Hi folks
I have been a follower of this forum for a while now, and have gained a lot of valuable information along the way. Many thanks to all and a great forum. I was fortunate to meet Kim, Allan, Bob and Mike at the Albany Playmakers earlier this year (wild bunch), so a few people are already known.
I have completed 18 steel string guitars over the past 4 1/2 years and have a couple ready to brace at the moment but I am fighting humidity problems.
I have been looking at a buying a Lubra brand dehumidifier with 50 square metre capability but the supplier has informed me that 45% humidity was at the bottom end of it's range. I will be dividing off a small 3.6 x 2.0 metre insulated section to use mainly for bracing and preparing material prior to bracing, so it will only operate at 45% for periods of approx 3 days at a time.
Any suggestions or recommendations on makes, sizes, contacts etc.
Cheers Maurice
Hi and dehumidifier information
Hi Maurie , Good to see you join the forum properly. I have a DeLonghi dehumidifier running in my "kiln".Cost was about $300 and it just ticks away 24/7.Has a setting for 50% RH and it cycles around 48 to 52 RH.The space is about 3.6 x 2.4 x 2.1 and has 150mm thick cold room panel walls.I don't think it should be any drier in there as 50%RH is roughly 10%Moisture content which should be dry enough.I did run it on the Max. setting at the start with no wood in there and it got down to 26%RH.Dry as chips.I also use an exhaust fan to circulate the air in the space so there are no dead spots.I'll add some photos tonight when I get home.
If you have an area that big I would stack all the future wood in there and just leave it running.
If you have an area that big I would stack all the future wood in there and just leave it running.
Cheers from Micheal.
Remember the "5P Rule".
Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Remember the "5P Rule".
Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Welcome on board Maurice.
I've got the poverty pack model of the Delonghi, like Micheals, but its only got low, med. and high settings. And has a reservoir instead of being able to drain outside. I have to dump the reservoir every day and it pulls at least 8 liters or water out of that small room every day.
I have it in a room that is approximately 3.5 meters square. I leave it running at the low setting continuously during the wet season, and it keeps the RH at 40 - 43 % even on the wettest days up here in the summer.
During the drier part of the year, I don't use it unless I'm in the midst of getting ready to brace, and keep an eye on it until the box is closed up.
Without the controls that Micheal's has, it just keeps working away, and will pull the RH down to the low 30's when the outside RH isn't through the roof.
I've got the poverty pack model of the Delonghi, like Micheals, but its only got low, med. and high settings. And has a reservoir instead of being able to drain outside. I have to dump the reservoir every day and it pulls at least 8 liters or water out of that small room every day.
I have it in a room that is approximately 3.5 meters square. I leave it running at the low setting continuously during the wet season, and it keeps the RH at 40 - 43 % even on the wettest days up here in the summer.
During the drier part of the year, I don't use it unless I'm in the midst of getting ready to brace, and keep an eye on it until the box is closed up.
Without the controls that Micheal's has, it just keeps working away, and will pull the RH down to the low 30's when the outside RH isn't through the roof.
Hi Maurie, good to see you posting at last. 
I can't comment on Lubra brand as I have not heard of them before. Like you I have a 3.6 x 2.4 x 2.1 insulated room with a sealed door in my shed. I run an older style DeLonghi which I found at cashies cheap. I have a gobar deck set up for bracing etc so I call this area the 'glue room', however this time of year I seem to spend most of my time working in there because it's warm
. I also keep most of my tops and other soft woods such as bracing stock etc stored in there.
I turn the unit on a week or two before I intend to start bracing etc and the unit will stay on 24/7 until the guitar is completely finished as the warm dry air helps curing and keeps everything very stable. It seems the DeLonghi brand is quite popular and they have been making these units for quite a while. My old brown beast chugs away reliably keeping the RH steady between 45% and 50%. I have it set up high allowing the capture tank to self drain via an extended outlet tube. Keeping it off the floor also to reduces the amount of dust that the unit has to deal with when in operation.
Cheers
Kim
I can't comment on Lubra brand as I have not heard of them before. Like you I have a 3.6 x 2.4 x 2.1 insulated room with a sealed door in my shed. I run an older style DeLonghi which I found at cashies cheap. I have a gobar deck set up for bracing etc so I call this area the 'glue room', however this time of year I seem to spend most of my time working in there because it's warm
. I also keep most of my tops and other soft woods such as bracing stock etc stored in there. I turn the unit on a week or two before I intend to start bracing etc and the unit will stay on 24/7 until the guitar is completely finished as the warm dry air helps curing and keeps everything very stable. It seems the DeLonghi brand is quite popular and they have been making these units for quite a while. My old brown beast chugs away reliably keeping the RH steady between 45% and 50%. I have it set up high allowing the capture tank to self drain via an extended outlet tube. Keeping it off the floor also to reduces the amount of dust that the unit has to deal with when in operation.
Cheers
Kim
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Hi Maurie and welcome.
Yep, +1 for the Delonghi. This feels a little too much like a 'me too' club for my liking...
I have one of their air conditioner/de-humidifier combo units. It is nice in that mine has a digital display to set your desired humidity level which works pretty well. I also have the option to direct the collected moisture outside or have it caught in the collection reservoir. It did a good job in my old workshop and am yet to test it in the new one - no reason it won't work just as well if not better as the space is smaller.
As far as the Lubra is concerned, I too am unfamiliar with it. However, 50 square meters is a lot of space to regulate humidity within so is your supplier referring the 45% mark as the bottom of its range to this room size? I would think if it can adequately achieve even 55% at this size you should have no trouble achieving 45% in your dimensions if it is reasonably sealed. Also with respect to your '3 days a week' scenario, bear in mind as others have mentioned, if your current humidity is 85% for example, it may take a while to bring it down to 45% and regulate it there. This is why many either have it running full time, or put it on a couple of days if not weeks prior to a job and leave it running through to completion.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jeremy.
Yep, +1 for the Delonghi. This feels a little too much like a 'me too' club for my liking...
I have one of their air conditioner/de-humidifier combo units. It is nice in that mine has a digital display to set your desired humidity level which works pretty well. I also have the option to direct the collected moisture outside or have it caught in the collection reservoir. It did a good job in my old workshop and am yet to test it in the new one - no reason it won't work just as well if not better as the space is smaller.
As far as the Lubra is concerned, I too am unfamiliar with it. However, 50 square meters is a lot of space to regulate humidity within so is your supplier referring the 45% mark as the bottom of its range to this room size? I would think if it can adequately achieve even 55% at this size you should have no trouble achieving 45% in your dimensions if it is reasonably sealed. Also with respect to your '3 days a week' scenario, bear in mind as others have mentioned, if your current humidity is 85% for example, it may take a while to bring it down to 45% and regulate it there. This is why many either have it running full time, or put it on a couple of days if not weeks prior to a job and leave it running through to completion.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jeremy.
Dehumidifiers
Thanks for the info guys.
The reason I was looking at the Lubra is that it is Swiss made but of course you pay for the quality at $560 compared to $400 odd for the equivilent DeLonghi.
If you are all having success with the DeLonghi then that is what I'll get and the spare cash will cover the insulation for the room (or a back and side set) Being a more common unit spares and service shouldn't be a problem either.
Jeremy, I see where you are coming from with your comments and after putting more thought into the process I agree. As Kim stated, even after closing the box and finishing, it aids in curing. Living in Albany, the warmth won't go astray either Kim
Thanks again guys
Cheers Maurice.
The reason I was looking at the Lubra is that it is Swiss made but of course you pay for the quality at $560 compared to $400 odd for the equivilent DeLonghi.
If you are all having success with the DeLonghi then that is what I'll get and the spare cash will cover the insulation for the room (or a back and side set) Being a more common unit spares and service shouldn't be a problem either.
Jeremy, I see where you are coming from with your comments and after putting more thought into the process I agree. As Kim stated, even after closing the box and finishing, it aids in curing. Living in Albany, the warmth won't go astray either Kim
Thanks again guys
Cheers Maurice.
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