Official Luthiers Forum!

My shop is fairly big (1400 sq. ft. ) and very, very porous from above and below. No way to de-humidify it. I can keep things resonable for general woodworking with the wood stove but it is borderline and way too wet for guitar work. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so wet winters dry summers. Humidity levels are in the 65% to 70% range now and might go down with colder temps and no rain but things can go from 45% to 70% in a day. Any way I was thinking of building a small box, big enough to put all the parts of a guitar in, including a completed body. Have a few light bulbs in there and keep everything in there when I am not working on it. Not too hard to rig a thermostat or a timer for the light/lights. Anyone do anything like this and if so what was your design and how did you regulate the humidty and temp etc.
Thanks,
Link

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

I know a high profile builder who has done what you're considering. I think his box is about 4x4x4. I'm pretty sure it's equipped with a light bulb or two and a fan. Seems to work for him. (He doesn't post here, that I know of.)

Link buddy you would be better off building a slightly larger box, big enough to put you, your wood, your tools, etc. in.

Seriously if you could wall off some of that space, insulate, install a vapor barrier, get a dehumidifier and a humidifier as required you would be far better off.

Work in progress boxes just are not going to cut it when the plates the thickness that we use can start to potato chip in 20 minutes out of the box.

Now a glove box might work too.....

I am with Hesh .. with that much space, you should find an area about 10x12 min, maybe 12x16 or so, bigger if you think you can work it out, and build a completely vapour barriered room with a bench and go bar deck for building, and storage for guitar wood. A small dehumifier will then control it no problem.

I wish I had that situation ... 1400 sq ft ...

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I use home made plastic bags with desicent bags and a hygrometer. You can get them on ebay, get at least 6. Duct tape and plastic drop cloths for the bags. Desicant would work in a box, but you would be recharging it alot.

_________________
Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Thanks Tony and Hesh,
I know what you are saying would be ideal however I share the shop and it is a working shop. That is everyday it is being used to make cabinets or furniture. The space is totally maxed out. I was hoping to at least get the box done and closed before the weather changed around here but I think I missed that boat.

Frei, Could you tell me more about your situation how what you are doing is working out for you.

Link

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Its working ok, I use this link to watch humidity in general. Noting that I am in a good area, and have good humidity most of the year. Basicly you want light green or orange. I use it to see when things are going to get bad, so the wood goes in the bag.

http://merv.metr.ou.edu/weather/run12z/zz_usa_rhum.html

You can look up desicant on ebay, There is a guy who sells like 6 for 20.00 thats the best buy. You need more than 2

You still have to have decent humidity to work though, like 55-60 max, glue up, put in bag 3- 4 hours later, and monitor humidity. give it overnight to adjust, up to 8 hours. This is the worst time of year, aug through oct.

I would also store my wood I have in the garage starting in August next year... I didnt see much over 65% though...

4 mil poly drop cloths, duct tape, desicant, hyrometer (s).

_________________
Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

I too live in the PNW. It really helped to insulate and sheet rock my garage shop, but at times when humidity is high, I bring my wood and partially competed project inside.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I'm in the neighborhood as well. I ended up moving into a spare bedroom where I could control the humidity. I tried working in an unheated garage. Mario talked me out of trying to build out of a bag. It just wouldn't be worth the frustration.

_________________
Aoibeann