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I use potassium Bicarbonate in wine making so I have it on hand.
Rather than buy Potassium Carbonate can I use Potassium Bicarbonate to check a hygrometer?

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Potassium Carbonate is used commonly for checks because the RH of a saturated solution is 43 which is useful for us builder types, and doesn't vary a lot with temperature.
Good luck finding what the RH for a saturated solution of the bicarbonate, I googled it and had no luck.
P.S. Fortunately, Potassium carbonate is pretty cheap, try ebay?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Thanks Colin.Yep I tried googling it also with no luck.
I was relying on the wisdom of the group.
I may have to get a crow bar and pry my wallet open and buy the right stuff.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

a $5.99 calibration kit won't do?

FWIW, the two calibration kits I saw on Amazon test at 75% and 35%. I read somewhere (maybe here ) that assuming that the reading is linear might be a mistake. Meaning, assuming that +1 at 75% would just be +1 at 45% is not guaranteed. So the potassium carbonate test which I think hits 43% is closer to the luthier Goldilocks zone.



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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5SWLK0/re ... 1_ST1_dp_1

This amount is good for years of tests.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Well now y'all now how cheap I am.

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Bet I'm cheaper....

Three words:

Wet Bulb Testing

What Brad said about these various chemical tests have sweet spots for accuracy in terms of range where a Wet Bulb Test could care less. Two cheap lab thermometers and either a vac or fan and you're in business.

You used to be able to get those Psychro-Dyne psycrometers for pretty cheap on eBay and they are perfect for calibrating cheap hygrometers.

[quote="Hesh"
Bet I'm cheaper.....[/quote]

They call me "Nickel Dave"
When I pry my wallet open moths come flying out
I'd bet ya but I don't want to take the risk.

Thanks guys

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

"Loud Wolf" brand.. omfg -how loud is the wolf?

I think I’m going to fill a big bucket with wet potassium carbonate in the shop and keep the door closed. Then I won’t need a hygrometer because the room will always be 43%

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Brilliant!

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jw ( o)===:::

Sploosh! My mind is officially blown. "No, man! We're IN the bag! Right now!"

I was kind of surprised how much heat that little dish kicked out when I did this recently.


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They still are cheap on fleabay, and they are fantastic for calibrating.

Bob

With Potassium carbonate you get a reaction that produces heat. Shouldn't be enough to set the place on fire but not sure about a bucketful.

I suppose the bucket of wet potassium carbonate doesn’t pass the “how will I explain this to the paramedics” test. Darn.

I suppose I should say, for the record, I am not keeping an open bucket of potassium carbonate in my workshop. My typing tends to look the same whether my tongue is in my cheek or not. . .

I'm glad to hear that the reaction gives off heat though. It will give me a little more time before my hide glue gels. Wait, there I go again. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Porcelain dishes suspended from the ceiling approximately 3 feet above the work area. Should be able to get rid of any heat lamps you might be using.

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