How Much Humidity Is Enough?

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:40 am

It is the old story. The more factors that come into play, the more monitoring that is required. As human nature would have it, you tend to forget to check things as often as perhaps you should. You are right Jnbass, you may pay the price unless you are vigilant. I just thought silica gel would be an option in this case.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:19 am

I don't have any experience with silica packs and guitars but I bought something recently that had two large packs which had instructions for baking them when they became saturated. It's tempting to try them out.

However, my concern would be how quickly these absorbed moisture. If in fact they are quite efficient in such a confined space, I'm not sure that would be good for the instrument; certainly we've always recommended a slow acclimatization.

But it sounds like Taylor has had favorable results and I will defer to their experience, noting that they may have done some testing to select an appropriate type and size silica pack.

Taylor has some significant humidity control gear in their plant due to their location and 47% would be more appropriate for exotic or tropical woods. That won't hurt Maple but 35% is still a better target for our product.

jayfbv · Post by **jayfbv** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:32 am

The "Desi Pak"s I got from Taylor are from these guys:
http://www.sud-chemie.com/scmcms/web/content.jsp

There's something about Tyvek packaging also.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:17 am

Here is a reasonably good information source regarding silica gel packs.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 3:02 am

With regard to humidifying guitar cases, I have conducted a brief test using the claypot humidifiers and have found that I can get tolex and SKB cases to the 40% range. I find the SKB cases to hold slightly higher humidity levels. For $5 the claypot humidifiers are well worth the investment. I hope I haven't mist anything.

sneakers · Post by **sneakers** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:20 am

There is a government restriction regarding the consumption of silica packets. You see them a lot in pill containers to keep them dry. There's always a warning label that says, "do not eat." The government does not want you to eat the packets because it gives you the ability to read people's thoughts. Eating the substance within the round canister inside a smoke alarm will do the same thing. Do not try this at home, I may add.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:21 am

Joe: I love your dry sense of humor.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 5:55 am

I don't know just how my personal experience living in a more humid climate helps this discussion, but here goes. I was in Hawaii from early '02 to the end of '03.Had a house about 6 blocks from the ocean. Probably no more than around 100 feet give or take above sea level.Constant temps of low-mid 70s to mid hi 80s.
Actual humidity level, I never checked, but suffice to say, higher than winters in Minnesota.
I had 2 Martin Acoustics, 2 Rick 360 style guitars, 2 Fender solid bodies, and an old Guild semi hollow bass.The acoustics I was most concerned about, however, I found that in 2 years of being stored in cases, in a Warm closet, None of my guitars Ever needed any neck adjustment.As to salt air on metal surfaces; no tuners ever corroded on me, though I need to go over some frets with steel wool when I get some spare time.
Bronze acoustic strings get pretty funked up in the tropical environment in no time at all.My experience, anyway, YMMV...

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:42 am

You guys are 'on the case', I must say. And that Peter has a great sense of humidity as well.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:55 am

LOL Randy. Thanks, but I don't know weather others would agree. Humdity is, after all, such a relative term.

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 8:00 am

"Humdity is, after all, such a relative term". So then,it's hereditary, right?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 8:06 am

I think thats negatory, Randy.

philco · Post by **philco** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 9:01 pm

Caig Laboratories DeOxit will solve your corroded jack and scratchy pot problems caused by high humidity. You'll find it in PROFESSIONAL electronic parts supply houses, not Radio Shack. Or order it straight from Caig.

I have brought in 6 guitars and basses to Texas from out of state in the past 15 months. All of them needed neck adjustments when I got them and another adjustment or three as they settled into their new home. I set my action moderately low, so neck adjustments are more critical. My humidity is 33% as I write, and never allowed to go above 55% for any length of time. This is to prevent mold growth on everything else BUT the instruments. If you have mold growing on instruments, worry about your health and home first before worrying about your toys. There's no way mold will grow on a Rickenbacker below 55% humidity.

In the Navy, I had Nikon, Koni Omega, Leica, and Canon cameras ON the ocean, hundreds of miles from land, not just near it. Got a few green spots where the finish had worn through to the brass body parts. Never had an electrical problem with any of them, but I used them regularly. I have had cameras go bad sitting in the camera bag, hundreds of miles from any ocean and dry as a bone, and disuse was the culprit. A little DeOxit in key spots, a little exercise, and back in business. Disuse will ruin a mechanical pro camera shutter speed control faster than everyday heavy use. I have a Rollei with ******* out slow speeds, that I hardly ever used, but the much used high speeds work OK after nearly 28 years and never an adjustment or lube. Using your guitar regularly will keep the pots and switches free of contact corrosion, just as it does for cameras.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:03 am

Peter, if you were to spread the contents of the silica packets around a cemetary, you would be desiccating graves.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:49 am

Agreed Gary, but this is not written in stone.