Why a Wineador?

• • There are many options available when selecting a humidor, what makes a Wineador special? The biggest advantage is its ability to maintain a programmed temperature.

Choosing a Wineador

• • There are 2 things to consider when looking for a Wineador:
    • Size – How many cigars to do plan to store in it. Wineadors have a couple of different sizes, each at their own price point.
      • Small Wineadors (CC-100) can hold 100 cigars
      • Larger Wineadors (CC-300) can hold 400 cigars
      • The number of cigars the Wineador holds will vary depending on the drawer and shelf configuration.
    • Budget – How much do you want to spend? What extras do you want included?
      • Wineadors are typically purchased outfitted with Spanish Cedar or without. A Wineador without Spanish Cedar is typically called a Thermoelectric Fridge.
      • Purchasing without SC is a great way to save money in the initial investment and SC can always be added later. See the Internal Storage section below for more info.
      • Purchasing with SC means that you do not have to bother with temporary storage options and have a completed build once the unit arrives.

Where to buy a Wineador

There are multiple places to find/purchase a Wineador. Below are some of the most common places to find a deal on one.

• • Amazon – Check for Used Items. Minor imperfections can result in big savings.
  • CamelCamelCamel.com can be used to setup price alerts or see historical prices for Wineadors on Amazon.
  • Craigslist or similar sites
  • Direct from the Vendor
  • http://www.newair.com/clearance 1
  • http://www.air-n-water.com/clearance/wine-chillers.htm 1
    • Use code ‘welcome’ for an additional 20% off
  • Overstock – Not as an extensive list as others listed but coupons and specials can make the price reasonable.

Preparing your Wineador for use

So the big day has arrived and your new Wineador is delivered to your front door, now what? The below will walk you through common steps to prepare your Wineador for cigars. Depending on what Wineador you selected, not all steps might be applicable.

• • Check the door seal
    • Besides the drain hole, the next most common place to loose humidity is the door seal. The easiest way to check if there is a leak is to get a flashlight, close the door and shine it through the glass at the seal. Look around the door and see if any light is escaping.
    • Most of the time, the door seal is not a problem. However the test is quick and easy and will save you a lot of headache down the road.
    • If there is a break in the seal there are a couple of options:
      • Loosen or tighten the hinges
      • Build up the area of the wineador with the gap to it will meet the seal
      • Add a lock/latch to apply pressure to the door
        • See Lock/Latch section below for some options
  • Plug the drain hole
    • Most Wineadors will have a drain hole in the bottom to let excess condensation drip out while it is used as a Wine Fridge. However this is also a way to lose Humidity.
    • For a temporary seal, use electrical tape or a foam ear plug. A more permanent solution is no/low odor caulk or aquarium sealant.
    • My recommendation is to use a temp seal until you have completed the build and do not want to use the drain hole to run anything into the Wineador.
  • Remove the “plasticy” smell
    • Once the Wineador is unboxed, open it up and remove any shelves/drawers that are inside. Now give it a good smell, it might have a plasticy smell to it. If so, there are several ways to remove the smell:
      • Use a clean sponge or clothe and the inside with a mixture of Distilled Vinegar and Water or Baking Soda and Water. Once complete, leave the door open to air dry.
      • Place the Wineador, with the door open, in direct sunlight.
      • Fill the inside of the Wineador with crumbled newspaper for 3-5 days.
      • Leave the Wineador running for 2-4 days.
  • Internal Storage
    • If you did not order a unit that comes with Spanish Cedar drawers and shelves, there are a couple of options:
      • Order drawers and shelves at either http://wineadors.com or https://cigar-coolers.com/
      • If you are handy, you can make your own. Spanish Cedar can be ordered online from Woodcraft, Rockler, Ebay or Amazon. Or you might be lucky and have a local lumberyard that carries Spanish Cedar.
      • Hire a carpenter to build the drawers and shelves for you.
      • Use plastic bins, they can either sit on top of the wire shelves that come with the Wineador or if you are lucky, you might find some that will fit in the grooves the shelves use. Take measurements or one of the wire shelves with you when you got shopping for bins to find a configuration that works for you.
        • This model will work in certain NewAir models (280e, 281e, CC300)
      • If you have have a Tupperdor, it might be possible to place the entire container in the Wineador
      • Go to a local B&M and get old cigar boxes to use on top of the existing wire shelves. While this might not maximize your storage options, it is an inexpensive solution to get by if you are waiting for the drawers/shelves you ordered to arrive.
  • Seasoning
    • While the Wineador does not have to seasoned, any Spanish Cedar in it will need to be seasoned.
    • The same methods used to season a humidor will work.
    • Humidor Seasoning

Extras that might be helpful in certain situations:

The below items are sometimes found as part of a Wineador build. For most builds, they are not needed. However they have been added in the event you want to add one.
Note: A common way to add a component inside of a Wineador is to route the power cord through the drain hole. This could mean splicing the power cord or enlarging the drain hole to allow the plug to pass through.

• • Electronic Temperature Controller (ETC)
    • Some people find that they do not have the proper temp control by using the built-in temp controls on the Wineador.
    • With an ETC, you put a thermometer inside the Wineador and plug the Wineador into the ETC. When properly configured the ETC will turn the Wineador on and off based on the internal temp.
    • Example of a common ETC
  • Computer fan
    • With some setups, humidity will be different between the top and the bottom of the Wineador.
    • To counter this effect a computer fan can be added to circulate air.
    • Running a computer fan constantly can generate a small amount of heat, to counter this most people will place the fan on a timer to automatically turn the fan on and off.
    • Fan options:
      • Single Speed Computer Fan 2
      • Varied Speed Computer Fan 1
    • Timer Options
      • Basic Timer
      • Another Timer
    • Smart Timer
  • Lock/Latch
    • If you have small kids or nosy roommates, you might want to consider a lock.
    • If you don’t want to drill into your unity JB Weld works well in affixing your latch. Credit to @ZombieHooligan for this hack!
    • Some common locks are:
      • Munchkin Xtraguard Dual Action Multi Use Latches, 2 Count 2
      • Steel Keyed Hinge Hasp 1
      • Toggle Latch 2

Humidification options

There are two main options for humidification when dealing with a Wineador. Other options can and do work, however these are the ones most commonly used.

• • Boveda Packs
    • Boveda Packs provides two way humidification to maintain the proper humidity level. Consider using the larger, 320g packs. Mounting brackets are also available.
    • Can be recharged 1
    • Pro: Very low maintenance. Can be in contact with cigars.
    • Con: Most expensive option. Packs will need to be recharged occasionally.
  • Kitty Litter
    • Yes, Kitty Litter as long as it is unscented, silica-based Kitty Litter.
    • Pro: Inexpensive.
    • Con: Regular maintenance needed to add Distilled Water. Can take time to determine how to maintain the proper humidity.