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| How low is too low humidity for building? https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=44438 |
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| Author: | eigenwood [ Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | How low is too low humidity for building? |
I recently bought a digital humidity/temp gauge for my little shop and so far the humidity hasn't broken 35% inside my shop. Usually between 28-32%. I actually bought this thing because we've been getting "a lot" of rain lately and after reading other's worries about humidity, wondered if the humidity was too high. It seems that's not the concern. More than likely, before the winter is out the humidity around here will drop below the 20% that my gauge can register... Is it possible to build in too low of humidity? Also, if you were to take/send a guitar built in 25% humidity to somewhere like Louisiana, what are some potential issues you might have? |
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| Author: | WaddyThomson [ Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How low is too low humidity for building? |
I'd bet you a buck that the humidity is wrong on that digital unit. I have never seen one that wasn't near 10% too low. Do the wet/dry bulb test and check to a chart or a calculator on line. |
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| Author: | eigenwood [ Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How low is too low humidity for building? |
Thanks Waddy, I'll try that. |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Tue Oct 28, 2014 5:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How low is too low humidity for building? |
Did you calibrate the hydrometer after you bought it? Usually there are directions for adjusting them with the unit. Eastern Oregon is pretty dry isn't it? If you build an instrument in extremely low humidity and put it in a humid environment it will tend to swell up and increase the arching of the plates. In some cases the braces will pop loose.The action will tend to rise. |
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| Author: | Tom West [ Tue Oct 28, 2014 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How low is too low humidity for building? |
There is only one ideal humidity for building guitars.....and that's the humidity the guitar is going to live in. All the rest is just a compromise. What has come up as working is somewhere around 40% RH. Measured accurately goes without saying. To vary away from that one has to take precautions with the storage of the guitar. Letting a guitar get too dry is a quantum leap worst then letting it get too wet. In the low RH the wood wants to pull itself apart in the form of cracks, in too high a RH the wood is pushing itself together and is less likely to suffer damage. Not much help but as others have said you first have to know with some certainty what your RH is in your shop. After that you will have to make some decisions as to what you will do. Tom |
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