Jim Koepke
10-11-2011, 6:23 PM
Because my shop gets below freezing in the winter a standard dehumidifier doesn't work properly to keep moisture from settling on my tools and other metal surfaces.
The product I am using is not really a dehumidifier. It is a low wattage heater. The idea being it warms the area above the dew point so moisture will not form on the items being protected. Some people use fixtures with incandescent lamps to do this, but that is not only wasted wattage, there is a breakage possibility.
These units are also used in pianos, storing motor cycles, tool chests and many other enclosed places where one doesn't want moisture to settle.
The most common place to find them is in retail outlets that sell fire arms.
I looked at three products and ended up buying two. In the future I will likely stay with the product from Steven Buenger of GoldenRod Dehumidifiers.
http://www.goldenroddehumidifiers.com/
The Browning product was marked 08 Watts. I think this may have been an error, but I do not like to buy errors unless I know more about them. The Browning unit's method for installation was also a bit daunting. To feed the electric cord through a wall required taking the unit apart and feeding the heating element through the hole. Browning gun safes come with a hole to allow this, but the two other products are much easier with a plug that can be removed from the cord in the case of the GoldenRod and the LockDown model came with a plug the user installs. It is much easier to feed an electric cord through a hole than a heating element and a cord.
I bought the LockDown 18W model locally at the only sporting goods store in Longview, WA. It seems to be an OK product, but doesn't seem to get as warm as the GoldenRod.
Candy and I went to Olympia and while there I wanted to look for a few other items that are hard to find locally. We went to Cabela's sporting goods and a few other places.
http://www.cabelas.com/home.jsp?WTz_l=Header
If you are ever in the Olympia, WA (actually Lacey, WA next to Olympia) area and want to be dazzled by a sporting goods store, this is the place to be. There prices tend to be full retail, but looking is free. There is a rendition of a mountain on the first floor of the store with all kinds of animals displayed on the mountain. Inside the mountain is a large aquarium.
If you ever want a wide variety of lubricants, look in the places where they sell guns.
I am not a gun nut, it is just that where there are guns there are things that many of us can use for other things.
Like special springs, some of the best sources for odd springs are a gun store.
Conclusion:
The Browning unit did not even have a way to mount the holders to a wall. They were just flat pieces of plastic to hold the unit off the floor. Both the GoldenRod and the LockDown were supplied with screws to mount the holders to a wall. The GoldenRod mounts were a bit stouter then the LockDown mounts. It took a bit more of a push to get the rod mounted in the GoldenRod unit.
The LockDown is made in China. The GoldenRod is made in the U.S.
All three units are 18" and are supposedly available in other sizes.
So far, the GoldenRod seems to be worth the higher price. It is likely if one searched around on the internet instead of buying brick and mortar they could find better prices.
Though, I often opt to buy from the brick and mortar retailers just to reward them for taking the chance and selling a quality product that I can see and hold before handing over my plastic.
jtk
The product I am using is not really a dehumidifier. It is a low wattage heater. The idea being it warms the area above the dew point so moisture will not form on the items being protected. Some people use fixtures with incandescent lamps to do this, but that is not only wasted wattage, there is a breakage possibility.
These units are also used in pianos, storing motor cycles, tool chests and many other enclosed places where one doesn't want moisture to settle.
The most common place to find them is in retail outlets that sell fire arms.
I looked at three products and ended up buying two. In the future I will likely stay with the product from Steven Buenger of GoldenRod Dehumidifiers.
http://www.goldenroddehumidifiers.com/
The Browning product was marked 08 Watts. I think this may have been an error, but I do not like to buy errors unless I know more about them. The Browning unit's method for installation was also a bit daunting. To feed the electric cord through a wall required taking the unit apart and feeding the heating element through the hole. Browning gun safes come with a hole to allow this, but the two other products are much easier with a plug that can be removed from the cord in the case of the GoldenRod and the LockDown model came with a plug the user installs. It is much easier to feed an electric cord through a hole than a heating element and a cord.
I bought the LockDown 18W model locally at the only sporting goods store in Longview, WA. It seems to be an OK product, but doesn't seem to get as warm as the GoldenRod.
Candy and I went to Olympia and while there I wanted to look for a few other items that are hard to find locally. We went to Cabela's sporting goods and a few other places.
http://www.cabelas.com/home.jsp?WTz_l=Header
If you are ever in the Olympia, WA (actually Lacey, WA next to Olympia) area and want to be dazzled by a sporting goods store, this is the place to be. There prices tend to be full retail, but looking is free. There is a rendition of a mountain on the first floor of the store with all kinds of animals displayed on the mountain. Inside the mountain is a large aquarium.
If you ever want a wide variety of lubricants, look in the places where they sell guns.
I am not a gun nut, it is just that where there are guns there are things that many of us can use for other things.
Like special springs, some of the best sources for odd springs are a gun store.
Conclusion:
The Browning unit did not even have a way to mount the holders to a wall. They were just flat pieces of plastic to hold the unit off the floor. Both the GoldenRod and the LockDown were supplied with screws to mount the holders to a wall. The GoldenRod mounts were a bit stouter then the LockDown mounts. It took a bit more of a push to get the rod mounted in the GoldenRod unit.
The LockDown is made in China. The GoldenRod is made in the U.S.
All three units are 18" and are supposedly available in other sizes.
So far, the GoldenRod seems to be worth the higher price. It is likely if one searched around on the internet instead of buying brick and mortar they could find better prices.
Though, I often opt to buy from the brick and mortar retailers just to reward them for taking the chance and selling a quality product that I can see and hold before handing over my plastic.
jtk