DIY humidifier VS Oasis humidifier

RawrGazzawrs

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I can kinda assume that the Oasis humidifier can last longer and hold more, but how does a regular sponge in a bottle do compared to it? anyone tried both? also, i dont know how much room is given in a typical hard case but would a pill bottle actually fit inside with the body of the uke? o_O and if so how much of a difference is an outside-the-uke humidifier compared to the inside-the-uke humidifiers is there in humidity control?

im posting this question mainly because im not sure to spend like a dollar for the sponges and another 1 or 2 dollars a month for the distilled water as opposed to the oasis which is almost 20 bucks.
 
I like the Oasis OH-6 Case Humidifier, which I place near the head stock. They include a magnetic strip with a sticky back, and a metal clip for securing the container. Some of my cases have too much plush material to make it stick, so I let it lay loose in the headstock area under the uke. The outer surface of the Oasis is fabric and soft plastic, so I have had no issues with it damaging a uke even when it isn't secured. The main feature that I like best is that it really shows you how often you need to fill it with water. It shrivels up as it dries out, and I have been surprised how often it needs refilling. I prefer it to a string system since it is much less bother than having to mess with the string suspension system.

Unless you are unusually attentive, and can maintain that focus no matter what is going on in your life, I don't think saving a few bucks for a DIY version is worth the risk. It all depends on how upset you will be if you forget, and then get a crack in your uke. If it is a laminated uke, it might never happen. However, I have a cute non-playable wall hanger mini-uke that got cracks in it, so I know the danger is there.


–Lori
 
I like the Oasis OH-6 Case Humidifier, which I place near the head stock. They include a magnetic strip with a sticky back, and a metal clip for securing the container. Some of my cases have too much plush material to make it stick, so I let it lay loose in the headstock area under the uke. The outer surface of the Oasis is fabric and soft plastic, so I have had no issues with it damaging a uke even when it isn't secured. The main feature that I like best is that it really shows you how often you need to fill it with water. It shrivels up as it dries out, and I have been surprised how often it needs refilling. I prefer it to a string system since it is much less bother than having to mess with the string suspension system.

Unless you are unusually attentive, and can maintain that focus no matter what is going on in your life, I don't think saving a few bucks for a DIY version is worth the risk. It all depends on how upset you will be if you forget, and then get a crack in your uke. If it is a laminated uke, it might never happen. However, I have a cute non-playable wall hanger mini-uke that got cracks in it, so I know the danger is there.


–Lori

Im planning on either a solid top or maybe full body tenor soon. Does it make much of a difference of putting a humidifier in the headstock section rather than the body?
 
Like Lori, I use an Oasis humidifier with a clip -- I also don't want to be bothered with hanging a humidifier from the strings. I keep the humidifier clipped onto the front panel to the storage area in my cases behind the neck, although Kamaka cases are too narrow at the neck, so for my Kamakas in kamaka cases, I keep the humidifier in the headstock. I imagine that the space inside an ukulele case is small enough that you can put the humidifier anywhere in the case and it will keep the body adequately humidified.

I imagine DIY humidifiers work well, but I don't trust myself to make one well enough so that it will keep the case humidified adequately without leaking. I think if you're thinking of humidifiying an ukulele valuable enough that it ought to be humidified, the $18 or so that you would save with a DIY humidifier is well worth spending.
 
Heck, I'd drop the double sawbuck on the Oasis. I mean, you're not saving that much and you'll have something that really works and needs little or no worrying.

If you're going to save money on something, try working with monofilament strings or building your own case. Humidifier, I wouldn't mess with.
 
Im planning on either a solid top or maybe full body tenor soon. Does it make much of a difference of putting a humidifier in the headstock section rather than the body?
I remember reading that question before on a UU thread, and they said that you could even put the humidifier inside the storage compartment (the one under the neck...not an outside pocket), and it would still do the job. For my gig bags I take the magnetic clip and hand sew it to the side of the gig bag just above where the neck meets the body. Works great.

–Lori
 
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Well - it seems you're equating "DIY" with "sponge in a bottle." That ain't necessarily the DIY way to go. :)

I make my own humidifiers using clear plastic glitter tubes or pill bottles with water crystals - if you use just the right amount of crystals it's basically a container full of water but it won't leak under any circumstances I've been able to come up with. The glitter tube ones, and those in small pill bottles, are really great because they'll hang between the strings, inside the body, where you most need the humidification.

John
 
The water crystals that John noted above are available from garden supply stores. One brand that I've used is called Hydrosource. It's what's inside the blue Oasis humidifiers that hang inside the body of the uke. 5 ukes including the inexpensive travel uke. DIY route ends up saving a few dollars. Had the Hydrosource for gardening, recycled some Rx vials. Net cost was $0s for the case humidifiers. Just drilled some small holes in the RX vial tops to allow water vapor to escape. Hygrometers in the case during the dead of winter heating season stays above 40%. Next diy humidifier will be snakes similar to the dampits, but larger in diameter for in the body units. Tough part will be sewing the ripstop nylon or polyester tubes.
 
Well - it seems you're equating "DIY" with "sponge in a bottle." That ain't necessarily the DIY way to go. :)

I make my own humidifiers using clear plastic glitter tubes or pill bottles with water crystals - if you use just the right amount of crystals it's basically a container full of water but it won't leak under any circumstances I've been able to come up with. The glitter tube ones, and those in small pill bottles, are really great because they'll hang between the strings, inside the body, where you most need the humidification.

John

Spots did up a whole thing on water crystal humidifiers and I made and use several. But I must admit that the DIY ones release water at a much slower rate than the Planet Wave humidifiers I own. One of each in the same case, the planet wave is dry and the DIY one still has a lot of water in the crystals. This equates to less humidity released in the case in my opinion.
 
I love the Oasis - everything about it, especially that fact that I know it needs filling at a glance. Would be nice if it cost less but it's worth it.
 
I am probably the exception here but I just put some soaked paper towels in a plastic sandwich bag with a few holes in it and put several in my case. I have kept two K brand ukes and two Martin guitars humidified that way with no problem. That is also how I keep my cigars humdified. I have not had any problems doing so. I honestly don't think these instruments are as fragile as everyone makes them out to be. I'm in Austin, Texas if you are wondering about the climate. We have had 49 straight days of 100+ temp. Ouch!

I play my instruments enough to where I can check if the paper towels need to be resoaked. Takes 1 second to do.
 
The Oasis OH-6 is a guitar humidifier, where as the Oasis Ukulele Humidifier was designed for the ukulele. The question is: has anybody had a problem with too much humidity in the uke case using the OH-6?

Note that the ukule humidifier is placed inside the body of the uke thru the soundhole. The OH-6 can be used inside the case, as others have stated.
 
The Oasis OH-6 is a guitar humidifier, where as the Oasis Ukulele Humidifier was designed for the ukulele. The question is: has anybody had a problem with too much humidity in the uke case using the OH-6?

Note that the ukule humidifier is placed inside the body of the uke thru the soundhole. The OH-6 can be used inside the case, as others have stated.

If you look on the Oasis site this is what they say about the OH-6
Our case humidifier is ideal for musicians who play stringed instruments like violins, violas, cellos, mandolins or guitarists who prefer to use a case humidifier. The case humidifier is identical to the original Blue Oasis® guitar humidifier except for the magnetic clip.

A violin or mandolin is very similar in size to a tenor uke. I have had no problems with over-humidifying in Los Angeles (it can get very dry here... 17% on windy days). They even have one called the Oasis Plus for drier climates (below 25%) which gives 50% more humidification. When I first bought my Oasis, they didn't have the uke version. I have not seen my hydrometer go over 65%.
–Lori
 
If you look on the Oasis site this is what they say about the OH-6


A violin or mandolin is very similar in size to a tenor uke. I have had no problems with over-humidifying in Los Angeles (it can get very dry here... 17% on windy days). They even have one called the Oasis Plus for drier climates (below 25%) which gives 50% more humidification. When I first bought my Oasis, they didn't have the uke version. I have not seen my hydrometer go over 65%.
–Lori

I live in NW Las Vegas and you don't see the humidity as high as 17% or higher too often. Today it's 4%, which is more common.

A hygrometer is important, if my Taylor was subjected to 65% humidity in the case it would swell up. Then after the humidity was reduced, it would split.
 
Spots did up a whole thing on water crystal humidifiers and I made and use several. But I must admit that the DIY ones release water at a much slower rate than the Planet Wave humidifiers I own. One of each in the same case, the planet wave is dry and the DIY one still has a lot of water in the crystals. This equates to less humidity released in the case in my opinion.

It depends on how many holes you put in the container. I use 1/16" holes spaced pretty closely all around the sides of the containers and mine need to be filled at least once a week (not completely dry but enough so that the crystals are separating into separate pieces) so I think they're giving up the moisture well enough. If I lived in Las Vegas I might have a different opinion... :)

It also helps to make sure you don't use too many crystals. I've found that when you have too many crystals it won't hold as much water (fairly obvious) but it also seems not to release the water as easily. With 1/16" size holes you can leave the containers sitting in a jar of water for a few days and the extra crystals will gradually work themselves out through the holes - leaving just enough crystals to leave the container looking "empty" (or full of clear water) when it's fully hyrdated.

John
 
I've been using the DIY ones that Spots taught us how to make. I keep 2 in each case. I also have 2 hygrometers in each case. Yes, it takes forever for them to dry out but why would that be a bad thing? I have 2 hygrometers so I tell if the readings are fairly accurate. It's working really well, I think.
 
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