how to store lenses

cyberjunkie · 06-20-2016, 03:44 AM

I'm going to move abroad on a stable basis, and i have to rent my apartment.
I have the possibility to keep a room/bathroom with private access, but it would be easy to break in, in my absence.
I will bring with me a bag of lenses, all the others will be stored there.
I have plenty of them, those usable with Pentax cameras (list linked in my signature) are barely one fourth of the total, most of them are huge LF/ULF optics.
For the storage I have in mind one of those office furnitures, made in metal and with lockable drawers.
Once it was not difficult to find such piece of furniture in the second-hand market, nowadays they are rare, and overpriced.
Any advice?
Living in the EU, it would be great to find something useful from Ikea, or another cheap retail source available in Italy, but i guess metal drawers are not Ikea's forte...

I'm curious to find out how other pentaxians have solved the problem. Any unconventional, relatively cheap solution is welcomed.

cheers

P

MarkJerling · 06-20-2016, 04:52 AM

Those cabinets are easy to break into. You might as well just store in boxes. I'm guessing you want secure storage. For that you'll need a safe - a gun safe will do. Alternatively, don't you have a trustworthy friend who can look after your lenses? What about a fire? Are you insured?

Wild Mark · 06-20-2016, 04:53 AM

right or wrong I have mine in pelican style cases. I routinely put blue silicon crystals in the box and replace when they turn pink. That way I can grab a box and run or rack and stack to keep them out of the way. The risk is you get fungus using this method.

Ikea does have a display cabinet which I use. see this one as an example of what I use.

FABRIKÖR Glass-door cabinet - redbrown - IKEA

I use damp rid in the cabinet to keep things dry. The cabinet indicated has reasonable seals (although not totally airtight).

D1N0 · 06-20-2016, 05:16 AM

Store them at a friends or family members house

k22 · 06-20-2016, 06:11 AM

Ikea, locking file cabinet:
ERIK File cabinet - IKEA

For moisture and dirt I use sealable plastic sandwich bags. Put the lens in with a packet of silica gel, roll the bag to remove air, seal it.

Michi Joel · 06-20-2016, 06:26 AM

+1 with IKEA option in my house ^^
DETOLF Vitrina - negro-marrón - IKEA

**gofour3** · 06-20-2016, 08:33 AM

Not sure if you have a Staples in the EU, but I use these cabinets. I bought a 42" and 72" high model, both have adjustable shelves for larger lenses and are lockable:

Staples® 72" Locking Steel Storage Cabinets | Staples®

Phil.

ajack · 06-20-2016, 09:05 AM

It seems like you have quite an extensive collection, but if you are considering spending hundreds or thousands of dollars just to secure it, you might consider selling the lenses and then buying them again if/when you want them.

Alternately, instead of getting filing cabinets could you just get a more secure lock for the door? It should be relatively easy to put a deadbolt and reinforced strike plate on a door.

Finally you may just consider whether it would be easier to properly document & insure the lenses, and then cross your fingers. How likely do you think a break-in really is?

**lithedreamer** · 06-20-2016, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by ajack

It seems like you have quite an extensive collection, but if you are considering spending hundreds or thousands of dollars just to secure it, you might consider selling the lenses and then buying them again if/when you want them.

Alternately, instead of getting filing cabinets could you just get a more secure lock for the door? It should be relatively easy to put a deadbolt and reinforced strike plate on a door.

Finally you may just consider whether it would be easier to properly document & insure the lenses, and then cross your fingers. How likely do you think a break-in really is?

+1

I have a little experience with lockpicking, and it's generally trivial. Doubly so for any furniture locks. A safe is just screaming "there's something valuable in me!", which is fine for a place that is generally secure (your house), but less so in your situation, where you're leaving your valuables somewhere you clearly don't trust.

Leave them with a trusted friend, get insurance that includes theft or sell and rebuy.

bxf · 06-20-2016, 10:23 AM

Do not neglect to take humidity into consideration. There's fungus everywhere, just waiting to latch itself onto some SMC.

sewebster · 06-20-2016, 10:39 AM

I read something somewhere about an environment that was too dry also being bad... thoughts on that?

**yucatanPentax** · 06-20-2016, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by sewebster

I read something somewhere about an environment that was too dry also being bad... thoughts on that?

Only possibly bad on organic matter, like leather, as far as I know. Metal and glass don't have water to evaporate to an extra dry environment. Modern lubricants are stable.

Of course, what always comes with extra dry is lots of dust. So, maybe from that perspective? And... also... static electricity?

rawr · 06-20-2016, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by bxf

Do not neglect to take humidity into consideration.

Absolutely.

Dry cabinets are a lens owners friend. And there is a good range of them available, including very secure options.

cyberjunkie · 06-21-2016, 02:13 AM

Wow!
I'm pleasantly overwhelmed by the number and thoughtfulness of the answers. Thanks!
I will check a couple of solutions that could fit my needs.
One solution that's definitely a no go is storing everything in the house of a friend or family member. My mom is 87, and i'm not going to ask a friend to look after > 500 objectives. I wouldn't call him a friend! Would be vicious

Selling is also out of question. They are my babies

I started buying them in the late seventies...

Cheers

Paolo

D1N0 · 06-21-2016, 03:19 AM

When it's that many you could try a storage solution. Affitto di Magazzini, Box e Cantinette a Bologna | Inbox Self Storage

06-20-2016, 03:44 AM	#1
cyberjunkie Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chiang Mai, Bologna, Amsterdam Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,198	how to store lenses I'm going to move abroad on a stable basis, and i have to rent my apartment. I have the possibility to keep a room/bathroom with private access, but it would be easy to break in, in my absence. I will bring with me a bag of lenses, all the others will be stored there. I have plenty of them, those usable with Pentax cameras (list linked in my signature) are barely one fourth of the total, most of them are huge LF/ULF optics. For the storage I have in mind one of those office furnitures, made in metal and with lockable drawers. Once it was not difficult to find such piece of furniture in the second-hand market, nowadays they are rare, and overpriced. Any advice? Living in the EU, it would be great to find something useful from Ikea, or another cheap retail source available in Italy, but i guess metal drawers are not Ikea's forte... I'm curious to find out how other pentaxians have solved the problem. Any unconventional, relatively cheap solution is welcomed. cheers P

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06-20-2016, 04:52 AM	#2
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Those cabinets are easy to break into. You might as well just store in boxes. I'm guessing you want secure storage. For that you'll need a safe - a gun safe will do. Alternatively, don't you have a trustworthy friend who can look after your lenses? What about a fire? Are you insured?

06-20-2016, 04:53 AM	#3
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	right or wrong I have mine in pelican style cases. I routinely put blue silicon crystals in the box and replace when they turn pink. That way I can grab a box and run or rack and stack to keep them out of the way. The risk is you get fungus using this method. Ikea does have a display cabinet which I use. see this one as an example of what I use. FABRIKÖR Glass-door cabinet - redbrown - IKEA I use damp rid in the cabinet to keep things dry. The cabinet indicated has reasonable seals (although not totally airtight).

06-20-2016, 05:16 AM	#4
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Store them at a friends or family members house

06-20-2016, 06:11 AM	#5
k22 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 153	Ikea, locking file cabinet: ERIK File cabinet - IKEA For moisture and dirt I use sealable plastic sandwich bags. Put the lens in with a packet of silica gel, roll the bag to remove air, seal it.

06-20-2016, 06:26 AM	#6
Michi Joel Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Catalonia Photos: Albums Posts: 441	+1 with IKEA option in my house ^^ DETOLF Vitrina - negro-marrón - IKEA

06-20-2016, 08:33 AM	#7
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	Not sure if you have a Staples in the EU, but I use these cabinets. I bought a 42" and 72" high model, both have adjustable shelves for larger lenses and are lockable: Staples® 72" Locking Steel Storage Cabinets \| Staples® Phil.

06-20-2016, 09:05 AM	#8
ajack Forum Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Maine Posts: 95	It seems like you have quite an extensive collection, but if you are considering spending hundreds or thousands of dollars just to secure it, you might consider selling the lenses and then buying them again if/when you want them. Alternately, instead of getting filing cabinets could you just get a more secure lock for the door? It should be relatively easy to put a deadbolt and reinforced strike plate on a door. Finally you may just consider whether it would be easier to properly document & insure the lenses, and then cross your fingers. How likely do you think a break-in really is?

06-20-2016, 09:19 AM	#9
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by ajack It seems like you have quite an extensive collection, but if you are considering spending hundreds or thousands of dollars just to secure it, you might consider selling the lenses and then buying them again if/when you want them. Alternately, instead of getting filing cabinets could you just get a more secure lock for the door? It should be relatively easy to put a deadbolt and reinforced strike plate on a door. Finally you may just consider whether it would be easier to properly document & insure the lenses, and then cross your fingers. How likely do you think a break-in really is? +1 I have a little experience with lockpicking, and it's generally trivial. Doubly so for any furniture locks. A safe is just screaming "there's something valuable in me!", which is fine for a place that is generally secure (your house), but less so in your situation, where you're leaving your valuables somewhere you clearly don't trust. Leave them with a trusted friend, get insurance that includes theft or sell and rebuy.

06-20-2016, 10:23 AM	#10
bxf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon area Posts: 1,660	Do not neglect to take humidity into consideration. There's fungus everywhere, just waiting to latch itself onto some SMC.

06-20-2016, 10:39 AM	#11
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	I read something somewhere about an environment that was too dry also being bad... thoughts on that?

06-20-2016, 01:18 PM	#12
yucatanPentax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas / Yucatan Posts: 1,840	Originally posted by sewebster I read something somewhere about an environment that was too dry also being bad... thoughts on that? Only possibly bad on organic matter, like leather, as far as I know. Metal and glass don't have water to evaporate to an extra dry environment. Modern lubricants are stable. Of course, what always comes with extra dry is lots of dust. So, maybe from that perspective? And... also... static electricity?

06-20-2016, 03:42 PM	#13
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by bxf Do not neglect to take humidity into consideration. Absolutely. Dry cabinets are a lens owners friend. And there is a good range of them available, including very secure options.

06-21-2016, 02:13 AM	#14
cyberjunkie Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chiang Mai, Bologna, Amsterdam Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,198 Original Poster	Wow! I'm pleasantly overwhelmed by the number and thoughtfulness of the answers. Thanks! I will check a couple of solutions that could fit my needs. One solution that's definitely a no go is storing everything in the house of a friend or family member. My mom is 87, and i'm not going to ask a friend to look after > 500 objectives. I wouldn't call him a friend! Would be vicious Selling is also out of question. They are my babies I started buying them in the late seventies... Cheers Paolo

06-21-2016, 03:19 AM	#15
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	When it's that many you could try a storage solution. Affitto di Magazzini, Box e Cantinette a Bologna \| Inbox Self Storage