Storing Boxes Vertically - Interested in your thoughts and experiences.

[ayepatz]

I can see how cigars standing on their head or feet might make a difference, but that still leaves 4 possible orientations where the cigars are resting along their length - normal, upside-down, or on either side of the box. Can't see how it would affect the contents if the boxes are full.

[gigabyte056]

The topic is resurrected, and yes, still no difference...

[RijkdeGooier]

Just make sure to rotate the humidor in its entirety once a week

[danny]

Been doing this for a long time on boxes where I don't want the foot of the cigars damaged or when I'm short on space. Haven't seen, tasted, or noticed any difference at all.

[Fugu]

Resuming on the original question of this resurrected poll, I just joined backslide in our splendid singularity of voting “yes”.

While this is not an unqualified “yes”, more a “yes, can be”, there are eventualities.

I had asked myself this question as well in the beginning. Not so much due to space problems but just in considering what might be the best from the plain cigar’s perspective.

First - I don’t buy into the “oils moving down” etc. theories. Oils will rather be subject to the physical effects of porosity/adhesion/capillarity than to gravity (also see Smallclubs earlier post of empirical observ.) and as such, I would say for traditional dress boxes, where cigars are snugly fit and held in place, orientation renders irrelevant. If they are properly humidified one might even toss them around without any issue.

For cabinet boxes, however, there might be mechanical aspects to consider. Storing those in the “standard” way, with the cigars lying horizontally one cannot dismiss that the mechanical stress is very different between the top and the bottom row. After years of aging, we all note this effect in the deformation of certain cigars of a ‘rueda’. In particular the bottom row has to bear the additional weight of its brothers and sisters in the box, notably in a half-wheel. By storing a cabinet box vertically, each cigar will only and evenly have to support its own weight. Its mass will weigh on its foot alone, again a comparatively small area. But on the other hand, the tobacco with its particular orientation in the cigar can support a high load onto its longitudinal axis. So, by and large I won’t see a problem in this, and storing vertically might even be beneficial. And you would also be inclined to argue that the very same is happening in jars, as has also been stated above, which are often made with the particular aim of long-term storage.

However - and that’s my caveat - a thing to make sure is that there is no motion/shock (even slight) done to the so stored cigars in the long term. Because that can lead to split or damaged feet over time, and cab boxes stored vertically are more susceptible to this because the weight-laden feet will scratch the inner wall of the box (also an important issue in shipping cabinet boxes). Furthermore, under not so stable temp/humidity conditions cigars will add to that motion by slightly and repeately changing their dimension. Therefore, for real long-term aging, boxes stored that way should be kept separate from stock that needs being moved and accessed more regularly. When playing tetris only for the aim of better space utilization, I would abstain from storing cabinet boxes vertically. My 2cts.

[ATGroom]

I store all my cigars in an old Gravitron carnival ride I have converted for the purpose - I find that the centrifugal forces really help to pull the tannins out of the cigar and lead to dramatically 'faster' aging.

I keep it at about 30rpm (2.5G) which seems to be optimum.

[Fuzz]

I store all my cigars in an old Gravitron carnival ride I have converted for the purpose - I find that the centrifugal forces really help to pull the tannins out of the cigar and lead to dramatically 'faster' aging.

I keep it at about 30rpm (2.5G) which seems to be optimum.

Do you stand them up or lay them down (feet or head outward)? Is it better for the tannins to exit through the foot or through the wrapper?

[ATGroom]

They start off horizontal but move to vertical as the humidor comes up to speed. I keep a large electro-magnet on one side of the device that helps to pull out some of the heavy metals/tannins and aids plume production.

[Fuzz]

Fantastic! Have you patented your revolutionary aging device? If not.... PATENT PENDING SUCKER!!!!!

[...]

What about storing cigars on the international space station? Anybody able to hook me up with these guy for mid to long term gravity free aging? Many thanks, space noob here ?

[Fuzz]

Sorry, but even on the ISS, you're still affected by gravity.

[DrunkenMonkey]

Resuming on the original question of this resurrected poll, I just joined backslide in our splendid singularity of voting yes.

While this is not an unqualified yes, more a yes, can be, there are eventualities.

I had asked myself this question as well in the beginning. Not so much due to space problems but just in considering what might be the best from the plain cigars perspective.

First - I dont buy into the oils moving down etc. theories. Oils will rather be subject to the physical effects of porosity/adhesion/capillarity than to gravity (also see Smallclubs earlier post of empirical observ.) and as such, I would say for traditional dress boxes, where cigars are snugly fit and held in place, orientation renders irrelevant. If they are properly humidified one might even toss them around without any issue.

For cabinet boxes, however, there might be mechanical aspects to consider. Storing those in the standard way, with the cigars lying horizontally one cannot dismiss that the mechanical stress is very different between the top and the bottom row. After years of aging, we all note this effect in the deformation of certain cigars of a rueda. In particular the bottom row has to bear the additional weight of its brothers and sisters in the box, notably in a half-wheel. By storing a cabinet box vertically, each cigar will only and evenly have to support its own weight. Its mass will weigh on its foot alone, again a comparatively small area. But on the other hand, the tobacco with its particular orientation in the cigar can support a high load onto its longitudinal axis. So, by and large I wont see a problem in this, and storing vertically might even be beneficial. And you would also be inclined to argue that the very same is happening in jars, as has also been stated above, which are often made with the particular aim of long-term storage.

However - and thats my caveat - a thing to make sure is that there is no motion/shock (even slight) done to the so stored cigars in the long term. Because that can lead to split or damaged feet over time, and cab boxes stored vertically are more susceptible to this because the weight-laden feet will scratch the inner wall of the box (also an important issue in shipping cabinet boxes). Furthermore, under not so stable temp/humidity conditions cigars will add to that motion by slightly and repeately changing their dimension. Therefore, for real long-term aging, boxes stored that way should be kept separate from stock that needs being moved and accessed more regularly. When playing tetris only for the aim of better space utilization, I would abstain from storing cabinet boxes vertically. My 2cts.

I think you're over-thinking this.

[Fugu]

Perhaps, you are right. If one isn’t into long-term aging then one might happily do without overthinking.

But this answer was primarily aiming at Brazoseagle’s (who seems not to be active anymore on here since a while, so it might not be of avail for him right now) original question, which was particularly targeted on potential long-term effects.

There were/are obviously > 40% of voters in this poll stating that they are unsure but want to get more insight. For these members I tried to provide a precise and thoughtful answer – beyond the odd “who cares, doesn’t matter” or the usual “smoke away”-Joe.

Cigars stored vertically in a rather loose pack like in jars, cabinet boxes or sbn-, bn-boxes etc. (i.e. without press) are more susceptible to mech. shock than when stored horizontally. That’s a simple fact. In the long-term this can make a difference.

Paul

[JohnS]

Cigars stored vertically in a rather loose pack like in jars, cabinet boxes or sbn-, bn-boxes etc. (i.e. without press) are more susceptible to mech. shock than when stored horizontally. That’s a simple fact. In the long-term this can make a difference.

Paul

I haven't thought much about this either, other than I haven't got any cigars stored vertically in my humidor.