[TowerTalk] Equipment Corrosion

[Keith Dutson]

I feel certain it is humidity causing the corrosion.

I have numerous tools laying about in the shack.  The XYL "borrowed" one of
the screwdrivers to use out at the barn.  About a month later I was
complaining about losing one of my screwdrivers which reminded her to bring
it back from the tack room.  It was rusty.

My advice: either move your good equipment out of that open air shack, or
install insulation and an air conditioner.

Keith NM5G

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dan Levin
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 11:40 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Equipment Corrosion

This isn't strictly speaking a tower question, because it deals with the
inside of my shack.  But I think that the folks with the answers are likely
to hang out here :-)

 

My shack consists, literally, of a shack.  It is a purpose built, free
standing, 10 foot square building.  It is of standard wood frame
construction, with no vapor barrier.  The siding is some kind of
manufactured wood product, I'm not sure exactly what it is.  The siding is
not painted.  The siding is nailed directly onto the studs - no paper,
Tyvek, etc.  The roof is typical asphalt shingle over tar paper
construction.  There are no vents of any kind. This location gets a fair bit
of fog in the summer, and rain in the winter.  The building is not air
tight, I can see glimmers of light coming out through cracks if I stand
outside at night - but not a lot of light.

 

My problem is that my equipment inside this shack is corroding.  For
example, the screw that holds the microphone shell together on my Heil
headset is rusted.

 

Before I try a fix, I'd love to hear from anyone who has actual experience
with this type of thing :-)  I have two theories, which unfortunately
conflict.

 

1)       The problem is that the shack is too air tight.  Water vapor gets
in (maybe I sweat in the shack), and then it can't get out.  So when the
weather is right it condenses, and that causes rust.  The fix here might be
to install vents, like you would typically have in an attic or basement.

2)       The problem is that the shack is too leaky.  It needs a vapor
barrier.  The fix here might be to paint the walls to create a vapor
barrier.

 

In either case, I suppose that I could install some kind of dehumidifier as
an alternative, but that only works without vents, I think.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks much!

 

                               ***dan, K6IF

_______________________________________________

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Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
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