Adorama Reusable Silica Gel

LeDave · 07-23-2012, 02:01 PM

I have had these Adorama Reusable Silica Gel in aluminum containers for a long time, I have 3 of them that I've kept for almost 3 years now. It takes about 3-4 days for them to hydrate before I have to de-hydrate them again. I usually put them in the oven at 300 F for 30 minutes before they turn extremely dark blue, almost black. I see that the instruction says bake them for 3 hours. However it is dark blue within 30 minutes and lasts for 3-4 days. Have anybody here tried baking them for an actual 3 hours? Are the colors different than what I've described and do they last longer? Such as a week at least?

**jlstrawman** · 07-23-2012, 04:26 PM

Could you please supply a link to this product?

Thanks!

LeDave · 07-23-2012, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by jlstrawman

Could you please supply a link to this product?

Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Adorama-Silica-Indicator-Reuseable-Canister/dp/B0002GRLO0/

or

Adorama 02-00397DG04 Silica Gel in Reuseable Canister 02-00397DG04

Chris_T · 07-23-2012, 06:34 PM

I have these also about 9 of them. I always bake them for the full 3 hours and they last about a month - 6 weeks in a closed camera bag. I have 2 in my everyday camera bag and the last about 3-4 weeks too.
These Silica packs are also available at Lee Valley tools and on ebay.

**jford** · 07-23-2012, 09:12 PM

I can't tell you whether the colors are accurate or not, but I can tell you that you can't

ver-bake" them. The color change is caused by something that can't burn off in a home oven. And as Chris_T said, bake them fully and they'll last longer.
Lee Valley Tools, BTW, has a large canister of them, too. Good for tool boxes or large photo storage case.

LeDave · 07-23-2012, 09:53 PM

Thanks everybody. I baked them for another 30 minutes which is an hour, and the blue color seems more flush, I'm sure if I would've baked it all the way for 3 hours it'll be a brighter blue. Will bake them all the way next time, saves a lot of time not having to bake them every 3-4 days. Sheesh.

**jlstrawman** · 07-24-2012, 04:14 PM

Thanks a lot, LeDave!

Jerry

Ratmagiclady · 07-28-2012, 08:35 PM

A good thing to do with those would be to buy a bunch more than you need and store the extras in some airtight container, until the first ones are expended: then you don't have to heat up the oven for all that time as often. (I use some little things like that and keep meaning to do just the same: nothing says you couldn't recharge them in batches and have that cover you for a lot longer.

)

Unsinkable II · 08-01-2012, 08:54 PM

Doesn't regular baking use more energy (both human and utilities) than a cheap electric dry cabinet?

Vylen · 08-02-2012, 03:46 AM

Originally posted by Unsinkable II

Doesn't regular baking use more energy (both human and utilities) than a cheap electric dry cabinet?

If you're talking about using a dry cabinet to store your equipment, then you're probably right. But, I can't imagine people carrying one on their backs.

Unsinkable II · 08-02-2012, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by Vylen

If you're talking about using a dry cabinet to store your equipment, then you're probably right. But, I can't imagine people carrying one on their backs.

Or an oven!

Do people really carry their lenses around in ziplocks with desiccant? Maybe I'm being reckless!

**gofour3** · 08-02-2012, 11:16 AM

I use this company for my silica gel packs. You can bulk buy their aluminum containers for a cheaper price than Adorama.

Canisters - Dry-Packs Cans & Boxes - SilicaGelPackets.com

Phil.

Lupine · 08-02-2012, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by Unsinkable II

Or an oven!

Do people really carry their lenses around in ziplocks with desiccant? Maybe I'm being reckless!

Not in ziplock bags, but I do have desiccant packs in each of my lens cases/pouches and in my shoulder bag.

07-23-2012, 02:01 PM	#1
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Adorama Reusable Silica Gel I have had these Adorama Reusable Silica Gel in aluminum containers for a long time, I have 3 of them that I've kept for almost 3 years now. It takes about 3-4 days for them to hydrate before I have to de-hydrate them again. I usually put them in the oven at 300 F for 30 minutes before they turn extremely dark blue, almost black. I see that the instruction says bake them for 3 hours. However it is dark blue within 30 minutes and lasts for 3-4 days. Have anybody here tried baking them for an actual 3 hours? Are the colors different than what I've described and do they last longer? Such as a week at least?

07-23-2012, 06:34 PM	#4
Chris_T New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario, Canada Posts: 17	Silica Gel I have these also about 9 of them. I always bake them for the full 3 hours and they last about a month - 6 weeks in a closed camera bag. I have 2 in my everyday camera bag and the last about 3-4 weeks too. These Silica packs are also available at Lee Valley tools and on ebay.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Does anyone else gel their flash?	ChopperCharles	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	31	05-26-2011 07:02 AM
Adverse effect of Silica Gel on Lens?	yusuf	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	8	11-17-2010 10:01 AM
What kind of Silica Gel do you use?	LeDave	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	11	08-07-2009 02:54 PM
Silica gel	OrenMc	Photographic Technique	13	11-19-2008 12:27 PM
Silica gel	JCSullivan	General Talk	23	03-08-2008 07:27 PM

07-23-2012, 04:26 PM	#2
jlstrawman Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Midwest US Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,058	Could you please supply a link to this product? Thanks!

07-23-2012, 06:33 PM	#3
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067 Original Poster	Originally posted by jlstrawman Could you please supply a link to this product? Thanks! http://www.amazon.com/Adorama-Silica-Indicator-Reuseable-Canister/dp/B0002GRLO0/ or Adorama 02-00397DG04 Silica Gel in Reuseable Canister 02-00397DG04

07-23-2012, 09:12 PM	#5
jford Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indiana PA USA Posts: 1,396	I can't tell you whether the colors are accurate or not, but I can tell you that you can't ver-bake" them. The color change is caused by something that can't burn off in a home oven. And as Chris_T said, bake them fully and they'll last longer. Lee Valley Tools, BTW, has a large canister of them, too. Good for tool boxes or large photo storage case.

07-23-2012, 09:53 PM	#6
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067 Original Poster	Thanks everybody. I baked them for another 30 minutes which is an hour, and the blue color seems more flush, I'm sure if I would've baked it all the way for 3 hours it'll be a brighter blue. Will bake them all the way next time, saves a lot of time not having to bake them every 3-4 days. Sheesh.

07-24-2012, 04:14 PM	#7
jlstrawman Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Midwest US Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,058	Thanks a lot, LeDave! Jerry

07-28-2012, 08:35 PM	#8
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	A good thing to do with those would be to buy a bunch more than you need and store the extras in some airtight container, until the first ones are expended: then you don't have to heat up the oven for all that time as often. (I use some little things like that and keep meaning to do just the same: nothing says you couldn't recharge them in batches and have that cover you for a lot longer. )

08-01-2012, 08:54 PM	#9
Unsinkable II Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,352	Doesn't regular baking use more energy (both human and utilities) than a cheap electric dry cabinet?

08-02-2012, 03:46 AM	#10
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Originally posted by Unsinkable II Doesn't regular baking use more energy (both human and utilities) than a cheap electric dry cabinet? If you're talking about using a dry cabinet to store your equipment, then you're probably right. But, I can't imagine people carrying one on their backs.

08-02-2012, 04:28 AM	#11
Unsinkable II Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,352	Originally posted by Vylen If you're talking about using a dry cabinet to store your equipment, then you're probably right. But, I can't imagine people carrying one on their backs. Or an oven! Do people really carry their lenses around in ziplocks with desiccant? Maybe I'm being reckless!

08-02-2012, 11:16 AM	#12
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,089	I use this company for my silica gel packs. You can bulk buy their aluminum containers for a cheaper price than Adorama. Canisters - Dry-Packs Cans & Boxes - SilicaGelPackets.com Phil.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-02-2012, 05:27 PM	#13
Lupine Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 93	Originally posted by Unsinkable II Or an oven! Do people really carry their lenses around in ziplocks with desiccant? Maybe I'm being reckless! Not in ziplock bags, but I do have desiccant packs in each of my lens cases/pouches and in my shoulder bag.