Greetings!

[stevecairney]

Hi there, I can't remember how I came across this forum, but it's already proved useful! Just put in a small taster order from a site recommended by users here.

I'm not a full time cigar smoker, but I have enjoyed a few cigars in my time. So I decided to push the boat out and try to enjoy them more often.

So there.

[Deano]

Welcome! Let us know what you bought and how you find them...

[Jimmeh]

Welcome - as a fairly new member here myself - i know you're going to be looked after ;-).

Just out of interest - which site did you use - and what did you order?

[Kdot]

welcome to the forum steve...once your hooked there's no going back

[stevecairney]

Cheers Jimmeh

I went to cubanlou's and picked up a few robusto's (anything longer gets in the way of my fishing cast ;) )

I picked up one of each of these: Hoyo Epicure No.2, Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2, H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1, Montecristo Petit Edmundo

Basically I went through the reviews over at cigarafficionado and picked the best marked with the flavours I like. No doubt I'll return for a box of the pick out of what's in the post to me!

[stevecairney]

welcome to the forum steve...once your hooked there's no going back

Thanks! I'm already a heavy ciggy smoker so you never know; a cigar every now and again will keep me off the rollies!

[Deano]

You've picked some of the best, for sure.

[stevecairney]

Cheers, now I just need to source a wee humidor...

[daverave999]

Thanks! I'm already a heavy ciggy smoker so you never know; a cigar every now and again will keep me off the rollies!
Well after smoking cigarettes for 15 years, I've weaned myself off because of the cigars. I just have one every few days. I think it's knowing I can still have the nicotine that helps!

[bnelly]

Hello & welcome - good fun seeing a beginner getting sucked into our evil world :pop2:

[stevecairney]

Well after smoking cigarettes for 15 years, I've weaned myself off because of the cigars. I just have one every few days. I think it's knowing I can still have the nicotine that helps!

I get terrible 'rollie brown finger' that makes me look like a street creature, so hears to hoping!

[daverave999]

I get terrible 'rollie brown finger' that makes me look like a street creature, so hears to hoping!
Wash your hands? :p

[stevecairney]

ha! :eviltongue:

(should I open a new thread somewhere to ask about humijars?)

[nicwing]

Hey Steve, welcome to the forum, there is lots of great information here if you search for it.

I am certain that if you look for information on humidors you will find the same advice again and again, - Don't buy a really small one to start with.

I am on my second in 6 months because I chose a small cheap one to kick me off.

If you really want to keep your cigars in good condition read and listen to the guys here and buy a medium size good one with proper humidification and a proper measuring device.

You won't regret it!

Look forward to hearing how you get on.

[stevecairney]

Thanks Nic,

I'm a terrible tyre-kicker (my missus prefers to call me methodical and measured) so what I'll probably end up doing is save up to buy a box of my favourite out of the selection I've bought above. So anything in 25 size range will suffice (I can't see myself affording a larger number of CC's at the moment!)

I'll have a good read of the forums and we'll see what we can see :smoke:

[nicwing]

Steve, while you kick tyres (and I strongly suggest you do for a while) some of our number won't hear of spending money on burr walnut and that and prefer an Asda plastic box with a humidification tube (tube full of water retaining crystals). This device has some fancy name which I can't recall just now but it's a good cheap way to keep your stock in good nick while you check out the many humidor sites.

In terms of size, this place is littered with people who bought too small and were certain they would only buy 10 or 15 cigars and now have many many more.

Check out the sell/buy thread also, you can post a note of your requirements there and see if anyone has a spare, you will be amazed what's kicking around.

Good luck.

[Gary]

Welcome to the forum Steve :smile:

[stevecairney]

In terms of size, this place is littered with people who bought too small and were certain they would only buy 10 or 15 cigars and now have many many more.

I'll meet you half way at 50 cap ;)

Thanks for the welcome Gary :)

Oh and daverave999 (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/member.php?u=203)

I saw your homebrew effort in another thread just now, where can I find an outline how what you need to make something like that? I did catch the name 'Bovida'...

[daverave999]

I'll tell you here if you like.

Get a sealable plastic box like a coolbox (24 litre for £7 from Asda) or a large tupperware box. If it smells of plastic, clean it with very hot water then leave it to soak with a weak unscented bleach solution overnight. Then let it dry out.

You could just put your cigars straight in but they are far better inside a cigar box as this buffers the humidity and protects them from damage. Get these from your local cigar shop (cheap or free) or ask around on here.

Then you need a humidifier and a hygrometer. This (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-LCD-PANEL-HYGROMETER-ROOM-HUMIDITY-MOISTURE-MEASURE_W0QQitemZ330283139172QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN?hash=item4c e668c064&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) is actually my best performing hygrometer. For humidification, use Heartfelt (http://heartfeltindustries.com/) beads or Boveda pouches (http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/SouthSideCigar_Humidification_W0QQ_fsubZ17601824QQ _sidZ9227541QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322). Easy and cheap. Spend your cash on cigars.

[EDIT] An Oust fan is also good to circulate the air. Available from ebay or Heartfelt.

[stevecairney]

Spend your cash on cigars.

Nice one Dave. I like that mantra. You can be my friend.


What's the target humidity 75%ish?

[Simon-JG-hr]

Welcome aboard Steve!
:smoke:

You sound much like me when I first arrived on UKCF... I would smoke one or two cigars during a week-long holiday and that would pretty much be it. I'm now regularly smoking one cigar a week, and often a couple. Then there are the herfs, when a couple more get aired in addition to my weekly allowance...

As for humidity. There is a lot of debate - anything from 65-75%RH gets tossed around. Personally, I'm a fan of around the 68%RH mark, as are a few others. Generally it's probably best to be within a couple of percent of 70%RH. If you check out the wiki (link (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/ukcfwiki/index.php/Humidors)), there's quite a bit of useful information on humidors: how to pick them, set them up, maintain them etc.

Check out the threads about humidoro.de and tabak-pietsch in the 'Where to Buy' forum. They do very nice humidors, and are usually very good at sorting out excellent deals for UKCF members. It can often work out cheaper to get one of their (excellent) 100-150 capacity humis than it would to get a 25 capacity desktop from some of the main UK sellers.

[jdawg]

Welcome to our world, Steve! You have come to a great place. You will learn a lot here.

[stevecairney]

Thanks guys, I can tell I'm going to enjoy participating here. I've not seen any playground politics, which is rare on forums these days! Still, we should be all mature adults on a cigar forum!

Quick one, I know BOTL stands for Brothers of the leaf, but what's the dealio with folk having special member tags and awards and the like?

[skyhigh]

welcome the the forum Steve, i think you must be about steve number 9 now, theres bloody loads of us.

As for the awards, its Deano's way of making people feel special and loved for been nice and kind to the BOTL on here.

ps. please note i have no awards, i did try to steal the crazy Mexicans' but he set the dogs on me. i'm now of the conclusion i must just be the resident numpty.:849:

[Paulie]

Hi Steve, welcome to the forum. I have been away so a little late on this.

Smoked many a fine cigar in the valleys of Wales camping, and will be soon again!