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Help! Going nuts waiting for RH to drop.
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=7438		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  burbank [ Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:20 am ]
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It's usually 35 to 40 % RH this time of year, but we've had an unusually wet spring and early summer, still around 50% RH. Been waiting weeks to start gluing braces on the joined top and back of my little Terz.

I'm going to get a dehumidifier, plug it in, and start gluing after the wood settles down. I've got a small basement space, about 70 sq ft, where I store wood and will be gluing out in the garage/shop. I need something small and quiet. Hesh, you have one, IIRC. Anybody else?

Don't know a thing about them, this being a dry area, normally. Any advice? What should I get?

Pat
Author:  Martin Turner [ Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:20 pm ]
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Pat,

Whats the temperature in your workshop. If you only need to drop the
humidity a bit and its not already too hot in your shop you could try a
heater.

Another option is to store your work in a drying box while youre not
working on it. Drying box can be as as simple as a ply box with a light
bulb inside it.

Cant help you on choice of dehumidifiers sorry..down here in Australia
theres not alot of choice. The Mitsubishi units used to be the best but
they stopped importing them last year. My unit is a chinese made no
name unit which does the job but the built in humidistat could be better.
During the colder months I run a 400 watt ceramic panel heater around
the clock to keep temp at about 17 deg C.
Author:  burbank [ Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:15 pm ]
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Hesh,

I only got as far as bending sides, doing linings and endblocks early spring, then it got warmer and humid. Since then I did get most of the other stuff done -- neck, braces, etc. But now like you, I'm itchin'!

Come to think of it, any power, like 500 watts that a dehumidifier consumes is bound to be simply put out into the room as heat. I thought those things sounded too good to be true.

Martin,

The box thing sounds good, or the heater, since my storage area is in the basement and it stays pretty cool.

Thanks for the tips, gentlemen!
Author:  old man [ Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:27 pm ]
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I have the same problem a lot here in Arkansas. Except our weather is really weird now, too. Yesterday and today our humidity(which is normally about 70% in July) was around 38%!!! I got two tops and two backs braced. Going to be too humid to close boxes, though, for another week or so, so everything is stored in the house under weights to keep that radius until then. I can still finish carving the braces and fit the tops and backs inside on the dining room table and wait. My wife wouldn't appreciate my go bars flying around inside.

Ron
Author:  MSpencer [ Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:53 pm ]
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I can relate, humidity down here should be similar to Ron's in Arkansas but has been staying between 36-50%.
I got my DeHumidifier from WalMart, the only one in the entire town when I went looking. It is really quiet, auto set and not really that large. I have not noticed it throwing alot of heat into the room, but I am also running an AC so it could be. It was around $139.00 as I recall. I can set it on 45% and it takes it there pretty fast I might add. You guys saw my shop, some insulation but not much and not really air tight, but this little unit I have coupled with the AC seems to keep things in check.

Mike
White Oak, Texas
Author:  Todd Rose [ Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:42 am ]
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Bear in mind that just because you get the humidity down to 45% or whatever on a given day, that doesn't mean the wood has reached equilibrium with that RH instantly. If my shop had been at a high RH for a period of time, I wouldn't start gluing on braces or plates to rims until I had the shop at a fairly constant 38% - 46% for at least a few days. What matters is the moisture content of the wood, and that changes much more slowly than the RH of the air.
Author:  old man [ Sun Jul 09, 2006 4:52 am ]
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I keep what I'm working on in the house and don't glue up in the shop until that humidity is close to the house humidity level.

Ron
Author:  MSpencer [ Sun Jul 09, 2006 4:59 am ]
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Good comment Todd, I agree fully

I run my Dehumidifier 24/7 set at 45% and the A/C 24/7 with temp set around 78 degrees. Cost a little in energy but sure is nice and comfortable when I find shop time.

Mike
White Oak, Texas
Author:  TimDet [ Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:35 am ]
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I shoot for about 45 - 48% @ 75 deg F.
In the summer Here in the north east, we need dehumidification, and AC.
In winter I use a humidifier, and those portable oil filled radiators to suppliment the fixed propane 45,000 btu money hog!
Shop is a 70 yr. old 20'x20' hip roof, well insulated,drywalled ,wooden framed ,garage/shop. Electric gets a little steep though.          ;           ;Hope this gives some proportionality to your problem
Tim
Oh I almost forgot I live next to a Lake/Resevoir.
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