Storage RH and Temp

Gang --

Our basement-like area today is 58 degrees and 64% RH, which calcs to a dewpoint of 45.9 degrees. I have a dehumidifier running 24/7 and no external heat. Worst condition I have seen is 58 degrees and 70% RH, which calcs to a dewpoint of 48.3. Our lab at work is kept at a constant 72 degrees and 50% RH, which is a dewpoint 52.4 degrees. The room is large (14 X 34 with a 16(!) foot ceiling) so I would rather not heat it.
Before I added the dehumidifier, everything corroded or mildewed in a short time. I want to try again.
Would you consider this now a safe storage environment for engines, tools, and balsa? Is dewpoint the correct measure of the "badness" of a storage area?

Dewpoint doesn't really matter when you are wrapped in a Transmission fluid moistened rag inside a Ziplock bag.

A good coating of castor oil from the last run doesn't hurt either.

Good for engines, unhandy for balsa and tools.
Larry F

Do you have some air movement?
I use (for my Engines and Balsa) Silica Bags that you can get for GUN Cabinets. They’re inexpensive and easy to use. I store my Balsa in a Rubbermaid bin, and my engines are in a case with TWO of those bags. You can get them with an indicator, when they are used up they change color. There about $ 4 per bag mine have lasted about 3 years in the engine case.

Scott(good thing in use them)Riese

Don't know, my balsa better get used to the idea of 'Oil Soaked'.

Thanks to Scott and William for their responses. However, I phrased my question poorly. Here is the real deal. The large area is dominated by a skateboard ramp which I am removing, and indoor horseshoe pits. My plan is to convert the entire area to a workshop and general storage area, not just model supplies. Bagging individual items is a useful technique, but begs the larger plan.

My real question is if the environment I described is suitable for TVs, bicycles, microwaves, in addition to the model kits and supplies.

Your original question was "Is dewpoint the correct measure of the "badness" of a storage area?". I'm not sure you got an answer.

It would help to know in what part of the country you live and prevailing weather conditions. But without knowing that I have a few comments.

IMHO dewpoint is very important. If you can keep the storage area temp. above the dewpoint then you can avoid situations where condensation can form on your "stuff". In unheated storage areas, a rapid drop in temp. can cause this to happen. I have had this happen in the Spring where there is a wide swing in temps. and the humidity is rising. Walked into my garage and found water all over my motorcycles... booo hissss. I installed heat that summer.

Again, I don't know where you live but the dehumidifier should be adequate for the summer but I would really consider getting some heat in the area for Fall and Spring.

Dick --

Thanks for your response! My response is more than you probably want to know.

>Your original question was "Is dewpoint the correct measure
>of the "badness" of a storage area?". I'm not sure you got
>an answer.

No, I didn't get an answer. Seems logical to me that absolute humidity (commonly expressed as dewpoint), not RH, is the key. Despite some research effort, I can't confirm that.

>It would help to know in what part of the country you live
>and prevailing weather conditions.

We live in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, just east of Massanutten Mountain. The Valley is bordered on the west by the Appalachians and on the east by the Blue Ridge. Massanutten is a small separate range smack dab in the middle of the Valley.

Our home is on the floor of the Valley about 1200 feet above sea level. Typical of eastern mountain environments, the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows is large during all seasons.

We have a hillside home, which means that from the street it looks like a ranch, but the lower level opens out to ground level with patio doors and windows. The windowless storage area is on the street side of the lower level, which means the temperature and humidity fluctuate very little daily or seasonally. The environment is similar to a cave, where all changes are damped by the surrounding earth. The storage area picks up some heat (and humidity) from the lower living area.

>But without knowing that I have a few comments.
>IMHO dewpoint is very important. If you can keep the storage
>area temp. above the dewpoint then you can avoid situations
>where condensation can form on your "stuff". In unheated
>storage areas, a rapid drop in temp. can cause this to
>happen. I have had this happen in the Spring where there is
>a wide swing in temps. and the humidity is rising. Walked
>into my garage and found water all over my motorcycles...
>booo hissss. I installed heat that summer.

With one dehumidifier, I can keep the temp above the dewpoint. For additional protection, I think I will buy a second dehumidifier. I have the ability to add heat if this plan fails. I can't see that I risk your motorcycle problem.

>Again, I don't know where you live but the dehumidifier
>should be adequate for the summer but I would really
>consider getting some heat in the area for Fall and Spring.

Thanks again. You figured out the problem. Unfortunately, I have no summer data but I plan to move the workshop and "stuff" today and wait for spring with some trepidation. The move will help our marriage!

My experience here in the UK is that temp and humidity aren't too important, but mildew loves castor oil. I have models up to 40 years old that I have had to scrap for this reason only.

Larry,

if you can afford heating the place up it would stay as dry as it could be.

When I was living in New York I had the oposite problem: the apartment would get so dry during winter that I had to foot a $200.00 bill to replace my saxophone's leather pads, I had left the horn out of the case overnight and they were ruined.

Also, the only acoustic guitars that survived were the "Di Giorgio Export" ones, that had the wood treated for places with heat radiators.

Some musicians that had "regular" guitars used a trick to keep them from cracking , a 4" plastic hose with 1/2" I.D, stuffed with sponge.

They dipped the hose in water and kepy them inside the guitar's body, in order to keep the wood humid, so the guitar wouldn't crack.

If you have to use eletric heat you can use a timer to save on the light bill.

God bless,