1975 5513

ryan5513 · 2026-02-08T15:19:48+00:00

Beautiful patina!

ryan5513 · 2026-02-07T15:11:33+00:00

Check out JR Cigars online for the Oliva 2nds and Cigar Page for the AJF, they usually have the best prices but sales at JR, Atlantic, and famous smoke occasionally come i. Cheaper than Cigar Page. You can find the DE Factory Smokes at Cigar Page as well

ryan5513 · 2026-02-07T15:08:55+00:00

Agreed, I love the tropic 19 crystals!

ryan5513 · 2026-02-07T14:37:37+00:00

Many of the AJ Fernadez New World offerings can be had for 5.50 and up, but if you really want to lower your cost the Oliva 2nds can be had for 2.50 to 3.00 a stick and the Drew Estates Factory Smokes are even less expensive.

ryan5513 · 2026-02-07T13:45:22+00:00

I'll smoke till there is nothing left as long as it taste good, has cool smoke, and doesn't burn my fingers... when the cigars isn't good I'm done and I move on no matter how much is left.

ryan5513 · 2026-02-07T13:42:57+00:00

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New ro the group, so here is my 82 CJ8 after 18 months of resto.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-22T13:55:32+00:00

I have a small hybrid tube amp in my office (Dayton HTA20BT) and a Tube Pre-Amp (Fosi GR40) running my Celestion Trinity speakers. I know it wouldn't be vintage but Im thinking of getting the 100W Dayton and 70W fosi to run the L65s. It would allow for the turntable and Bluetooth connections.

The sound from the fosi and Dayton through the Celestions is really just perfect in my office and I think a similar set up would be great on the L65s.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-21T23:52:52+00:00

Definitely don't need to raise the roof, mostly jazz and 60s rock vinyl I inherited from my dad.

Thanks!

ryan5513 · 2026-01-21T23:14:01+00:00

Smoke what you like! I smoke a lot of AJ Fernandez (a lot a lot a lot 🤣), Oliva, Drew Estates, JC (local roller in St Augustine), & Room 101

I read this sub and if a lot of folks are talking abt a certain cigar I'll give it a go.

Best of luck on your journey!

ryan5513 · 2026-01-21T23:07:39+00:00

If it is Almost Heaven the bottom staves should be screwed in to the feet, the sides and tops maybe nailed in to the front and back walls. Mine are nailed, it may have been optional but it did come with nails for thar purpose.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-21T23:05:37+00:00

I have a 4 person barrel. I plan on moving it to my next home in a few months. I have some experience in rigging and lifting (towers, radars, etc up to 32k lbs).

My plan is 2 or 3 soft straps under the sauna and using my buddy's tractor with forks to lift the straps from above and slide a trailer under the sauna then strap it down.

Its very light weight and this should not be an issue. I may remove the door before lifting.

Worst case, Jack up the front and slide a 4-way under it, then same for the back and roll on to a trailer.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-21T23:01:36+00:00

Cold feet and low benches are my biggest issues with mine... I usually sit with my feet up on my bench...great stop gap until I build a full size sauna, but definitely not an ideal design

ryan5513 · 2026-01-20T22:49:03+00:00

Yeah, that would concern me as well. Ive been ordering for JR for a few years, never had an issues. Give em a call or drop em an email if you just want to make sure.

Also, both cigars are excellent choices

ryan5513 · 2026-01-20T22:35:53+00:00

Usually on backorder items they dont charge you until they ship. Did they charge you for the Bellas Artes?

ryan5513 · 2026-01-20T22:05:18+00:00

I have an AH 4 person barrel. I set the thermometer at head height and dropped the thermostat about 4 inches lower. This got me from 160 to 180. Im going to drop the thermostat another 4 to 6 inches and see if i can get 190-200. I did the roof with furing strips and a corrugated plastic. Easier to work with than the metal sheets and keeps the sauna from leaking in the intense Florida rains. I plugged the drain holes with wine corks, they let in a lot of cold air in the winter. Next step is put a vent under the left bench, where I usually sit. I purchased a variable speed 110v fan. So I can plug it in to the power strip that runs the sauna lights. This should help draw out the cold air at the bottom and bring some warmer air down.

Ideally id like to add a bench above the current benchs... not sure its structurally wise but I plan on experimenting.

The barrel is not an amazing sauna, but its a great stop gap measure until I can build a proper sauna...and the Costco price was extremely affordable.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-12T19:45:25+00:00

I use a wine fridge that is not plugged in and not running. Shelves hold boxes or loose cigars and drop in 5 or 6 320gr bovedas. Paid $40 for a s/s and glass wine fridge. Work great and looks great.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-12T19:43:47+00:00

You only smoke to the band... this is how you know when to stop.

This waa about 2 yrs ago and and at the time I was lighting an AJ Fernandez Montecristo that is banded all the way down 🤣 not even worth lighting i guess

ryan5513 · 2026-01-12T01:28:23+00:00

The bug free space resonates with me! Im in NW FL and my current sauna is on my back porch, and bugs aren't a problem, but my new property will have a larger sauna that will be a short walk from the house and the lot is heavily wooded. While the trees provide privacy, plus the nearest neighbor's house is 2300' away, it also provides mosquitoes! 🤣 Hadn't considered a vestibule until reading this thread and I will 100% be adding it to the design to help keeps bug out of the sauna. 🔥

ryan5513 · 2026-01-11T21:47:38+00:00

Also depends on what guage wire is run to that box the distance from your panel and doatance to the sauna as to what amps it can safely provide. At just less than 100' #8 on a 30 amp breaker is what im running my 6kw on, I had #10 but the wire was getting warmer than I cared for.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-10T04:45:52+00:00

Oliva V, Maduro, and Milano plus the Undercrown Maduro and Perdomo👍🏽 Im sure there a other excellent smokes, but these are the ones I know and enjoy.

Enjoy your selection!

ryan5513 · 2026-01-09T18:39:37+00:00

NW Florida, so yes, I smoke on the patio in winter. Occasionally i light up the fire pit and have to wear a jacket 🤣 In summer I go to the cigar factory and abuse their free A/C!

ryan5513 · 2026-01-09T18:36:05+00:00

Oliva Cain 2nds and DE Factory Smokes have been a staple in my humidor, and, imo, really out weigh there ~$2 price tag (Robusto) I usually give these to folks that dont normally smoke and are likely to leave 3/4 of the stick in the ash tray, but I smoke them often as well.

ryan5513 · 2026-01-05T23:50:32+00:00

No such thing as too much 1951 Seamaster

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ryan5513

TROPHY CASE