I may look at this humidor today, little help?

[replicant_argent]

I am not sure who made it, other than the guy says it is "made by a custom cabinetmaker whose business is making humidors."
Is it what I think it might be? The price is right.

[Blak Smyth]

Depends, whats the price and the sellers contact number? JK.
It looks like a very nice unit to me.

[irratebass]

Looks nice to me, what's the capacity? Just curious

[KidRock]

can it be verified that it was made by a "custom humidor maker"?

[KidRock]

It looks like a humidor ive seen in the past made by rochester humidor co. they went out of business. I hope Im wrong.

[replicant_argent]

Looks nice to me, what's the capacity? Just curious

He said 300... sounds about right

[Mattso3000]

umm...these pics are on my local craigslist humidor search. Are you in MN?

[replicant_argent]

yeah Matt, don't poach me. ;)

[Mattso3000]

Thought the pics looked familiar!:tu

[T.G]

Pete...

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=48397

Heh.

It isn't a custom humidor.

[replicant_argent]

Thanks, Adam. He also said:
"I modified it by adding a very sensitive adjustable humidity sensor. It has a standard outlet inside controlled by the sensor so you can stick any small humidifier inside and it will maintain whatever you set the control to."

Not sure exactly what he put in.

[T.G]

No idea what he added, or maybe the design changed slightly.

Mine had a 3" round hole in the back left corner with a cable grommet (http://cableorganizer.com/desk-grommet/round-desk-grommets.htm) over it for passing power cables through.

I ran a set-and-forget humidifier in mine.

[the nub]

looks like an Avallo 1000

[T.G]

looks like an Avallo 1000

Has there been a major change to the Avallo 1000 design in the last 10 years? Because it appears as if I used to have one of these humidors and as far as I can tell, there are a number of differences between it and the Avallo 1000.

If the one I had was, in fact, an Avallo, I'd be very disappointed. It wasn't a bad humidor, but it certainly was not what I would expect from Avallo in an $800 humidor. It was more like something that you would find for $450 at CI or CheapHumidors.

[RonC]

not an Avallo

[RonC]

Sorry guys, I made a mistake, this is an old Avallo 1200.

This was made before I met Matt, and before the Accumonitor was introduced.

It used an old fashioned room humidifier for humidification. Once the Accumonitor was introduced, Matt redesigned the cabinet so it would have more room for cigar storage instead of storing the bulky room humidifier.

A lot of other things have changed on the new cabinets. Obviously, they now come with the Accumonitor. The singles drawer and shelves have better quality slideouts.

If somebody picks up this old Avallo, and wants to put a new Accumonitor in it, I will give someone a nice deal on a new Accumonitor. We usually need a couple of weeks to get one ready, but I have an order cancellation in stock and ready to go.

[T.G]

So Avallos are built out of cheap veneered MDF? And they charge $900 for it?

Seriously? :td

I'm glad I got out even on the one I had.

[RonC]

T.G, Avallos are made for veneered MDF just like other "Made in the USA" cigar cabinets. If somebody does the research, there have been more than a few discussions on why MDF is the most accepted and used material for building a cabinet humidor. Regarding the cabinet, there have been improvements and redesigns over the last 10 years. Better hardware, better slideout shelves, better hinges, and better use of space to maximize storage.

Besides the cabinet itself, you should consider that all Avallo cabinets come with a humidification system that sells for between $250 and $450. On electronics, there is nothing from CI or CheapHumidors that comes close. If you go back 12 years, the room humidifier that Avallo used was considered high tech. Now it would be a joke.

There is a big difference between todays Avallo, and the Avallo from 10 years ago.

[T.G]

Putting Aquatreads on a Yugo does not make it a great car.

Using a $22 piece of formaldehyde laced crap with a veneer just because a few other "Made in the USA" manufacturers do does not justify an outrageous price tag just because it's "made in the USA". With little effort, I can find other "made in the USA" builders who don't use that garbage and don't charge much more, if at all. Slapping on some $9 hinges and $8 sliders doesn't justify the cost either.

The Avallo humidification system NOW is good. No argument there.

I'm glad to hear that today's Avallo is greatly improved from what it was 10 years ago.

[RonC]

who are the other "USA" manufacturers?

[T.G]

who are the other "USA" manufacturers?

You were the one who used that as a justification (http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1410155&postcount=18) Ron, so you tell me.

[shilala]

Adam, I'd be surprised if the bodies and backs of even something so vaunted as the Aristocrat were not made from CNC cut veneered mdf. Raised panels would be cnc cut, as well as all the other parts, but obviously not of veneered mdf.
The insides would very likely be covered with Spanish Cedar veneer from rolls.
Note that I said I'd be surprised. I've not stood before an Aristocrat and picked apart the construction. Nor am I saying they aren't a top notch, top quality box. I'd like to know their componentry just for my own info.
I guess my point was that for the money, I'd expect a hand-made product. I guess it is, to a point, but a "made in usa humidor" brings visions of an all hand-made, hand rubbed piece of art to my mind. Not so much a computer cut, hand put-together item. (Even though I'm planning to buy a cnc for my shop.)
Just an interjection of muddled thoughts here, I'm not assuming they're "the other manufacturer".

As a craftsman, my feelings on mdf, despite the numbers in it's favor, is that it isn't wood. It's artificial wood. I know it has it's place, it makes items affordable. It still doesn't mean I have to like it or use it. It makes a damn fine workbench top, though. :D

[mithrilG60]

who are the other "USA" manufacturers?

Aristocrat for one. Their active humidification system is easily the same quality as the Avallo Accumonitor, their prices are effectively the same when comparing like sized units and (as far as I know) Bob uses only solid wood. Are you saying that Avallo is still making their humidors primarily out of MDF with just finish and spanish cedar veneers or are you talking about the older models like the one Pete was going to look at and Adam sold a while back?

While I do get the argument that MDF is theoretically superior as it expands and contracts less that solid wood under changing temperature and moisture conditions, it's still a much cheaper material than solid wood and typically cheaper materials = cheaper price when compared to an equivalent product that uses higher end materials. If you were remodeling your kitchen would you pay the same price for cabinets made of MDF with an oak veneer as you would for cabinets made of solid oak? While I might not hesitate to choose the veneer if the end product was just as functional and good looking, but I certainly wouldn't pay the same price for cheaper materials.

This thread makes me happy I chose to order an Aristocrat -(P

[RonC]

Aristocrat for one. Their active humidification system is easily the same quality as the Avallo Accumonitor, their prices are effectively the same when comparing like sized units and Bob uses only solid wood. Are you saying that Avallo is still making their humidors primarily out of MDF with just finish and spanish cedar veneers or are you talking about the older models like the one Pete was going to look at and Adam sold a while back?

While I do get the argument that MDF is theoretically superior as it expands and contracts less that solid wood under changing temperature and moisture conditions, it's still a much cheaper material than solid wood and typically cheaper materials = cheaper price when compared to an equivalent product that uses higher end materials. If you were remodeling your kitchen would you pay the same price for cabinets made of MDF with an oak veneer as you would for cabinets made of solid oak? While I might not hesitate to choose the veneer if the end product was just as functional and good looking, but I certainly wouldn't pay the same price for cheaper materials.

This thread makes me happy I chose to order an Aristocrat -(P

sorry to break the news, but you are wrong. Your Aristocrat is not 100% "wood". The body is made of "100% MDF" just like the Avallo.

Matt and Bob do some different things regarding trim, and Bob prefers using wood for the door, but the main structure or body of your Aristocrat, as well as the top is made from MDF.

Now before this goes any further, I consider Bob Staebell to be a friend. We all know that he makes an awesome cabinet. I still own 2 Aristocrats as well as a couple of Avallos. I just had to comment because of some "facts" that were posted are not true.

[T.G]

I guess my point was that for the money, I'd expect a hand-made product. I guess it is, to a point, but a "made in usa humidor" brings visions of an all hand-made, hand rubbed piece of art to my mind. Not so much a computer cut, hand put-together item.

Bingo.

As a craftsman, my feelings on mdf, despite the numbers in it's favor, is that it isn't wood. It's artificial wood. I know it has it's place, it makes items affordable. It still doesn't mean I have to like it or use it.

That is somewhat how I feel too Scott. I'm well aware that MDF might be better, but I simply don't want it, and not at those prices, especially when I can have one built locally out of real wood. I get what I want, I save the shipping and I don't have to go though a middleman/vendor, which saves me quite a bit.

[mithrilG60]

Thanks for the clarification Ron!