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Controlling shop humidity
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=39545		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  AnthonyE [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Controlling shop humidity
I am just getting into making my first guitar. The biggest thing I've learned so far compared to furniture making is how important humidity is in the shop. Dealing with such thin wood is a whole lot different than what I'm typically using. I've also recently moved my shop from a basement (which had a relatively small humidity swing) to a second floor apartment. My RH at the moment is reading 27% at 70degF. Lately it has been dipping down to high teens when the temp really drop outside. BTW, I live in downeast Maine where it gets pretty darn cold. I have been shopping for a humidifier but options are endless. I would like to cover the whole apartment which I'm guessing is around 1500 sq. ft.

First off, what humidity levels should I be aiming for inside? I'm guessing 40% would be ok but is a total guess.

Second, what should I look for in a humidifier? Cool mist, evaporative, etc.? The last humidifier I almost came home with was a Kenmore 12gal 2500sq.ft. evaporative humidifier. Any comments about this thing?

Sorry is this has been covered a hundred times. Im not very good with this search function.
Author:  B. Howard [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Controlling shop humidity
I target 45% RH in the lutherie. I do not let it drop below 40% or rise above 50%, bu rI like to keep it to the lower side of that range when possible. I like to build just under the humidity the instrument will see in use and most case humidifiers seem to target 50%.

I have been using one of these for two years now in my shop and it is a dependable and trouble free unit.
http://www.vornado.com/Manuals/Ultrasonic/index.html
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Controlling shop humidity
I have a whole bunch of heating elements and various regulators and thermocouples left over from another business. I rigged up a long aluminum plate and keep that heated under a few disposable lasagna trays filled with water. Based on how dry it is I'll have the temperature of the plate somewhere between 120F and 180F...and it's enough to deal with a 2400 sq ft shop.

With a float valve and a humidity control the whole thing could be maintenance free but it's just not that much of a hassle to get me to the point of making it...or buying anything. I've already gone through two units that didn't last very long. Heating water is simple enough.

Long way of saying a hotplate and a soup pot is more than enough to add moisture to a room....you may already have the stuff for an interim solution, in other words.
Author:  Tai Fu [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Controlling shop humidity
Wet laundry inside the room works wonders to increase humidity, but also wet towels on radiators work too. Problem is it seems to take an endless supply of wet laundries to humidify even a small (less than 15 square meters) room.
Author:  Goodin [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Controlling shop humidity
What B and Zlurgh said. I keep it about 40-45%. I use one of these humidifiers (link below) and keep it near my wood stash and main working area of my 1000 sq ft basement shop. It does a great job, but obviously the father away from it the less it works so if you have a really big shop you might need two, or one bigger unit. Just be sure to get the bacteriostatic water treatment and change the filter each season. It's very easy for mold to grow in these humidifiers. http://www.lowes.com/pd_121408-12934-MA ... facetInfo=

I use a couple cheap cigar box type hygrometers around the shop to monitor humidity. I've been thinking of getting a really good one and a sling pshycrometer but haven't got around to it.
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