Desiccants--what to get

oatman911 · 03-02-2009, 10:45 AM

Hey all,

Got a question about desiccants. Living in the south, humidity is a problem that I can't avoid--and with spring and summer just around the corner, I am looking forward to some colorful shooting outdoors. I want to pick up some desiccant to put in my camera bag to help keep everything dry and fungus free both during day to day use and longer term storage. What do you recommend? Where to get it? If its reusable, how do you dry it out between uses?

Thanks
Oren

Tom S. · 03-02-2009, 01:00 PM

Go to your local pharmacy and ask. You may have to wait a few days, but the pills they get come packaged with desiccants and they normally throw them out. Free is good!

Silica desiccants (those above) can be 're-charged' by drying them out in an oven set to warm.

SOldBear · 03-02-2009, 01:08 PM

You can get them at craftstores. Ask for the desiccants to make dried flowers.

Something like this or this.

Venturi · 03-02-2009, 01:14 PM

If you're looking for something a bit more "robust" and/or user-friendly B&H carries a fairly wide variety of options: dessicant | B&H Photo Video

ftpaddict · 03-02-2009, 01:31 PM

I work in an IT store and I have plenty of those lying around just about anywhere.

I keep a couple in my bag, for good measure.

Presto · 03-02-2009, 04:34 PM

Do you have a dedicated cabinet or something similarly sealed off where you store your camera? If so, go to Cabela's or some similar sporting goods place and look at dehumidifiers for gun safes. They work better for long term storage than any dessicant, or other dehumidifiers. They also have more durable silica containers than the little packs you can get if you are looking for something a little more high class. I also know that among gun owners, the "Golden Rod" dehumidifier is among the best you can get. You can search for it a Cabela's. Gun nuts know how to protect against moisture.

krypticide · 03-02-2009, 07:57 PM

Rice should work, in a pinch. It probably doesn't perform as well as a real dessicant pack.

oatman911 · 03-04-2009, 09:51 AM

Thanks all, appreciate the advice.

Oren

geauxpez · 03-04-2009, 11:10 AM

I would probably steer toward the heat & re-use silica kits on B&H. They change color so you know when they are saturated. I dispense a similar kit (enclosed in a jar) for hearing aids. With the disposable packs, who knows when it's no good.

Ratmagiclady · 03-04-2009, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by geauxpez

I would probably steer toward the heat & re-use silica kits on B&H. They change color so you know when they are saturated. I dispense a similar kit (enclosed in a jar) for hearing aids. With the disposable packs, who knows when it's no good.

I use the gun-safe type, myself, for my gear file-cabinets and a case. Though, something that might be able to be dried in a microwave would be nice, since putting these in the oven is a bit wasteful of power, and hot in the summer.

soccerjoe5 · 03-04-2009, 12:47 PM

Check out the Pelicant dessicants.

Ratmagiclady · 03-04-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by soccerjoe5

Check out the Pelicant dessicants.

Actually, those look exactly like
what *I* have, don't know if you wanna nuke those, to be clear.

Come to think of it, on heat and energy issues, I suppose I should just get *more* of them. They *work* fine (even in my less-than-hermetically-sealed spaces: worst thing you can do is trap moisture *inside* a sealed space, this is why you gotta watch the Minute-rice type solutions, once damp, rice will give that moisture back up when you don't want it to) and I could dry them in bigger batches. The metal ones'll go a month or two on a charge as I use em.

**dadipentak** · 03-04-2009, 12:56 PM

Get a daughter: new shoes always come with silica gel packets--I'm up to my ears in 'em! :~)

Ratmagiclady · 03-04-2009, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by dadipentak

Get a daughter: new shoes always come with silica gel packets--I'm up to my ears in 'em! :~)

I could probably do with some new shoes, actually. Gal like me putting it all toward photo stuff? It's not right, I tell you!

**dadipentak** · 03-04-2009, 03:32 PM

Well, then, Ratmagiclady, run down to Payless and buy some silica gel packets--they come with free shoes!

03-02-2009, 10:45 AM	#1
oatman911 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bronx Posts: 70	Desiccants--what to get Hey all, Got a question about desiccants. Living in the south, humidity is a problem that I can't avoid--and with spring and summer just around the corner, I am looking forward to some colorful shooting outdoors. I want to pick up some desiccant to put in my camera bag to help keep everything dry and fungus free both during day to day use and longer term storage. What do you recommend? Where to get it? If its reusable, how do you dry it out between uses? Thanks Oren

03-04-2009, 12:53 PM	#12
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by soccerjoe5 Check out the Pelicant dessicants. Actually, those look exactly like what I have, don't know if you wanna nuke those, to be clear. Come to think of it, on heat and energy issues, I suppose I should just get more of them. They work fine (even in my less-than-hermetically-sealed spaces: worst thing you can do is trap moisture inside a sealed space, this is why you gotta watch the Minute-rice type solutions, once damp, rice will give that moisture back up when you don't want it to) and I could dry them in bigger batches. The metal ones'll go a month or two on a charge as I use em. Last edited by Ratmagiclady; 03-04-2009 at 01:02 PM.

03-02-2009, 01:00 PM	#2
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Go to your local pharmacy and ask. You may have to wait a few days, but the pills they get come packaged with desiccants and they normally throw them out. Free is good! Silica desiccants (those above) can be 're-charged' by drying them out in an oven set to warm.

03-02-2009, 01:08 PM	#3
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	You can get them at craftstores. Ask for the desiccants to make dried flowers. Something like this or this.

03-02-2009, 01:14 PM	#4
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	If you're looking for something a bit more "robust" and/or user-friendly B&H carries a fairly wide variety of options: dessicant \| B&H Photo Video

03-02-2009, 01:31 PM	#5
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	I work in an IT store and I have plenty of those lying around just about anywhere. I keep a couple in my bag, for good measure.

03-02-2009, 04:34 PM	#6
Presto Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jacksonville, AL Posts: 85	Do you have a dedicated cabinet or something similarly sealed off where you store your camera? If so, go to Cabela's or some similar sporting goods place and look at dehumidifiers for gun safes. They work better for long term storage than any dessicant, or other dehumidifiers. They also have more durable silica containers than the little packs you can get if you are looking for something a little more high class. I also know that among gun owners, the "Golden Rod" dehumidifier is among the best you can get. You can search for it a Cabela's. Gun nuts know how to protect against moisture.

03-02-2009, 07:57 PM	#7
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Rice should work, in a pinch. It probably doesn't perform as well as a real dessicant pack.

03-04-2009, 09:51 AM	#8
oatman911 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bronx Posts: 70 Original Poster	Thanks all, appreciate the advice. Oren

03-04-2009, 11:10 AM	#9
geauxpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Atlanta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,196	I would probably steer toward the heat & re-use silica kits on B&H. They change color so you know when they are saturated. I dispense a similar kit (enclosed in a jar) for hearing aids. With the disposable packs, who knows when it's no good.

03-04-2009, 12:35 PM	#10
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by geauxpez I would probably steer toward the heat & re-use silica kits on B&H. They change color so you know when they are saturated. I dispense a similar kit (enclosed in a jar) for hearing aids. With the disposable packs, who knows when it's no good. I use the gun-safe type, myself, for my gear file-cabinets and a case. Though, something that might be able to be dried in a microwave would be nice, since putting these in the oven is a bit wasteful of power, and hot in the summer.

03-04-2009, 12:47 PM	#11
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	Check out the Pelicant dessicants.

03-04-2009, 12:56 PM	#13
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Get a daughter: new shoes always come with silica gel packets--I'm up to my ears in 'em! :~)

03-04-2009, 01:26 PM	#14
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by dadipentak Get a daughter: new shoes always come with silica gel packets--I'm up to my ears in 'em! :~) I could probably do with some new shoes, actually. Gal like me putting it all toward photo stuff? It's not right, I tell you!

03-04-2009, 03:32 PM	#15
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Well, then, Ratmagiclady, run down to Payless and buy some silica gel packets--they come with free shoes!