Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello,

I'm working on my first guitar. (I hope this question isn't beneath everyone). It's beginning to get nice outside and I heard that I should make sure that my room isn't too humid. For swelling with the wood? I was told that while I'm not working on it I could put it in a big plastic container and put some silica gel packets into it. However, I've called all over the place (photoshops) to find silica gel packets. No one has any clue as to where I could get some.

Does anyone have any input about this and watching for humidity?

Thank you!

Micah D.

I guess the first step is to find out what your RH is. Do you have a hygrometer? You can pick up a relativly cheep one at radio shack. They are not as accurate as you might hope but it will let you know if your in the ballpark. Most try for 42-45% or so. Where are you located?John How38460.7221643519

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

High Humidity is NOT your friend! I live in Florida where the RH is 80% on a dry day. Forget about silica gel packs that isn't going to do the job for you. As John said you need to control the humidity not eliminate it. I don't think you could remove it with the silica gel packs anyway. You probably would need a thousand or so. I don't know. Anyway the idea is that you need to be able to control the area that the guitar is going to spend most of it's time in...even if it's just a closet.
I keep my show/storage room at 45%RH regardless of temperature.Dave-SKG38460.7396064815

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

A search of the archives here at the luthiers forum keyword "humidity" (be sure to select "search all archives") should turn up several recent threads with lots of info.

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Micah,

Welcome to OLF! It can be a huge blessing to your endeavors.

There's a reason they put silica gel packs in sensitive equipment where humidity needs contol (albeit on a small level), apparently it's not snack food, , so give it a try with a hygrometer packed inside.

Hardware stores sell a small tub of some dessicant for putting in damp enclosed areas like cupboards. ("Damp-Rid"??)Several ounces-probably equal to thousands of those little packs!

You'll have to experiment. Cheaper than a dehumidifier, but you may need to resort to one. Central air may slow it down a little. Some places (Florida) can be really tough.

Try the easiest things first, and research the archives too.

Let us know how it goes! Again, glad you're here.

I would certainly avoid using silica gel. We use it in the Laboratory where I work in glass desiccator jars - if you use enough (a few handfuls in a guitar sized container) it gets the humidity down to only a few percent or less. You don't want to desicate your guitar, it'll crack if you do (don't ask me how I know this).

Search the archives here, and at mimf. You'll need to get humidity under control and there are several ways to go about it, but silica gel isn't one of them - it's too extreme.

silica gel dryers are sold specifically for instuments. the likes of first quality music, elderly instuments and mandolin bros sell them to protect the premium, often vintage collectable instruments they specialize in. but to use any humidity control device you must know what you are trying to control; get a hygrometer. a cheap case, a flat plastic storage box sold at big box stores, whatever will serve as a contolable environment for storage. they will work to control humidity in your storage container. but without the hygrometer you are like a driver on the freeway blindfolded!!! you've got brakes and gas but have no idea where you are going!!!       crazymanmichael38461.4836111111

Yeah, what he said!

How quickly can high humidity affect instrument wood? I have to work in my basement which is quite damp, but I always bring my projects upstairs between work sessions. I have seen significant dimensional changes in lumber that was stored in the basement and then brought out. I wonder how long I might be able to leave thin pieces such as tops and back down there before I can expect problems. So far when gluing braces, lining and stuff I have done it in a manner that I can carry the whole mess back upstairs while the glue dries. But I'd like to set up a go-bar deck and that would be too big to move.

In the summer time my basement humdity probably stays around 75-85%.

[QUOTE=MicahD] Hello,
(I hope this question isn't beneath everyone).
Micah D.[/QUOTE]

Not a chance!
Welcome to the OLF Micah!

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I have heard if the finished instrument is going to stay in 80% humidity than it's ok to build in 80%. But, don't bring that instrument to a 20% envoronment for too long.
If your wood storage aria is different humidity than your shop, I've seen folks hang there tops in the shop for a week or so to let it condision to the shop RH level before working with it. As said, 45% is the rule of thumb "in between" safty zone.

_________________
Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com