A question of Cedar

[Vortigan]

So we're having a new floor laid on the ward at work and during a conversation with one of the carpenters working on it it turned out that he used to be a cabinet maker.After a speculative enquiry he said he'd be more than happy to build a humidor for me so I'm going to find and print off some designs and get him to give me a few estimates on the kind of thing I'm looking for.The thing I want to ask you guys here is does it always,definitely and without a doubt HAVE to be the Spanish cedar that's used in humi construction.It's not that he can't procure it,more that the Canadian vairiety is apparently more readily available and he could have it and be up and running by next week or as soon as we agree on the design.What do you think?.Thanks everyone,

Mike

[rckymtn22]

The quick answer is no. If it is Canadian western red cedar it is very aromatic so not very good for cigars. If you do a search online plenty of other people have asked this question.

[thechenman]

Definitely stay away from the Canadian stuff...and pretty much anything else except Spanish Cedar for the best end results.

[Vortigan]

That'll do for me! thanks fellas.Pretty much what I thought but wanted to check with the FOH Thanks again

[lancerv43]

The only thing I have heard of working other than Spanish Cedar is mahogany. Mahogany is used in some high end Davidoff humidors. Spanish cedar is what regulates the humidity so well. It has characteristics that allow to withstand very high humidity without much movement in the wood which in turn keeps the seal on the humidor tight. The Cedar you are speaking of does not do this and is also way too aromatic. So if you were to use anything other than Spanish Cedar use mahogany but personally I would stick with Spanish Cedar.

[Tarks]

FYI, Spanish Cedar is neither cedar nor Spanish.

Do not use cedar in your humidor.

[Cohiba Stevie]

Use mahogany, i used to be a floor layer and and specialised in the laying of hardwood flooring and sanding and polishing.

Previous comments about cedar regulating humidity is nonsense, any hardwood will hold a good seal as long as its finished properly.

Spanish cedar is traditionally used because it is naturally rot and insect resistant, not because of aroma like most peoplr will have you believe.

Also if u buy raw spanish cedar, it will take months to condition and it has a really pungent smell, trust me mahogany will do a fantastic job, thats why its used in aristocrat and avallo cabinet humidors.

[daboose]

Previous comments about cedar regulating humidity is nonsense,

Cedar may not "regulate" humidity bit it surely has an "affect."

Here's the data in a PDF file from my Igloo Desktop project:

Igloo Desktop Thread

[Cohiba Stevie]

Cedar may not "regulate" humidity bit it surely has an "affect."

Here's the data in a PDF file from my Igloo Desktop project:

Igloo Desktop Thread

I find the 'affect' negligible, theres far too many variables when storing cigars and while i do think your research is very concise, still unconclusive.