Drying cabinet plans or photos

Questions about tools and jigs you want to buy/build/modify.
Post Reply
User avatar
Eric Knapp
Posts: 620
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 2:01 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Contact:

Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Eric Knapp »

Hello,

After reading about this here and other sources I believe I need a drying cabinet in order to make guitars. I’m in Wisconsin and the humidity in my shop is never below 75% and way higher during the summer. I have a sling psychrometer so I’m reasonably sure about these numbers.

I’m not trying to start a business making guitars, I just want to make a few for myself and maybe family members. However, it would be nice if they weren’t destroyed in a dry house. Are there any plans here or do you all have some photos to share of yours? I would like to get an image in my head of what they are like.

I ordered a small humidifier/dehumidifier humidistat and a small fan for this. Now I need to find some space in the shop for a cabinet, that will be fun and might be the longest part of this project.

Thanks,

-Eric
Clay Schaeffer
Posts: 1674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Hi Eric,
Their are two ways you can approach a "drying cabinet". One is to use heat to raise the temperature relative to the room temperature and lower the relative humidity that way. Another is to use a dehumidifier to remove the water from the air in the cabinet. In the mid Atlantic, we have days that are both hot and humid and days that are cold and dry. I use a dehumidifier in a closet during the warmer months and switch over to a portable oil filled heater and a humidifier (plugged into a humidistat) in the cooler months. The closet is lined with plastic sheeting to cut down on moisture transfer through the walls. I only use the closet during critical gluing phases of the construction.
I am surprised the humidity in your (heated?) shop doesn't drop below 75% in a cold climate like Wisconsin.
User avatar
Karl Wicklund
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:42 am
Location: NW Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Karl Wicklund »

I feel you on the humidity Eric. My shop's on a cement slab and it just feels clammy on those humid days. Wisconsin can be pretty swampy in the summer.
Kaptain Karl
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3186
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Barry Daniels »

A lot of cabinets use a simple lightbulb to control humidity. I am not sure a dehumidifier locked up in a small cabinet would be a good idea. They can put out a lot of heat in addition to the dry air. That might be too much for such a small space. There are a lot of older discussions on drying cabinets in the library.
MIMF Staff
User avatar
Eric Knapp
Posts: 620
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 2:01 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Contact:

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Eric Knapp »

Karl Wicklund wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:59 pm I feel you on the humidity Eric. My shop's on a cement slab and it just feels clammy on those humid days. Wisconsin can be pretty swampy in the summer.
I'm also on a clammy cement slab in my detached garage. I should have sealed the floor before building the shop but it's too big a task now, ugh.

-Eric
User avatar
Eric Knapp
Posts: 620
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 2:01 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Contact:

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Eric Knapp »

Barry Daniels wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:16 pm A lot of cabinets use a simple lightbulb to control humidity. I am not sure a dehumidifier locked up in a small cabinet would be a good idea. They can put out a lot of heat in addition to the dry air. That might be too much for such a small space. There are a lot of older discussions on drying cabinets in the library.
I read all the posts on drying cabinets in the archives. I understand the concept and have the hardware already. What I'm looking for are ideas on construction of the box itself. Do you use plywood? Does it need to be insulated? Where does the fan go? How far above the light bulb is the first shelf? Things like that.

Thanks,

-Eric
Clay Schaeffer
Posts: 1674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Hi Barry,
In a closet sized enclosure the dehumidifier seems to work O.K.. It does put out some heat, but also cuts off when the humidity reaches the level you set it for, and in a closet with a good vapor barrier it doesn't run for long periods of time.
I wonder if anyone has adapted an old refrigerator as a drying box? It would have a good vapor barrier and a relatively air tight door.
User avatar
Eric Knapp
Posts: 620
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 2:01 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Contact:

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Eric Knapp »

Clay Schaeffer wrote: Sat Mar 27, 2021 8:36 pm I wonder if anyone has adapted an old refrigerator as a drying box? It would have a good vapor barrier and a relatively air tight door.
A quick search for "fridge as drying cabinet" shows that this is a big thing. Drying foods is the most common but the concept is the same. I think this is an interesting idea and I'm going to pursue it a bit.

-Eric
Clay Schaeffer
Posts: 1674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: Drying cabinet plans or photos

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Hi Eric,
Thanks for pointing me toward the refrigerator for food drying info.
I was reading an article on Thermo- Electric dehumidifiers. On the OLF someone said they tried a Peltier dehumidifier to dry a room and it didn't work well, but is sounds like it - might - work O.K. for a drying box. I don't know how much heat they generate (less than compressor types) but they seem to be low cost with few moving parts:
http://www.dehumidifierbuyersguide.com/ ... r-reviews/
Reading the questions and answers may help you decide if it might be a viable option. If my current portable unit dies I may try one for my drying closet.
Post Reply

Return to “Tools and Jigs”