Thread: Dehumidifier in the workshop?

Hi all

I'm looking for a cheap and easy solution to getting/keeping timber dry. If such a thing exists.

My workshop is a standalone double garage, quite old and drafty (but I like it very much). One of my annoyances is the moisture level in there. Timber left in the workshop tends to settle at around 18-20% moisture content. Similar figures all year round. Also, things tend to get mouldy if left in there, particularly things like sheets of MDF that I use for templates will grow a fine layer of mould on them over time. I've got my spare timber on a rack to one side of the garage. I don't have space to build a separate timber storage unit.

One of the ideas I'm toying with is just running a dehumidifier in the garage. Has anyone tried this before? Was it successful? And is it likely to bring the moisture content of the timber down low enough that it doesn't shrink when I bring a finished project indoors?

I very rarely bring recently felled timber into the garage so drying things slowly isn't really an issue. I tend to purchase recycled timber which might be around 18% anyway. Or I buy kiln dried stuff, but then if I leave it in the garage too long it absorbs too much water.

One other thing which might be of relevance - I have my dust extractor vented outside, so when I'm using it I'm constantly replacing the air in the workshop.

Any thoughts appreciated.