Cigar Box Sizes

[Smoker]

Good evening all.

Does anyone know a reliable source for Cigar Box sizes? When ordering a box of cigars, I would like to know the space it will take up, so that I can plan ahead. At the moment I am working with tupperwares, and want to buy a tupperware that will fit the box nicely, but the same would apply if I was using a humidor.

Thanks guys

[planetary]

A 50 liter cooler and a brace of Boveda packs should fit your need, if you have gotten the taste for Habanos wish to plan ahead.

[Smoker]

A 50 liter cooler and a brace of Boveda packs should fit your need, if you have gotten the taste for Habanos wish to plan ahead.

True lol. Having looked at various humidor options, I wonder why tupperware is not the first choice? Of course a nice wooden humidor is more stylish looking. I suppose one disadvantage of 'tupperware' style containers is that they allow light in. But this is easily combatted by placing the container(s) into a cool dark storage area. The benefits are that you can select different box sizes easily (or add another box when you run out of room, not have to open up an entire humidor everytime you want one cigar (long term aging boxes can be left quietly, just opening once every few months to replace the Boveda packs), and the seal on a tupperware is far better than on a humidor door I think. Any kind of infestation or failing Boveda will be limited to a single box too.

Opinions on this?

[PapaDisco]

What a brilliant app it would be if all cigar box sizes, and tupperware, were cataloged; the app could tetris-map your stacking in an instant! As apps go it would be a relatively simple thing to write. Probably not enough market to justify it though. Still . . .

[planetary]

A few points.

1. I'm not aware of a site which contains the external dimensions of packaging. If anything, cubancigarwebsite.com would have it, and I don't believe they're cataloged them.

2. Trying to match the size of containers to size of boxes isn't all that important. In fact, having some breathing room in your container is a good idea, to allow for the equalization of humidity in the surrounding air. In all seriousness, I would advise against a large variety of smaller tupperware to store individual boxes. It is considerably more efficient (for space and humidification and maintenance) to store your cigars in fewer, larger containers.

3. If you can even imagine a future world in which you would buy additional boxes, the best thing you can do is plan for it now. Buy a container that gives you room for at least several more boxes.

4. I have never heard of a Boveda pack failing. It might have happened. If you are concerned about it, I might suggest getting a cooler of some size, and placing your humidification method of choice (Boveda packs or beads -- I've used both with great success, and there are many threads on this board and others where you can find discussion of them) in smaller bowls or tupperware containers, to avoid direct exposure to wood, paper, or leaf.

5. In the meantime, if you have a box on the way and really do desire dimensions for the immediate future, you can let us know here which box it was. I'll bet one of us has its like and can give you some measurements...

[Smoker]

Thanks for the help Planetery!

1 - I had a look there. They have every type of box listed by name, but I couldn't find the dimensions.

2 - It's not that I want the containers to fit the boxes perfectly, but I just want to make sure that I don't get one that isn't deep enough to stack two particular boxes, or not long enough for a certain box. I agree that we want some breathing space, but also I don't want to overwork my Bovedas unduly.

3 - It's a good idea to get 1-2 huge boxes, I agree. But on the other hand, I want a few smaller ones for singles. I am more likely to be dipping in and out of that one more often, and don't want to release the humidity from the huge box every time.

4 - True, I haven't heard of one failing either, but by 'failing' I suppose it could be that I forgot to change the Bovedas in that box

5 - I have 1 x (25) Box of Cohiba Secretos, and 1 x (10) box of Montecristo No. 2 on the way from 24:24 purchases. I also have 1 x (25) Bolivar Royal Coronas here, and a box (Romeo y Julieta 10x Dukes 2009) with a few different singles in. I want a separate tupperware for the Dukes box, as I go there often.

6 - Thanks again

[Smallclub]

Opinions on this?

You need a desktop humidor. Problem solved.

[SipIt]

I agree with planetary and would just get a cooler, or a large Tupperware to hold everything you now and in the future. I don't think you'll overwork you Boveda packs unless you leave the top off for extended periods of time.

I have a tupperdore holding 20 some boxes and 3 humidors loose cigars. I dig thru my selection in all of them and the tupperdore is way easier to manage than the humidors. I use kitty litter as the humidity source, which is similar to beads, and rarely ever need to make adjustments.

[cigarbigboy]

besides that would make it too easy. better fun practicing your tetris with cigar boxes.

[perkinke]

I don't think opening up your humi to get singles is such a big deal or a walk-in humidor would be considered the worst storage option in the world. However, if you do want to completely segregate your aging from smoking stock I would echo the previous comments about getting the largest cooler you could find but add that you could pick up a 3-500 count humi for your daily smokes.

[PapaDisco]

I have had a Boveda fail . . . but not in the way you guys are thinking, no, they've always held their rated humidity perfectly in my experience. What I did was accidentally crush one in between boxes in a big Tupperdore I had this particular Tupper packed within an inch of its life, so when one plump Boveda got accidentally left in the middle of a stack the lid didn't go on just right. Stupid me I just kinda nudged the lid a bit thinking, "Hmm, it's always go on before without forcing it . . ." Anyway, squish goes the Boveda and I didn't see it again until several weeks later. The whole contents got absorbed by a wood (10) box of Partagas P2's, soaking through the wood and into the bottom half of the cigars.

I thought about pitching the whole lot, but then found out about the Boveda salts being all food grade and what not. So after careful de-humidification of the cigars (probably not needed as the salts they soaked up where at 65% right? ) I smoked one and it was fantastic! The rest of the box was equally good. Made me think about using Bovedas as a condiment for all my cigars!

[gangstarrrrr]

If you're UK based which I think you are, go to B&Q and get their scuba box which comes in a few sizes and start at £20.

http://www.diy.com/rooms/form-flexi-store-black-74-l-plastic-waterproof-storage-box/1145409_BQ.prd

[Smoker]

If you're UK based which I think you are, go to B&Q and get their scuba box which comes in a few sizes and start at £20.

http://www.diy.com/rooms/form-flexi-store-black-74-l-plastic-waterproof-storage-box/1145409_BQ.prd

Thanks for the suggestion!

Regarding failing Bovedas, I think the closest thing to a 'fail' under normal circumstances, would be a perforation in the original packing seal. This could mean that the Boveda had already started drying out before it reaches the humidor. In a case like that, you could lock it up in a tupperware, thinking that you have a few months before it needs changing, but end up with it dying on you much sooner.

[Phinz]

3 - It's a good idea to get 1-2 huge boxes, I agree. But on the other hand, I want a few smaller ones for singles. I am more likely to be dipping in and out of that one more often, and don't want to release the humidity from the huge box every time.

4 - True, I haven't heard of one failing either, but by 'failing' I suppose it could be that I forgot to change the Bovedas in that box

I just use one big cooler, with boxes stacked however they fit, then Bovedas tossed in the bottom of the cooler and a few more laying on the top layer of boxes.

For singles, I just have a plastic bin with mesh sides which is about the size of a SLB, easy access and fit snugly amongst the boxes. For "extra special" singles, I have one empty Cohiba PE box I reused (I can't bring myself to throw away the fancy black lacquer Cohiba boxes).

A great box storage humidor with accessories for $100. Works perfectly for me, but of course I dream of someday having a fancy cabinet (and the cigars to fill it).

[NapaNolan]

If I had 20 tupperdors and didn't have 20 hygrometers I wouldn't be able to sleep.

And if you felt the need to buy 20 hygrometers, you could buy a nice sized coolerdor with that money.

[Fuzz]

If you're UK based which I think you are, go to B&Q and get their scuba box which comes in a few sizes and start at £20.

http://www.diy.com/rooms/form-flexi-store-black-74-l-plastic-waterproof-storage-box/1145409_BQ.prd

I have a similar scuba box (mine is 106L), but in clear plastic.

[PapaDisco]

Thanks for the suggestion!

Regarding failing Bovedas, I think the closest thing to a 'fail' under normal circumstances, would be a perforation in the original packing seal. This could mean that the Boveda had already started drying out before it reaches the humidor. In a case like that, you could lock it up in a tupperware, thinking that you have a few months before it needs changing, but end up with it dying on you much sooner.

I don't think that is a valid failure mode for a boveda. The selected rH is in the salts not the membrane in the bag, and so a perforation would result in leakage, but not an accelerated "drying out". And, you can feel when a Boveda is losing its moisture, by the crystals inside.

[Akela3rd]

I have a similar scuba box (mine is 106L), but in clear plastic.

I'm getting one of these, but going black for the "of course I haven't bought any more, darling" factor.

[Smoker]

I don't think that is a valid failure mode for a boveda. The selected rH is in the salts not the membrane in the bag, and so a perforation would result in leakage, but not an accelerated "drying out". And, you can feel when a Boveda is losing its moisture, by the crystals inside.

I mean a perforation in the outer clear plastic bag that the Boveda comes in. If that is not sealed, then the Boveda is already working away all its moisture. Good point about the crystals.

[SipIt]

I mean a perforation in the outer clear plastic bag that the Boveda comes in. If that is not sealed, then the Boveda is already working away all its moisture. Good point about the crystals.

I guess I don't understand. If the boveda is failing, you'll know because the hygrometer won't be reading at the appropriate levels. You are still going to have a hygrometer, aren't you?

[Smoker]

I guess I don't understand. If the boveda is failing, you'll know because the hygrometer won't be reading at the appropriate levels. You are still going to have a hygrometer, aren't you?

Yeah, but it might fail.

[TomF]

Doesn't that take all the fun out of playing Tetris?