curvaceous humidor project progress

[Bill Wyko]

I just wanted to give you guys a little tease of my latest project. A fellow BOTL (Brother Of the Leaf) Who is also a member here, Scott Thornton, commissioned me to build him a curvaceous humidor. Here is the beginning of the project. It's made of Bubinga and the panels will be made of waterfall Bubinga. Here are some teaser pics.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372858062.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372858059.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372858065.jpg
Here is the veneer for the cabinet panels.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/21581718/355936998.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/21581718/355936883.jpg

[Brian Effinger]

Wow, Bill, that looks like it is complicated. Take lots of progress pictures. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would want to see them.

Brian

[Bill Wyko]

I'm starting the curved panels today. I can onld put one panel lamination in the vacuum bag at a time here in the desert. The Plastic resin glue starts kicking too fast in our heat. :D

[Brent Smith]

You've got me hooked Bill. My imagination is running wild on the possibilities here. I'm fairly certain though that the finished project is going to put to shame anything that I can dream up!

[ROY DICK]

Bill,
Holy Cow, Wow and Thud.

Roy

[Bill Wyko]

I made the first curved panel and let it cure over night. I'm book matching the veneer now and getting ready to put it back in the bag. The saddest part of this build is that it won't be in my house in the end.:D
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372990632.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372990635.jpg

[Mike Wilkins]

I made the first curved panel and let it cure over night. I'm book matching the veneer now and getting ready to put it back in the bag. The saddest part of this build is that it won't be in my house in the end.:D
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372990632.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372990635.jpg

The last sentence in your post is very true. I have started taking photos of my projects to prove that I actually build things, because most of what I do build is bound for other locations. Great start to what will be a fine home for those Toros. H. Upmann and Crown Royal, straight up. Great finish to a long day.

[Todd Young]

How many cigars will that hold, 1000? I'm not a BOTL, but that sure looks like it's awfully big for a humidor. I could very well be missing something though. Definitely wouldn't be the first time.

Bill, as usual, you're tackling projects I don't dare dream of trying to put together.

I absolutely love the waterfall Bubinga. I'll be following this thread with anticipation of the finished product.

[John Thompson]

Excellent start on a complicated design. That WF bubinga is just outstanding to say the least. Looking forward to end result.

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks guys. It should be able to hold 200 boxes and over 1000 single cigars. Cigar connoisseurs are like wine connoisseurs. They let them age and collect many different kinds. Scott Thornton, a member here, is the person I'm building it for. He came into town to see the progress and brought a couple 31 year old Montecristo cigars for us to enjoy. What a treat that was. Probably the finest cigar I've ever smoked. Thanks Scott if you read this. :D Right now I've got the panels for the back in the vacuum bag. Next week I'll be putting the veneer on 5 of the panels and fitting them to the framework. Once I get past all the bending it should all come together much quicker. I wish I had 5 or 6 big vacuum systems I could run at once.:D I've still got the 3 doors to bend but that will come after it's almost done. I want to fit the doors after all the glueing and weight has been added to it. This way any wood movement or slight shifting will have already happened and I can build doors that fit perfect. Flush doors can make or break a fine piece of wood work.:eek:

[Alan Greene]

Bill, looking forward to seeing the completed project. I am definitely intrigued.

[Matt Evans]

Hmm. . .

I could use a humidor that large. . .Looking very nice! How are you doing the cedar? Or are you going to? And, what kind/size hygrometer is getting installed? I would be interested in seeing that detail, personally. . .

The other day I broke out my last cigar. Running low on pipe tobacco as well. It has been 6 months since I bought any, so it looks like another order is in order!

Have you ever built a humidor for pipes and pipe tobacco, as well as cigars?

I haven't gotten around to building one for both, but plan to sometime soon. Still kicking the design from one end of left field to the other.

[David Keller NC]

My, my - a thousand cigars!?! Makes my handtool addiction look cheap by comparison. Can such an investment be insured?

[Matt Evans]

My, my - a thousand cigars!?! Makes my handtool addiction look cheap by comparison. Can such an investment be insured?


Yes it can. Not all insurance companies do insure cigars, but I have run across two people that have their collection insured. Of course, neither of those two smoke cigars, they just collect, which seems odd to me. Why collect something like cigars if you aren't going to enjoy them fully?

I have the same reaction to people who collect wine and liquor, but don't drink. Sure, when displayed properly they look nice, but whats the point?

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks everyone. It will be lined in Spanish Cedar. I haven't settled on the humidifier yet. I want something that will give even humidification and be easy to service.

[Harold Shay]

WOW AGAIN! that grain movement is great. I am here to see the progress and final out come.
Harold

[Bill Wyko]

Hi guys, more progress this week. Here are the sides and the back panels sitting in their future homes. They aren't glued in, just held with duct tape for now. Enjoy.:D
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/373963315.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/373963316.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/373963309.jpg

[John Shuk]

Bill,
Is this being built on spec or is there a customer waiting? It is a beautiful piece but then yours always are.

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks. It's for a customer. He's a member here, Scott Thornton. Great guy. He was in town a couple weeks ago. We had a couple great cigars he brought and BSed for a few hours. Now that the bending is for the most part done, it should come together much quicker now. I can't wait to see the Bubinga with some finish on it.:D

[Scott Thornton]

Looking amazing Bill! I enjoy my update pics you have been sending.

Bill is truly amazing at what he does and is great to work with. I have been learning a lot from seeing his work. I don't think I could ever tackle something like this.

Keep the pics coming!

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks Scott and thanks for having the faith in me to let me build this for you. I'm having a blast building this for you.:D

[Larry Fox]

For some reason I can't see the pics here - anyone else have this issue? These are pics I really want to see as Bill's work is phenominal.

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks Larry. I sent you a PM with some pics. Let me know if you get them.:)

[Bill Wyko]

Here's a little prievew of the bubinga with one coat of finish on it. You might say the calm before the storm.:D
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/374230792.jpg

[william scott]

So, the curved rails (top and bottom) are steam bent? How easy is it to bend this wood? What type of glue will you be using for the panels?

This will be a keepsake for sure! Scott is a lucky guy.

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks for asking. The curved rails are actually bent lamination's. I started bycutting 6 -3/16" x 9 inch x 56" pieces on the bandsaw. Then I drum sanded them down to 1/8" thickness. Then I used plastic resin glue to put between the layers and quickly put them in the vacuum bag over the previously made form. By doing one wide bend then cutting it down for the cabinet rails and door rails, I'm assured uniformity from the cabinet to the doors. I also use the same jig to bend the panels, again maintaining the proper matching curve to the rails. Here are some pics of the process.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22329587/370335465.jpg
This form was covered with bending plywood before it was put into use.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22329587/370335469.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/370928425.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/370928407.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/371265020.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/372990632.jpg

[Bill Wyko]

Here's a shot of what I like to call the stilleto leg.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/374410959.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22274127/374410953.jpg

[Bill Wyko]

Here ya go. A little better look at what it will be.:D Nothing glued up yet, just mocked up.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22329587/376041709.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/22329587/376041715.jpg

[Jeff Willard]

Can such an investment be insured?

Sure can, and that question reminds me of a story that circulates around smoke shops. Seems that a wealthy attorney had a collection of rare sticks that were insured, and made a claim that they were destroyed in a series of "small, controlled, fires". Of course the insurance company refused the claim, so he fought it in court, and won. The tables were turned though when the insurance company had him arrested for arson and insurance fraud :D. End of thread hijack.

[Rick Moyer]

I thought you were going to say the "small, controlled fires" were when he was smoking the cigars!
(read it again, maybe that was the point!???)

[Tony Bilello]

I see where you cold molded them. My question is did you use standard 1/4 " Luan or bendable luan or bendable MDF?

[Jeff Willard]

I thought you were going to say the "small, controlled fires" were when he was smoking the cigars!
(read it again, maybe that was the point!???)

'Zackly ;).

[Bill Wyko]

I see where you cold molded them. My question is did you use standard 1/4 " Luan or bendable luan or bendable MDF?
Just standard MDF. 1/8" layers for the panels. I'll be putting a sealer on the inside of them to prevent absorbtion of moisture. The reason for using MDF is its stability. I have had plywood move very slightly under hight humidity. It was enough to warp a lid on a desk top. I can't take any chances in this application. :)

[Gary Herrmann]

Beautiful work as always, Bill.

Now if only I didn't lie to my wife about that occasional cigar...

[Rob Robinson VT]

WOW! That is just plain gorgeous. :cool: Thanks for sharing it with we lowly wood butchers who are still trying to master bookshelves and garage cabinets.

[Dan Manning]

As for the insurance part, I don't think the carrier will insure them against fire. Someone already tried that. They bought a load of Expensive cigars, had them insured and then enjoyed them. (Claimed they perished by fire...) The insurance paid off, then had him arrested for arson...:eek:

A humidor that size would need a HALON system in it! Real nice work!

[Bill Wyko]

HAHAAA If they insured them against fire, I would have a big claim. I burn every cigar I get.:D

[Rob Robinson VT]

HAHAAA If they insured them against fire, I would have a big claim. I burn every cigar I get.:D
That, I believe, is the whole idea! :D Wife made me give them up but still allows me one now and then on special occasions, such as holidays.

btw, absolutely love your tagline :cool: - I'm also in the CE biz and spent most of my career in sales/marketing for manufacturers of loudspeakers (Bose, JBL, Infinity,Tannoy, KLH, RSL, etc.) and high-end home theater components. Now retired but still involved with CEA as an Innovations & Mark of Excellence judge and SBC mentor and have a part-time post-retirement career as an ISF-certified HDTV calibrator. Perhaps we'll run into each other at CES?

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks very much. I haven't gone to CES in the last couple years due to the economy but I've built 14 MFg's demo vehicles over the years that were used at CES. I don't know if I'll make it this year or not. If you think of it, contact me before the show and maybe we can get together for a cigar.:D

[Rob Robinson VT]

Thanks very much. I haven't gone to CES in the last couple years due to the economy but I've built 14 MFg's demo vehicles over the years that were used at CES. I don't know if I'll make it this year or not. If you think of it, contact me before the show and maybe we can get together for a cigar.:D
Will do, you bring the cigars, I'll buy the drinks! :D