Thoughts on a humidity box for browning

[Dogshirt]

Having read here that good browning depends on humidity, and living in a low humidity area (most of Washington is, or verges on desert) I had a thought.
 Years ago when we heated with wood, my wife had issues with the lack of humidity in the house.
I found a thing that diverted the dryer vent into the house, added humidity and some heat.
Could the same idea be used to divert the dryer heat and humidity through a box holding the barrel,
or anything else that one is browning?
 I do remember that we had to have a filter of some sort as it does still have lint, so a nylon or something would need to be attached to the in line.

Just a thought.

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

I just fill the bathtub with hot water and hang the barrel on a shower curtain rod then shut the door. In about 3 hours it's ready to card.

[Jerry V Lape]

I think you are asking for trouble with the output of debris from a dryer.  I live in AZ where humidity was apparenly outlawed.  So I split a section of 4" pvc, put feet on the bottom to keep the open side upright, and a couple of wires across the interior to suspend the barrel.  Cut some old towel into appropriate sized chunks to make damp and lay in the bottom.  Once the barrel was wiped with the agent it was laid on the wires, the other half of the pipe put on top, and the ends open for a little circulation.  The black pipe assembly was set where some sun shine hit it.  More than enough humidity and heat to nicely brown barrels.  Simple/cheap to make, easy to operate. 

[Stormrider51]

I can't think of any reason filtered dryer air wouldn't work but it does sound more complicated than necessary.  A simple wooden box with a pan of water and a light bulb in the bottom for heat works great.  Hang the barrel inside the box and turn the light on.  Be sure to plug the bore and thoroughly degrease the exterior of the barrel.  You will have a constant supply of moisture and a consistent temperature where the use of a clothes dryer will result in progressively dryer air as the machine does its job.

Storm

[Dphariss]

I used to have a room humidifier that I moved from the house to the shop and I would hang the barrel over this. When it died I built a box about 12" square that I have mounted horizontally. I hang the  barrel in it then fill several containers with water and some cloth and place them round the cabinet.
Where I live the rusting usually takes over night or longer to get a coat of rust.

Dan

[Dave Dolliver]

Some years ago, Bivins wrote articles for Rifle Magazine.  In one he described a rusting box for browning that i made.  Plywood, about 12" x 14" deep and about 72" tall; 100 watt light bulb in the bottom beneath a ceramic dish of water; a couple of removeable shelves less than 10" deep for small parts; barrels stand on end in front of the shelves.  I use LMF browning solution and usually wait 6 to 8 hrs for rust to develop.  Works fine and doesn't take up much floor space. 

I use a second box to hold stocks so finish can dry without picking up a bunch of shop dust.

Dave Dolliver

[David Rase]

Some years ago, Bivins wrote articles for Rifle Magazine.  In one he described a rusting box for browning that i made.  Plywood, about 12" x 14" deep and about 72" tall; 100 watt light bulb in the bottom beneath a ceramic dish of water; a couple of removeable shelves less than 10" deep for small parts; barrels stand on end in front of the shelves.  I use LMF browning solution and usually wait 6 to 8 hrs for rust to develop.  Works fine and doesn't take up much floor space. 

I use a second box to hold stocks so finish can dry without picking up a bunch of shop dust.

Dave Dolliver

I also built the box that John described in Rifle Magazine.  Been using it for over 15 years.  I added a rheostat to the lower light bulb to help control the amount of humidity.  Could probably do the same thing with different wattage bulbs.
Dave

[FALout]

Being a cabinet maker, I just built a box with a door like the others have.  Experiment on bulb wattage for temp.  The same box is big enough to use for stock drying, just not using water in a bowl.  Doesn't take up too much rooom in the shop neither.

[Dave B]

I as well have made a browning box based on the Bivins Rifle mag. Articles. It has made a huge difference in the quality of my browning durring the winter months. I did the hang the barrel over the tub after running the shower and it works but I dropped a barrel once and the tub took a direct hit from the tang so I dont recomend doing that any more.

[James Rogers]

http://webpages.charter.net/fam-strick/web/SwampBox.htm