Building a legacy/Heirloom quality humidor

J

JVZ(El Jeffé/Don Jefé)

Active Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2026
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29
Location
Minnesota
First Name
JEFF
My step-dad is a master woodworker and has agreed to make me a humidor. He makes beautiful furniture and with the right planning feels he can make a beautiful heirloom quality box for me. We will be planning it together so I'm gathering articles, videos and recommendations on how to build it. Processes, plans/blueprints, wood recommendations and anything else to assist us in this process is what I'm after. I think a 50 count desktop box is what I want. Of course genuine Spanish Cedar for the inside and I'm thinking solid maple, walnut or cherry for the outside. I am open to other hardwood options too. I want this thing to be beautiful and amazing. I have done a little research and some say solid outer shell is not the best option and have heard about MDF and using a veneer as a more stable option. I kind of had my mind and heart set on solid so I'm looking for opinions and to be guided in the right direction. I want this thing to be beautiful, last the rest of my life and beyond and be as fully functional as a wood humidor can be.

Thanks in advance!
 
I agree with going for a cabinet if at all possible. A desk top is nice but it’s going to get filled so quick that you’ll wish you had done something bigger, Especially if it’s going to have that level of meaning to you and him.
 
I say do both. Create a desktop, for a dry boxing station, for those cigars you know you'll be smoking soon. Maybe add a space/divider for accessories as well.

Then when that's done, think about going bigger, like George/Jon have said above. Building a cabinet shouldn't be that difficult for your step-dad, but it would also be a learning experience for you as well. You'll be happy you went bigger.
 
Sounds amazing. As a cabinet owner, I can tell you humidified storage will be rapidly filled to capacity. Another vote for a cabinet. If you go that path, it makes sense to pick your humidification system out and plan for the wiring. Any lights should absolutely be LED so you're not warming things up when they are on. Congratulations, sounds like a great project..!!
 
For now we are sticking with a smaller desktop humidor. I agree a larger cabinet would be nice, but for now all I really want is a nice desktop. So that is what I'm looking for information on.
 
MDF is tough just because of the off gassing.

If you FIL is a master wood worker- I’d just give him the specs and let him work his magic- congrats on winning the FIL award!

Does he smoke?


Edited for grammar
 
kona1000 said:
MDF is tough just because of the off gassing.

If you FIL is a master wood worker- I’d just give him the specs and let him work his magic- congrats on winning the FIL award!

Does he smoke?


Edited for grammar
Click to expand...
There are MDF's with significant lower levels of formaldehyde outgassing. But they aren't cheap...
 
I think you're in good hands having a master woodworker help you with the project. I recently just built my humidor and did use an MDF core with veneers on the outside. But I wouldn't necessarily call it a veneer since most of them are either a 1/4 inch to an 1/8 inch thick. Its lined in Spanish Cedar and friction fit so as the wood expands it tightened up all the joints and made it airtight. Let me know if you have questions on the build or the humidification to use😉
1000011882.jpg
 
Heartfelt said:
I think you're in good hands having a master woodworker help you with the project. I recently just built my humidor and did use an MDF core with veneers on the outside. But I wouldn't necessarily call it a veneer since most of them are either a 1/4 inch to an 1/8 inch thick. Its lined in Spanish Cedar and friction fit so as the wood expands it tightened up all the joints and made it airtight. Let me know if you have questions on the build or the humidification to use😉View attachment 113446
Click to expand...
That is absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
 
kona1000 said:
MDF is tough just because of the off gassing.

If you FIL is a master wood worker- I’d just give him the specs and let him work his magic- congrats on winning the FIL award!

Does he smoke?


Edited for grammar
Click to expand...
I definitely won the Step-Dad award! Even though my bio Dad is/was still in the picture my Step-dad was more of a father than the bioDad growing up. Still in close contact even almost 20 years after my mom passing. He used to smoke before he met my mom. I only seen him smoke a couple times. He saved old boxes fir storage so we always had Romeo y Julieta boxes laying around.
 
I bought a 50 count wood desktop humidor about 4 months ago. I've already added a tuperdor and I'm about to add a second tuperdor. Cigars are addicting to relax with and to collect. I'd suggest making your humidor 3-4 times larger than you think you'll need (200-250 count), or you'll end up making another one this winter.
 
I'd say make the desktop, but also have the cabinet/coolidor for mass storage. I first joined the forum to ask questions about the same thing. The build has yet to happen, but some day I'll build the desktop show piece out of walnut, Spanish cedar lined humidor I wanted to build.
 
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