Replies

1. 
   woodbum | Jun 07, 2012 09:05am | #1

   Humidor

   Welcome to Knots and the brother(sister)hood of woodworkers!

   70 degrees and 70% humidity should not damage the MDF or the spanish cedar veneer. I use yellow glue, clamps and cauls, but truthfully have never veneered pieces this large. What do you plan to cover the exterior with? Are you going to veneer that too? Do you own a cigar store? I have done dozens of commissions for humidors and cigar chests, but yours is a monster! Make sure your joints are tight and the seal is good on the lid, door or whatever. What hygrometer(s) do you plan to use? Please post pics of your project when you are done, as I am very interested in seeing your work. Good luck with your project!

2. 
   RalphBarker | Jun 07, 2012 10:04am | #2

   "long" or "tall"?

   I'm guessing you meant "tall" rather than long, since you are describing a "cabinet".

   Much depends on the design and joinery to be used. Posting a picture of your plan might help.

   Although MDF is considered "stable" it does like to absorb moisture and will respond to differences in moisture from one side to the other. Thus, both surfaces should probably be veneered similarly. If the shelves are to be fixed, and made of solid wood, expansion differentials should also be considered in the design.

   I'm not a veneer expert, so all I can suggest is reading up on the various methods, including "hammer" veneering. Note that the "hammer" is really just a heavy squeegee, not a hammer in the usual sense. Depending on the porocity of the veneer, you'll likely get glue squeeze-through, so your methods need to anticipate that, as well.

1. 
   dvir | Jun 07, 2012 12:35pm | #3

   cabinet humidor

   Thank you for your responses.

   I'm not a cigar store owner, just a collector/smoker.

   I meant "tall" and not "long".

   Which joints do you recommend for this type of job?

   I am going to paint the outside and I'm going to have glass doors. I am going to use an LG electric Hygrometer that should be fine for this size of cabinet.

   Do you think that the veneer is too thin or OK wood wise?

   I want to do drawer shelves. If you have any suggestions for this as well.

   If you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to share them. This is my first big job with wood and I want to succeed!

   Thanks All,

   Dvir

1. 
   Westchester | Jun 07, 2012 01:26pm | #4

   New Poject

   Why not start off easy within your abilites - make the entire cabinet out of pine - nail and glue the joints together - paint the out side and line the inside with closet cedar planks.

   SA

1. 
   dvir | Jun 07, 2012 03:06pm | #5

   cabinet humidor

   Do you know if there are Spanish Cedar planks? Because i can only find red cedar planks. Is the red cedar planks good for this project (humidor)?

   Why not use MDF for this? I like MDF because it is heavy and strong.

   Thank you,

   Dvir

1. 
   woodbum | Jun 07, 2012 05:02pm | #6

   Do not use aromatic cedar planks in a cigar humidor. Spanish cedar is traditionally used because it repels a boring beetle that will ruin you favorite puros.Also, it imparts a pleasant smell to your humidor and will keep the humidty and moisture levels balanced better. Aromatic cedar such as cedar chest liner is oily and repels moths and such in closets and chests but will ruin the taste of your cigars IMHO. Rockler has real wood spanish Cedar veneer and I buy my spanish cedar lumber at Woodcraft. I build all of my drawers, trays and dividers from spanish cedar lumber that i rip or plane to thickness.I would use spanish cedar wood slides for your drawers, and minimize the amount of metal inside your cabinet. Again these are my design/build preferences. I would build the cabinet out of pine or poplar, veneer the inside and finish the outside as you wish. With the glass doors that you plan on using, make sure the ambient temperature in the room that you place it is not extreme in either direction. Like I said earlier 70 degrees and 70% humidity are what you are striving for. From one cigar smoker and woodworker to another---have fun " smoke em if you got em and bum em if you ain't"

2. 
   Westchester | Jun 07, 2012 06:44pm | #7

   That's why I don't like MDF - because it's heavy and fasterners don't grab as well. 

   Regarding the cedar - I defer to woodbum - I didn't know there was any difference in scent never having made a Humidor - rather I was trying to think of an easy way for you to line the interior without you needing to learn veneering on the fly.  I looked on line and there are sights that sell spanish cedar planks - thicker than veneering and easier to install.

   Good catch woodbum - thanks !  -  A learning forum is a good place to be.

   SA

3. 
   dvir | Jun 19, 2012 01:43pm | #8

   cabinet humidor

   Hey All,

   Thank you all for responding, I am sorry for not responding sooner - it has been a busy week.

   I was wondering how to connect the joints of the MDF with wood glue and Brad Nailer? or with a pocket joint?

   Thank you everyone. I enjoy the responses, they are most helpful. Please continue.

   Thanks,

   Dvir