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  #1  
Old 01-19-2018, 02:30 PM
lowrider lowrider is offline
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Question Homemade incase Humidifier (works great for less than $5



I got the idea to use water beads from another poster here. I've been using these, one in each case, since the beginning of heating season so about 5 or 6 weeks. This was the first time I opened one and it's still just as juicy as when I made them. I most likely won't have to worry about them all winter. They do a great job, keeping the humidity inside the case in the 50's even when the room is down to 28%.

I got a lifetime supply of water beads on Ebay for a couple of dollars and I got the soap dishes at CVS for about the same each. Sure couldn't beat the price of these and I'm surprised that they never need mantainence.

Last edited by lowrider; 02-10-2018 at 03:08 AM.
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Old 01-19-2018, 02:54 PM
JackB1 JackB1 is offline
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awesome! I am getting tired of rewetting my sponges every other day.

where do I get these beads and what are they called?
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Old 01-19-2018, 02:55 PM
tomiv9 tomiv9 is offline
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59 is too high imho, if the humidity is consistently that high, I would use less beads. Cool idea though
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:10 PM
lowrider lowrider is offline
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Yes, that 59 was supposed to be a 50. I got the water beads on Ebay but Michael's or any crafts store should have them.
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:22 PM
Kip Carter Kip Carter is offline
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You can go into most dollar stores and get a package of them cheap. I recommend only using about 15 beads per soap box.
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:29 PM
Earl49 Earl49 is offline
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I used dampened sponges in similar perforated soap dishes for many years in very dry conditions. Based on Fazool's detailed threads here, I switched to water beads using the same containers. They stay wet about 3-4X as long as sponges -- lots more water stored in the beads, less checking on them regularly.

Note the small holes in the photo. Water beads start at nearly 1/2" diameter when saturated, but if they get fully dried out they shrink dramatically, to about the size of a BB.
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:31 PM
gfspencer gfspencer is offline
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Those beads are also used in cigar humidors. They work pretty good.
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:35 PM
beyeond beyeond is offline
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Sorry for my ignorance here guys, but where are you putting the soap dishes? Just in the room with the guitars? Or are you putting beads in the case?
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:38 PM
beyeond beyeond is offline
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I saw a little humidifier in Bed Bath and Beyond today that plugged into a socket like an air freshener, and you attach a water bottle to it. Anyone ever used one of these?
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Old 01-19-2018, 04:56 PM
Swamp Yankee Swamp Yankee is offline
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I made some smaller humidifiers out of small vitamin jars filled with the water gems. I tuck them into the headstock compartment. Then a soundhole humidifier with a sponge takes care of the body.

Where are you folks finding room inside the case for a soap container?
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Old 01-19-2018, 05:03 PM
akwingnut akwingnut is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beyeond View Post
I saw a little humidifier in Bed Bath and Beyond today that plugged into a socket like an air freshener, and you attach a water bottle to it. Anyone ever used one of these?
Now, I’m not an electrician, but I really don’t like the idea of electricity and water bottles!
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Old 01-19-2018, 05:04 PM
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TBman TBman is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beyeond View Post
Sorry for my ignorance here guys, but where are you putting the soap dishes? Just in the room with the guitars? Or are you putting beads in the case?
I put the soap dish with sponge in the headstock area and use a sound hole humidifier too.
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Old 01-19-2018, 05:06 PM
L20A L20A is offline
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Depending on the case, I will put the humidifier inside the pick compartment or if there isn't room there, I put it by the headstock.

I have switched out the sponge for water beads in two of my cases.
The water is lasting longer which makes me wonder if enough water is being released.
I put a hygrometer inside one of the cases and found the humidity to only be at about 30%.
Not bad but I would like to see it up at least 5% higher.
I only have holes in the lid. Wonder if more holes will help.
Guess I will try that and see.
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Old 01-19-2018, 05:09 PM
Looburst Looburst is offline
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Great idea actually, you can place these anywhere in your guitar case and it will the job just fine.
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Old 01-19-2018, 05:30 PM
stonewall stonewall is offline
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Good Idea. I have always just used a wash rag in a ziplock bag , just keep the bag opened , if the humidity get's to high just zip it up a little. And it's free, the ole lady has lots of dish rags and ziplock bags lol.
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