Walk in humidor suggestions

[ericC]

Hey guys

Need some advice. I'm finishing last touches on my walk in humidor this weekend. All that's left is securing the 1/4" Spanish cedar planks I have. They are 4" x 48" in length and I'm debating if I should just use construction adhesive to stick them onto drywall or should i nail them with brad nails? Or both?

Your help would be appreciated.

[nick17]

I would avoid any adhesive due to the smell and the chemicals in them might leach into the cigars in a form of order or taste due to the humidity i would use nails or some kind of bracket

[CigarAsh]

Wood needs to be able to move. In this case it will probably expand when it gets seasoned and absorbs the moisture. If you try to glue them to the Sheetrock you'll probably end up with some splitting of the wood (or the Sheetrock substrate). Are the planks tongue and groove so they interlock? If so, an edge nail through the groove on one side of the board will will allow the board to expand away from the nailed side and squeeze toward the adjoining board. The nails will also be hidden when you overlap with the next board. That's how wood flooring is installed

Don't try to nail the board on both edges or you'll probably force some cracking or splitting when the board expands.

Another alternative is to install them loose with a small cross piece of wood at the top and bottom that holds them in place. That's how I built my own humidor liner.

[ericC]

Hey guys thanks. As for your answer no the planks are not tongue and groove. Just straight cut pieces of wood. Would you guys at all recommend trim screws? And cover the screw heads with same color wood filler? Any other suggestions would be appreciated

[#2 man]

I second that ... No glue

[Guest rob]

I wouldnt use glue or nails.

I'd pre drill the wood and use galvanized or coated screws. As far as the capping the screws to 'hide' them - personal preference really... I dont mind seeing them.

[ericC]

Hey guys thanks. As for your answer no the planks are not tongue and groove. Just straight cut pieces of wood. Would you guys at all recommend trim screws? And cover the screw heads with same color wood filler? Any other suggestions would be appreciated

[ericC]

Hey guys thanks. As for your answer no the planks are not tongue and groove. Just straight cut pieces of wood. Would you guys at all recommend trim screws? And cover the screw heads with same color wood filler? Any other suggestions would be appreciated

[CigarAsh]

How thick are the spanish cedar boards? You really only want/need 1/4" to 3/8" (6mm to 10mm) boards. If you can find a local cabinet or milling shop to tongue and groove them (a pretty easy process with a shaper or router table), then the installation, final stability and look of the project will be much better. Then you can blind nail the edges (galvanized finish nail) so nothing shows and leave plenty of room for the expansion of the boards.

The other option I tried to explain is to just create "brackets" to hold them freely against the wall with no fasterers: Take a narrow 1/2" or 3/4" thick strip of cedar. Cut a rabbet along one edge so the piece now forms a fat "L" shape. (if you look at the piece from the end, you essentially divide it into quarter sections, you then just remove a single quarter section with the rabbet). Screw that piece along the length of the wall at the top and bottom (it's small enough that wood movement isn't an issue) with the rabbet up against the wall. The rabbet you cut then acts as a channel into which you can slide your cedar boards without the need for any fastener at all. When I built my own humidor, I lined all 5 interior faces and the door face using this method. I edge lap jointed the boards (not a true tongue and groove, but close). As the wood expands when it seasons, it you have any problems, you can then just pull out a board, trim it a little and slide it back in. It's actually easier than my obtuse description might imply! If you're interested, let me know and I'll take some pictures of my humidor interior and post them.

[ericC]

Hey cigarcrash

They are 1/4" thick.

I'd rather use the tongue and groove method, I can get a local shop to do it for me. But can you give me more info. To what specs should I ask the mill shop to tongue and groove them?

[CigarAsh]

Hey cigarcrash

They are 1/4" thick.

I'd rather use the tongue and groove method, I can get a local shop to do it for me. But can you give me more info. To what specs should I ask the mill shop to tongue and groove them?

EricC,

Since it's only 1/4" stock, you want the tongue to be milled to about 3/32 to 1/8 so it has some stability. The mill shop would be the best judge of what their tools can give you. Either that or just mill it as a half lap (that's what I did for mine) and it gives you the same overlapping and nailing surface capability.

Like I said, if you want some pics, I can try and post something this weekend from home.

[Phillycyclocross]

EricC,

Since it's only 1/4" stock, you want the tongue to be milled to about 3/32 to 1/8 so it has some stability. The mill shop would be the best judge of what their tools can give you. Either that or just mill it as a half lap (that's what I did for mine) and it gives you the same overlapping and nailing surface capability.

Like I said, if you want some pics, I can try and post something this weekend from home.

I would love pics as this would help me greatly with my humidor project as well.

[CigarAsh]

I would love pics as this would help me greatly with my humidor project as well.

Here's what I did to door of humidor. sorry about pic quality - old iphone!:

here's the half lapped joint on the spanish cedar board:

the board just slides in the "track" and the half lap overlaps the next board to form a smooth joint, plenty of room for expansion.

[Phillycyclocross]

Here's what I did to door of humidor. sorry about pic quality - old iphone!:

here's the half lapped joint on the spanish cedar

the board just slides in the "track" and the half lap overlaps the next board to form a smooth joint, plenty of room for expansion.

Very cool. Thank you!

[CanuckSARTech]

Stainless steel screws and/or stainless steel brad nails. No adhesives (only non-/low-VOC silicone if needed).