Just bought a humidity guage

[Christhee68]

Just bought a cheap thermometer/humidity gauge at Lowes. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I moved it around inside and outside just to see if it would pick up the changes in humidity.

Here are some of my non-scientific readings using my new gauge:

--The room where I keep my guitars was 50%
--Walking around the neighborhood this morning ranged from 72% to 79%
--My shower was 80%
--My office was 36%
--Inside of my guitar case (with humidipaks) was 46%

I guess those seem like pretty realistic ballpark numbers--at least I can tell if humidity is increasing or decreasing.

[TaylorGirl]

Another suggestion that Bob Taylor had was to have more than one. It helps to make sure they are working properly and then you can kind of take an average. Gauges themselves will fluctuate and two may not read identical. I have two in my music room upstairs and we have two more on our main level and one in the finished basement.

[FDHog]

Get an Oasis and keep it in the case.
Don't overthink it.
Doesn't matter what the humidity outside the case is, unless you keep your guitars out.
50% is a good median.

[Slyman]

Just do an easy calibration with the salt method to see how far off your gauge is from 75% relative humidity. Worked for me.

http://www.wikihow.com/Test-a-Hygrometer

[Earl]

The salt test is good, but only addresses one fairly high point of RH at 75%.  I would also test the lower range by sitting it outdoors when the weather reporting shows lower RH values.  Let it stabilize for an hour or so and and see how it compares.  You've kinda done that already, and all of your numbers seem quite reasonable to me too.

[DWM]

If anyone is in the market for a new gauge, I can highly recommend the Caliber IV.  I have three and they all read within 1% of each other.  They can also be calibrated up or down, but I've tested mine and there is no need.  It's right on.  These are usually available for $20- 25 at cigar related on-line merchants like NeptuneCigar.com.  Just be sure you get an actual Caliber IV, since there are lots of nock-offs around that are not as accurate.

Don