the drawers as soon as I got it but I see no reason why the steel trays won't be fine for now.
5. I have about 5 lbs of beads distributed throughout and although some will say that is overkill I like it because the RH recovers very quickly even if I have the door open for a awhile

A word of caution...don't be too surprised if it fills up to capacity and you start contemplating building a 2nd one ;)

Being a fellow New Yorker, here's some information I have from running my wineador for about 2 years now:

1) baking soda / newspaper works, let that sit in there for at least a couple days, fight the urge to open the door to smell!!

2) The drain hole in my wineador has never been plugged or widened, it just sits as it did when I got the wineador. I've never once had any issues stablilizing my rH or temp.

3) The KEY to stable rH is to put at least double the amount of beads that is recommended for your sized cooler. Than split it in half, hydrate one of the containers, and let the other container just chill.

4) If you are putting any type of cedar shelves or boxes, remember, you need to season them just as you season a regular humidor. But it will take a lot longer than a regular humidor because of the volume.

unfortunately i don't have pics still at this stage. between work, wife, a new baby, and my dog, I'm finding hardly enough time to do anything. So this is the progress so far. I did the soap wash followed by washing down with baking soda. Once that dried and the inside had a white haze i stuffed it with news papers and that sat for 2 days. So tonight i finally had a little time and I removed the news papers and tried wiping the interior down. This one looks like it will take a few days. I think i used a lot to baking soda :) But the good thing is that there is absolutely no plastic smell what so ever. which I'm happy with results on. Will post more as i progress. Still considering if i need to add a fan as it seems 50/50 from what i have been hearing and reading and I'm still hoping for a quick fix to raising the highest temperature of the fridge from 66, but seems that will not be possible.

For next time, don't wipe down the interior with baking soda. All you need to do is leave a container of it open inside the cooler....

Why do you want anything above 66? That's just about purrrfect.

@CopGTP i assumed 68-70 was the magic temp.

So now i hit my second road block. I tried to calibrate my hygrometers and something is not working out. I first used two 69% boveda packs for a little over 12 hours and this is what i got. Attachment 1626 Now granted these were used and recharged boveda packs, but from what i have been reading this should not be a problem. So with the power of google i was able to find a very scientific test method with salt ;) 24 hours later this is what i have: Attachment 1627

So the big question is am i doing something wrong wit the test or are all hygrometers are out of whack. The Calib 4R is brand new that i just bought.

1 - The salt test isn't completely accurate...tough to get the mixture exactly dead on to get the 75%.
2 - Throw away those analog hygrometers as they are never accurate.
3 - I wouldn't trust a used and recharged boveda to calibrate a hygro...get a new one in the RH you will be keeping your wineador at.
4 - Even a brand new Caliber IV isn't necessarily dead on out of the box...you might need to adjust it per the instructions that come with it.

I have two Caliber IV's that were within 1% out of the box and would tend to trust that reading.

The salt test works if you get the water/salt ratio perfect and keep the volume of the baggie low, and doesn't if you don't.

My first attempt at recharging a Boveda didn't work very well, I think it overcharged, so I'd be skeptical of those being accurate also.

The analog hygrometer is just for looks, ignore it.

Since you have issues, I'd get a new Boveda calibration kit and calibrate to that.


Also, I wouldn't worry about adjusting the temp., 65-66 is fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NewYorker

@CopGTP i assumed 68-70 was the magic temp.

So now i hit my second road block. I tried to calibrate my hygrometers and something is not working out. I first used two 69% boveda packs for a little over 12 hours and this is what i got. Attachment 1626 Now granted these were used and recharged boveda packs, but from what i have been reading this should not be a problem. So with the power of google i was able to find a very scientific test method with salt ;) 24 hours later this is what i have: Attachment 1627

So the big question is am i doing something wrong wit the test or are all hygrometers are out of whack. The Calib 4R is brand new that i just bought.

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First let me say welcome to a fellow NY'er.

You have multiple questions and I will offer a couple things.

First, calibrating your Hygro's. Yes a salt test will work if everything is just right, the stars are aligned, and so on. It is much easier to do with a Boveda calibration kit.
It so happens, that I believe I still have a new one laying about in my cigar stuff. PM me your mailing addy and I would be happy to send it to you. Calibrating with a standard boveda pack, or mini pack in your case is ok, but will not be as accurate. The standard packs have a slight deviation of RH (I forget the specific Charlie told me), but the Calibration kit is less than 1% deviation, so the best to use.

The temp issue. The specific temp desired to store cigars long term is depending on user. Though I would not store my sticks in extreme cold or heat, the range of a NewAir is fine. My own is kept in 64-66 temp and 64-66 RH.

The drain hole of unit. Some folks swear by plugging, some by leaving as is. Their preference is of no concern in your case. Your ambient conditions is what matters. A fella with a newer house, central AC, and a household RH in the 40-50's is going to be much different than one with an older house and temp in the 70's with an RH of 10. So let your conditions dictate your needs. If your house is running less than 15% rh, you may want to consider plugging it up, or rerouting it to the bottom to a catch tray to avoid losing RH out the drain hole. Outright plugging it with no alternate route will end up with the possibility of condensate running down the inside back wall and forming a puddle in the bottom. Some folks never encounter problems, but if you have a sizable stash, why take the chance?

Fans question. If you are using the wire/metal shelves that came with unit, then fans not huge concern.
If you load it up with wooden drawers, you may want at least one for some air movement top to bottom, or vice versa. RH will rise to top of unit and with wooden drawers a deviation of up to 5% rh is likely without any fan at all.

Hope this helps, shoot me that addy if you would like to try the Boveda calibration kit. Its cheaper than buying one.

i decided to try the analog one for 1 reason. It previously came with my humidor and when i used Heartfield beads it would always be more or less on point. It was just that I'm getting some strange results with Boveda packs and as well with the salt test that i was hoping it would point me in the correct direction. @Trackmyer Thanks for the info and a generous offer. I was not really planing on plunging the whole but it did start crossing my mind. I am deathly afraid of condisentation and losing my sticks. They might not be much or great but they are mine.:stogie: I was going to try to run my wires for the fan through the drain whole in the event that the bigger consensus that one is needed. Thinking thats going to be some interesting time spent. I'm going to use the metal shelves for a little bit but as you mentioned i do have a few old boxes and cigar tray that I'm gonna use until i could get custom shelf and/or drawers. So as you can see I'm still undecided on the fan part.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NewYorker

i decided to try the analog one for 1 reason. It previously came with my humidor and when i used Heartfield beads it would always be more or less on point. It was just that I'm getting some strange results with Boveda packs and as well with the salt test that i was hoping it would point me in the correct direction. @Trackmyer Thanks for the info and a generous offer. I was not really planing on plunging the whole but it did start crossing my mind. I am deathly afraid of condisentation and losing my sticks. They might not be much or great but they are mine.:stogie: I was going to try to run my wires for the fan through the drain whole in the event that the bigger consensus that one is needed. Thinking thats going to be some interesting time spent. I'm going to use the metal shelves for a little bit but as you mentioned i do have a few old boxes and cigar tray that I'm gonna use until i could get custom shelf and/or drawers. So as you can see I'm still undecided on the fan part.

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When I first got my 281 in I used the metal shelves till I got in my custom ones from John.

I just used old boxes and I also picked up a few packs of Spanish cedar "pens" from amazon, just to add more cedar

http://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Cedar-...ish+cedar+pens

I picked up two packs and I still use them throughout my humidors/wineador for various reasons. I find them very handy to have around.

@NewYorker Boveda Calibration kit is en route.

USPS Tracking # 9114 9999 4431 4693 4740 53

I don't know, maybe I'm just lucky when it comes to my wineador, LOL. Seems like without fans or anything I get consistent temps and rh through the whole unit.

Do yourself a favor though, calibrate those hygrometers and see how your wineador stabilizes before spending time and money modifying and adding to your setup.

@Upstatemax thanks for the suggestion on "pens" i will definetly look in to that. @Trackmyer hey buddy thanks again for the gift. @CopGTP i was thinking the same thing. I wanted to season the shelf i bought on amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER first before really dabbing int fans and stuff, but at the same time i seen a lot of people go with fans from the begging or some time close after. So at this point its still undecided on this whole fan idea.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NewYorker

So I finally got the unit at home and it's currently stuffed with news papers. But now a new question arises. The max temp on the unit is 66, is it possible to increase the thermostat to higher temperatures? Let's say I would want it to go up to 69 or 70 degrees.

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Why would u go higher, 66 is the highest cigars should ever be.
I`ve been smoking 20 yrs, and I am still a newbie to this hobby.

But I know some guys who have really expensive collections worth
100,000 and up, temps are in the low 60s, as well as the RH, at all times.

this 70 70 notion is hogwash.

No one here can tell you where you should be at when it comes to temp and rh, IMHO. It all depends on your personal opinion!!!!

Only thing everyone here can agree on is that your temp/rh should both be anywhere between 60 and 70, bottom line.

Some people like their sticks a bit drier, some don't. Some enjoy the aging qualities of 70/70, some don't.

Try them all out!!! I went through quite a few different combinations before I realized that 65/65 are the numbers for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CopGTP

No one here can tell you where you should be at when it comes to temp and rh, IMHO. It all depends on your personal opinion!!!!

Only thing everyone here can agree on is that your temp/rh should both be anywhere between 60 and 70, bottom line.

Some people like their sticks a bit drier, some don't. Some enjoy the aging qualities of 70/70, some don't.

Try them all out!!! I went through quite a few different combinations before I realized that 65/65 are the numbers for me.

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I know what you mean and thats not where i was going. Im new to this hobby and wanted to see where others stand and what they think. Im currently at the suppose golden ratio of 70/70 and i think it works for me for now. Thats why i was hoping there was an easy way of raising the Temp on the unit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trackmyer

@NewYorker Boveda Calibration kit is en route.

USPS Tracking # 9114 9999 4431 4693 4740 53

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Ahw man. Thats all i can say. I came home after work and noticed something is different. My mail box it was, it was, destroyed. Out the ruble this is what i find. Attachment 1724

I was already grateful for the Boveda Kit that you sent me but there were more. There were the cigars. Thanks a lot brotha. I had the Undercown and loved it, the others are all new but i can't wait to try them all.


So i started the calibration process and hoping to be done by this Thursday. I already charged my beads and but some of my cigars in the Wineador with the beads and i already see a 7rh difference between the bottom and the top. Im hoping this will balance it self as its only been day 2. I know that the reading are off most likely which I'm hoping for but at the same time i guess i was expecting thins. I'm guessing a fan is in my future but time will tell.

@Trackmyer strikes again! He bombed me the same way back at the old site when I was a fresh newb! I got a boveda holder, and that's all I expected and was demolished by a bomb! He's a great BOTL, I saw the tracking code and knew you were in for a treat!

Glad you liked it. Just trying to spread the brotherly love. Keep at it, your winador will be running smooth in no time.

So i have a little bit of free time and figured might as well update you guys. For now i think the build is finished :). Thanks to @Trackmyer all of my hydrometers are not calibrated but as before i still have a slight variation in rH. Im gonna try to give it another week or 2 before going forward with the fan hoping everything will even its self out. So here is where we are as of nowAttachment 1839 don't mind the baby stuff with NYC apartment her things are taking over :) Have a little package coming from the :devilish: site, anything to take up space in the unit to help out with rH. Hoping with time my cigar budget will improve to fill this thing up. But enough about that, finally the weather is nice here so going to go and enjoy a smoke while walking my helperAttachment 1840

ok...so i have no idea why the pics came out on the side

Beautiful looking dog you have there :cool:

Edit: my 100th post :chicken:

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Originally Posted by OtismyMan

Beautiful looking dog you have there :cool:

Edit: my 100th post :chicken:

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Thanks brotha and thats also a good looking pup in your profile pic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OtismyMan

Beautiful looking dog you have there :cool:

Edit: my 100th post :chicken:

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congrat's