Basement Workshop Humidity And Kits/Wood

[Dick Pacini]

I am still striving to complete a workshop in the basement.  I have stored all the kits I bought so far in my bedroom closet, but it is getting to the point that there is almost no room for clothes.  Every time the UPS guy brings a new box, I have to give him a couple of shirts.

Eventually, all the kits and extra balsa will be relegated to the basement.  The problem may be with the dampness that occurs now and then, depending if it is rainy, snowy, or if the dehumidifier needs to be emptied.  Obviously, I can't maintain a constant level of humidity in the basement and am concerned that the kits and wood will absorb moisture from the damp atmosphere.  I am sure I am not the only one who faces this potential problem.  Any ideas?

[Tim Wescott]

If the basement is heated and you're really diligent about keeping the dehumidifier emptied, you should be OK.

Keeping the kits wrapped, or keeping them in a cabinet with tight-fitting doors, should keep the humidity from changing quickly, which will give you time to deal with things if you have a humidity 'event'.

[Randy Powell]

Yea, living in the Northwest, you have to pay attention to humidity. Hasn't been such a big deal with balsa (I keep my shop heated), but can be interesting when painting (as I found out today). Joy.

[wwwarbird]

 I'd say it shouldn't be a problem unless it's really extreme and for long periods of time. I get hints of dampness in a few areas, sometimes even a slight bit of water in one corner of my basement on occasion, and have never had any problem. At times it gets pretty humid down there in the summer too. As a precaution though I do always make sure to store my kits and "good" wood horizontally.

[Paul Taylor]

Yea what Ty says..... OR

Box them up and ship them to me and I will store them for you. Storage fee will vary depending on what engines I have that need a home.

[Clayton Berry]

I rigged a dehumidifier to drain into the laundry sink with a length of garden hose.  Worked okay.  Just left it on.  For years.

Final solution was to pay for a French drain around the inside parameter of the entire basement.  Norton (the cat) is still quaking in his grave after three days of an electric jackhammer shaking the entire house.  I think they added 3 sump pumps and used some epoxy sealer in places.

It hadn't rained in 42 days, and they were hurting for work.  The price was cut more than half.

[Sheldon Hartwell]

Hi Dick,

    You know, I've always had a problem with humidity in my basement. I live up here in New England, but we have a high water table where we are. I got tired of the mold and mildue problems so I went out and got the biggest dehumidifier that I could get at Home Depot. It's automatic, so it runs 24/7. It got the humidity level down to approximately 50% , give or take 5%. I empty it on the average once or twice a day ( twice being in the summer ). You'll notice the difference.
    My kits/models look and feel great. Alot of people don't know it, but you have to maintain some degree of humidity in the the content of the wood. While maintaining this condition, I've never had any problems with adhesion of glue, or the application of dope ( I do use retarder in some cases ). I hope that this helps.

                                                                                   Thanks,
                                                                                      Sheldon

[Dick Pacini]

I do have a humongous dehumidifier that has a hose line connected to drain outside through a wooden door that opens onto the driveway, that we don't use.  Of course, in the winter, the hose freezes up so I have to use the bucket which holds a ton of water.  Unfortunately, we don't have a laundry sink because the washer drains directly into a drain trap, so there is no place to dump it unless I open aforementioned door and empty it onto the driveway.  Again, in the winter, that is a no-no.  Sometimes when my better half is not home, I dump the bucket in the washer and then turn it on spin.

One big problem is that our house was built in sections over many years and at one time, the cellar had a dirt floor.  That section was dug out and concrete laid down, but it is shallow and you have to duck light bulbs and heating ducts to make your way through.  My wife is short enough so it isn't an issue for her.  In ensuing years, the last addition has a full poured concrete perimeter and floor that gives more than enough headroom.  Unfortunately, it was abutted against the old cinder-block foundation on one side and some holes were broken through for heating ducts and the like.  I have raw dirt exposed on parts of that wall and an area of the cement floor that I have no idea why it is there.  This winter, we had enough snow melt that water did seep up from the floor and a bit through the wall.  I intend to have those areas sealed off with concrete, this spring.  That side of the basement is where my shop is going to be, once all the antiques are moved to god knows where.

[Bill Little]

Hi Dick,

I've been in this house since Jan of 1984 and I've had basically all of my hobby stuff in the basement since we moved in.  This part of NC is very humid, and I have had three times where the basement has actually flooded.  Now I make sure everything of any value is not directly on the floor, but otherwise, no real effort to minimize humidity, or other factors.  The furnace is open around it and not far from my main building table, a factor that causes some comfort issues at times!  It can get REAL warm there.   So far none of my wood nor kits have seen any detrimental effects.  So for over 25 years, it hasn't been a problem.

Big Bear