Humidity in Perth - Garage building

[MatthewM]

Hi All,

Long time lurker here. Last year I completed the Thomas Lloyd guitars building course.

It's taken me awhile but I have finally claimed territorial rights of the double car garage at home and converted it to a workshop.

I'm starting my first home acoustic build in about 3 weeks. I have some really nice timber to choose from and was planning to acclimate the timber in the garage a few weeks before hand.

My humidity meters are showing around 65%.

I've got a dehumidifier for the garage and I am about to seal the roller door so air can't escape (or not easily).

My question is for this time of year what % should I aim for on humidifier and whether anyone in Perth has had experience in dealing with humidity via garages in perth.

Many Thanks

Matthew

[Jeremy D]

Hi Mathew,

I was in the same situation as you when I was living in suburbia. I gave up on getting the humidity the the garage right and put the dehumidifier in a cupboard inside. This allows the dehumidifier to work efficiently. I just keep my wood and work in progress in the cupboard until I am ready to get to work. When I am doing critical gluing I make sure it is fresh out of the cupboard before glue-up and put it back in while the glue dries.

I have an external controller for the dehumidifier keep mine about 38 - 40%. 4 guitars in and I haven't had an issue yet.

[Peter Young]

Hello Mathew

When we started building down here in Albany, I went on the BOM site and worked out the average humidity for the year. Worked out to be around 50%

So ... building a guitar for Albany conditions, anything within 40 to 50 % range RH is what we go for.

Regards Peter

[simso]

Perths okay, just keep your workshop closed to the environment

Avoid bracing and joining during the downpours and all will be good

Steve

[Woodsy23]

I am in Sydney and have limited work space. I have a Delonghi CF08m dehumidifier which I put in a medium sized bathroom to control the humidity to 45% and that works well. When I put it in a double garage it barely reduced the humidity at all. You will need a bigger dehumidifier or a smaller room.

You could put a dehumidifier in a cupboard or, as I might try, a walk in greenhouse that is available at Bunnings, masters or Aldi.

[MatthewM]

Thanks guys

I don't think my wife would allow me to take over another room.

I have sealed the garage door and put a dehumidifier in. Hopefully Steve is right and won't be a big issue in perth. If it fluctuates too much ill have to go the cupboard route.

Since the rain stopped the humidity has dropped from 68 to 45.

Cheers