Why won't the humidity in my spool tote drop?

The low 40s reading is probly exactly where it should be right now and you defintely aren't being impatient. When you first seal a space, especally one with a temprature swing or even just the act of putting the silica packs in, the air inside needs time to stabilize and hit equilibrium. It's not instant. You need to let it sit for a couple more days. Silica gel is great, but it's not 100% foolproof against minor air exchange around fittings or through small gaps, even when glued. That said, the primary goal of that little box is to keep the humidity below the critical threshold, and if you're seeing 40s, you're allready doing it right.

Regarding the excess slack on the tubes, you should totally leave it as is. Don't trim it down to fit snugly. If the slack is removed, the spool might bind or twist as it rotates, wich creates drag and makes the whole thing much harder to feed. The extra coils act like a cushion, allowing the spool to spin freely without pulling on the lines. Just make sure the slack isn't so excessive that it causes the whole unit to wobble or the tubes to bend permanently. As for the readings, most people I've seen maintain humidity in the low 30s once the system is fully settled and the temperature is stable. The silica packs should handle that load easily. If you were worried about air sneaking in, you'd have to worry about alot more than just the glue; the sheer volume of the box helps keep the internal enviornment very consistent and isolated from outside fluctuations. Just let it run for another few days and it'll settle in. If you want to be absolutely sure about the long-term dryness, just remember that the silica packs need refreshing every few months, even if you don't see them changing color much. They are still absorbing moisture, even when they look dry.

I had almost the same thing happen with my spare spool tote last month. The sensor sat in the mid 40s for what felt like forever, then crept down slowly over the next few days and settled fine. One thing I figured out along the way is those cheap hygrometers can be off by a noticible amount unit to unit. If you happen to have a second one around the house, toss it in the tote next to the first and see if they agree. That at least tells you wheather the reading or the seal is the problem. Random question though, are your tubes resting right on top of the spools? I keep picturing the weight of the coiled line wearing a groove into a fresh roll over time.

Kinda relieved to read this, I've been peeking at my own box every few hours thinking something was wrong with my little gauge. Each time I open the lid I probably let damp air in from the room, so I might be my own problem there. How long do you all wait before you even bother checking again?

I ran the same setup for a couple seasons, just with gasket tape around the lid instead of glue on the fittings, and mine sat at 29 percent by day five. Hot glue can shrink away from the printed part a little as it cools, so if you're still stuck in the 40s next week, run a thin bead around each fitting from the outside and see if it moves. On the tube length, mine has a couple loops of slack and feeding has never been an issue, so I'd leave it. If it ever feels stiff coming off the spool, it's usally the fitting bore being tight, not the extra length.