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.

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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: 1,399	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: 8,092	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.

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.