Official Luthiers Forum!

I guess it's question week for me...

I have a dehumidifier that works pretty well (the actual spot where I do all the hand work is pretty small), buy I need a CHEAP humidifier I can leave running that will automatically run when it needs to.

I say cheap, because I'm a luthier, and luthier actually means poor and cheap in the old tongue!

Since I work so much, I need the little shop to run it'self so when I get home I'm ready to roll...

Currently it's 32%, I prefer 40-45 as a standard...

Just looking for ideas...

Thanks

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

I live in the mountains of New Mexico where it can be very dry as far as humidity is concerned, sometimes 4-5%. I use a couple of console humidifiers like shown in the link below, only mine were Kenmore from sears. One in the house, one in the shop. They do a good job, but the humidity gauge they use for a control is way off.
https://www.amazon.com/MA1201-Whole-Hou ... umidifiers

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

The filters are expensive, don't last long and are sometimes very hard to get in right. Just waiting for mine to die or run out of filters...

Twenty + years on these...

http://www.sears.com/kenmore-humidifier ... ockType=G1

For humidifiers, "filters" and "wicks" are usually synonyms. They get mineral deposits and a "dry" surface that rejects water. They can be rejuvenated to some degree simply by flushing them under the tap. They can be rejuvenated more by chemical soakings that remove more of the minerals. I usually soak in a solution with some vinegar. Some people use bleach. Too much bleach can actually dissolve the wicks. I went from the wicks being clogged in two weeks, which some people then replace, to being able to clean the wicks and reuse them for at least a year.

There are types of humidifiers that have a rotating wick which submerges then is moved back into the air stream. These do not seem to clog.

I've been using a water treatment & bacteriostatic solution with good success. It's greatly improved the the life of my wicking filters.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com