Guitar Shop Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers, & Hygrometers: Best Tools For Measuring & Managing Humidity

Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers, & Hygrometers, and Other Tools For Measuring & Managing Guitar Shop Humidity. 👉Online Course: Guitar Humidity & Advanced Applications - theartoflutherie.com/humidity/
The importance of measuring and managing the relative humidity of your guitar shop can not be overstated. In this video, we discuss why this is so vital for the safety and stability of your guitars and what tools I have found to work the best for my small guitar shop; including Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers, Hygrometers & More. We look at the different types of humidifiers & dehumidifiers and discuss the pros and cons of each type, specifically for guitar building and guitar shop relative humidity; all with the goal of creating a safe and stable environment to build guitars that have fewer chances of cracking or developing structural problems while we are working and long after they leave our workshop.
👉TOOLS FROM THE VIDEO:
Boneco Steam Humidifier (My favorite & what I currently use): geni.us/OR9BLH
AirCare Evaporative Humidifier: geni.us/pzQ785L
Antibacterial Additive For Cold Evaporative Humidifiers (Bacteriostatic): geni.us/AhVgIF0
AcuRite Digital Hygrometer (My Favorite): geni.us/k83Aa
Wood Moisture Meter: geni.us/OVlxa
Dehumidifier I Use and recommend: geni.us/TtP7
Dayton Humidity Controller: geni.us/EbWs7q
Other Humidity Controller Options: geni.us/HF72rXy
👉Ultimate Guide To Luthier Tools:
theartoflutherie.com/luthier-...
👉The Ultimate Guide To Guitar Humidity Article: theartoflutherie.com/guitar-h...
👉Learn more about the Luthier's EDGE online guitar-making school here:
theartoflutherie.com/luthier-...
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[@gregoire8376]

Great video - I appreciate the practical tips that come from Tom's experience with tools and processes and that help us all build better guitars. Bravo!!

[@CedarBenjamin]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@ScottHOlson]

Thanks so much for this video! I too was using cheap humidifiers that were leaving residue all over everything, but after seeing your video I purchased the AirCare model you highlighted. It's the perfect solution for my spare room home studio. Thanks again.

[@user-ll4kf5jk1j]

That's a great video!! Congratulations for the recent humidity course, I completed it a few days ago!!

[@KBorham]

Plot spoiler alert: 45% Rh at 72 degrees. You're welcome : )

[@guitarman7169]

I have been using a LeVoit(relative humidity is consistent with my hygrometer readings) and adding a small amount of vinegar to alleviate the pink mold that builds up in the humidifier. This is a 2.5 gallon LeVoit and I have roughly and 800 sf Den where most of my guitars(72) are. Great results, maintains consistent % +/- 3-5. The room is an addition in 1979 w/code insulation. I am always checking the guitars for any changes. Playing and knowing the "feel" of the particular guitar is a great tell. Good video and very informative.

[@markhill9275]

This is such an important issue for guitarists. I set up a bedroom as a practice room, a reasonable collection of guitars amps etc. Finallt got it humidity controlled! Boneco humidifier, Vremi dehumidifier and an Inkbird controller to control both and keep within 3% of 45% humidity. Now to hang the guitars on the wall, bring them out of cases!

[@jimleary2419]

Excellant video. Thanks for the personal references to the pro's and con's.

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CMRWoodworks]

Cool stuff man. I ended up buying the LG dehumidifier as part of transitioning my woodshop over to a guitar workshop and I will get it running this weekend. Thanks for the video!!

[@CMRWoodworks]

Followup: the LG has been awesome and got me through the summer here in Atlanta without any issues whatsoever. I just ordered the Boneco humidifier Tom recommended in preparation for going into winter.

[@Leo_Safko]

Thanks for this! I'm going to order the Boneco...Merry Christmas!🤘

[@1234mikeirving]

Thank you so much!

[@lynntunes]

Thanks. Bought Boneco 450, will see how it works!

[@jimbove4278]

Awesome video!! I have a whole house humidifier that works with my heating system that keeps humidity levels in my 300 sq ft guitar storage room between 32% and 36% during most of the winter. I'm guessing that using an auxiliary humidifier like the Boneco S450 in the guitar room to boost the level to 45% would take considerably less water than your 1.5 gallons per day to maintain the desired humidity level. Do you agree? Thanks

[@nitrostrikeblade3395]

nice

[@Warisbusinessmusic]

for the room I am looking to humidify it generally seems very warm in the winter compared to the rest of the house. It is the room above our gas fireplace in a duplex and the neighbour on the other side has a wood fireplace so the chimney runs the room very warm. Do you think the evaporated air one would work better for that space? Because I think if it gets any hotter I think it will feel tropical. We can lower the radiator in the room but likely would still run hot no matter what.

[@tomfattoruso3667]

Hello was wondering if you can help me...I turned a closet in my home into a guitar display/storage...closet is about 7ft wide and 2ft deep and 8ft high. I pilut wood glass door on the front. What humidifier do you recommend I use? Some I've read people say they leak on floor and after watching your video did not realize there was different kinds. When I went to my local guitar center they told me they get cheap ones from Amazon!! If you can help guide me I would appreciate it thank you

[@Mr.Monster1313]

My problem is hot and cold..summer and winter..do i have to do something diff for diff seasons..hot or cold ?

[@thelowmein9143]

What is you recommendation for end users? I know it’s likely best to put the in-case units in each of my instrument cases. But what would be the best thing to do if wanted to humidify my entire closet at once? I have about 12 guitars.

[@Mr.Monster1313]

Should i only humidify in winter? Or summer? Or both ? Im confused..and my guitars are getting ruined..bent necks and an old gibson 50s..cracked :( Help.

[@Fernandorivasc]

Excellent video, it will be cool to know some cheaper alternatives than the boneco S450, is kinda pricey

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

Yes, it is very expensive. I finally started using that one because the cheaper ones either stopped working or got so dirty and gross after one year that they had to be replaced. The Bonco, as long as you clean it when it tells you to, stays clean, never gets stinky or anything, and has lasted several years so far. To me, it's worth the cost

[@crabejoss]

Just a question : white box for winter black for summer? Are they able to run both at the same Time doing their auto measurements and managing their action by their own? Or manual on / off ??

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

I never run them at the same time. I don't think they are accurate enough to avoid influencing and competing with one another, which would just waste energy. Maybe if you took time to test it out you might be able to find a good balance but I am not sure.

[@phoolishgrynn4250]

I have been trying to find a humidifier that hooks to a water supply so I don’t have to keep filling the thing. Any experience with one of those?

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

That would be nice, but I haven't looked into it much yet. I did find some companies like Condair www.condair.com/humidifiers-for-woodworking who do serious setups for companies like Woodcraft, Ashley furniture, etc. Not cheap though that's for sure, but I am sure you get what you pay for. I thought about calling them just to see what it would cost and what they recommend but I haven't yet. I also thought about rigging up a water line with a float valve to the one I have, but I don't want to risk flooding my shop.

[@Mr.Monster1313]

72 degrees. Lol umm ok..it gets over 110 degrees here..and no air conditioning..winter it gets below 0 degrees. :( im screwed..a bunch of my guitars..the necks have bent badly...its killing me..cant even play alot of them now... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

[@JoshuaPatrickGarrett]

Is the two-way D'Addario system the best one for acoustic cases?

[@jasper_north]

I ordered the kit. Arriving tomorrow…you have it?

[@judicoulter8969]

Just got one myself. Not needed in the summer with ac running always. The winters in Ontario can be a nightmare .

[@erinjoy8338]

@@judicoulter8969 they really are. I got the Boveda packs myself and even with an extra one in the case, couldn’t keep the humidity above 39% so I had to get a humidifier for my apartment too. In 24 hours it’s already gone up to 44% in my case.

[@brentdhedrick]

Humidistat is the word you were looking for

[@diqweezle9751]

Is there not a low-maintenance way to do this? I don't want to be refilling water every day and cleaning a the components twice a week -- yikes. I'm about to return my Martin.

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

If it is just one guitar, you can try a simple solution like this: amzn.to/2JZrQbz? My video is more about controlling the environment for a guitar-building workshop.

[@TheOnlyGuitarFather]

We’ll of course the ultrasonic left crud… always use distilled water my dude

[@RachelSemeson]

That’s what I was thinking