diff --git a/compacting-storage.lua b/compacting-storage.lua
index ccb983c..8d89f3b 100644
--- a/compacting-storage.lua
+++ b/compacting-storage.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ local INVENTORY = "left"
 local SLEEP_TIME = 30
 local AMOUNT_USED = 63 -- the amount of item used per request
 local AMOUNT_RETURNED = 7 -- the amount of item returned per request
+local REDUCTION_FACTOR = 0.5 -- when draining, what percent to do at a time
 local ITEM_TYPES = { "iron", "copper", "zinc", "gold", "electrum" }
 local PRIORITY = { "ingot", "block", "nugget" }
 
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ function should_drain (type, counts)
     for _, form in ipairs(PRIORITY) do
         local diff = counts[form] - limits[type][form][2]
         if diff > 0 then
-            return form, diff
+            return form, diff * REDUCTION_FACTOR
         end
     end
 end
@@ -151,20 +152,18 @@ end
 
 function decide_action (type, counts)
     -- using the levels of each form of the item, decide what to do
-    for _, form in ipairs(PRIORITY) do
-        local drain_form, drain_amt = should_drain(type, counts)
-        local fill_dest, fill_src, fill_amt = should_fill(type, counts)
-        if drain_form ~= nil then
-            drain(type, form, drain_amt)
-        elseif fill_dest ~= nil then
-            fill(type, fill_src, fill_dest, fill_amt)
-        end
+    local drain_form, drain_amt = should_drain(type, counts)
+    local fill_dest, fill_src, fill_amt = should_fill(type, counts)
+    if drain_form ~= nil then
+        drain(type, form, drain_amt)
+    elseif fill_dest ~= nil and fill_src ~= nil then
+        fill(type, fill_src, fill_dest, fill_amt)
     end
 end
 
 function print_counts (items)
     for type, counts in pairs(items) do
-        for form, count in ipairs(counts) do
+        for form, count in pairs(counts) do
             print(("%s %s: %d"):format(type, form, count))
         end
     end
@@ -173,7 +172,7 @@ end
 while true do
     -- 1. Sum items in inventory and organize by item type
     local items = sum_items(peripheral.wrap(INVENTORY))
-    print_counts(items)
+    -- print_counts(items)
 
     -- 2. take one action for each item type per cycle
     for item_type, counts in pairs(items) do