Are there any non-ugly dryboxes?

chut

chut

Luceat Lux Vestra
Local time
4:59 AM
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
235
As my equipment has slowly increased, I've thought about getting a drybox to keep everything dry and fungus free.

I've looked around on the web and there don't seem to be many aesthetically pleasing dryboxes out there. They all seem to look like microwaves or cheap wine chillers.

I would imagine that there may be some out there that resemble the look of a handcrafted cigar humidor. Perhaps some people have built their own?

Anybody see/have one out there?
 
What's wrong with Pelican boxes? They work. They work well enough to protect sensitive electronic equipment on offshore vessels. I suppose you could decorate one.

Build a fancy wooden box. Put your gear in a dry bag. Put the dry bag in the fancy wooden box.

You will need dessicant inside any "dry" container. Remove & renew & replace as required.
 
Keep your cameras and lenses out in the light. Fungus hates light. You can always blow the dust off them. Don't store cameras and lenses in leather cases. Whether I have stuff in a Halliburton aluminum case or a Pelican plastic (plastic is without doubt "low class") I leave the lids open when it's sitting around at home. I live in semi-tropical and very humid South Florida. I've had and used some of my Leica equipment for over forty years, and it was mostly bought used. No fungus! Air circulation and light!
 
Last edited:
I guess what I'm looking for is an elegant display case, a sort of wunderkammer. Aside from producing lovely images, I love the industrial design aesthetics of cameras and enjoy looking at them as well as using them.

I have some vintage metal doctor's cabinets that I use to display old tobacco related objects, but these cabinets are far from airtight.

I suppose I could build a cabinet myself and perhaps source the electronic dehumidifiers from somewhere.

I was just wondering if any RFFers out there have done anything of the sort.
 
Find an antique "Lawyers' Bookcase". They come in stackable sections and have drop down glass doors. They were good enough for an attorney's office. Either leave the wood as is with its worn "distressed" look or get them refinished. No, they're not air tight. You WANT air circulation! If you're still worried about dampness have them wired to have a 15 watt light bulb inside each section. That will elevate the air temperature and reduce the relative humidity. The heat will also create some convection air circulation.
 
Al's right and I totally missed his point. I spent 35 years in hot, soggy New Orleans. Fresh air. Sunlight. Circulation. Dehumidifier. Dessicant. More fresh air. More Sunlight. And above all, take the gear out and use it. Like athletes, cameras and lenses that are used regulary live longer!
 
I bought myself a chinese brand "wonderful" dry box. Its one of those mini fridge looking types with a plexiglass window on the door and the metal case in discreet grey. Also the plus of this box is the sensor that automatically detects the humidity and turns on the dehumidifier. I have also checked it and found there is no noticeable heat that comes off the unit, inside and out which is a plus as I understand in the past that was a problem with dry boxes you plugged in. Total cost, about 50 dollars, a great investment for me in this place of 75% humidity.
 
Last edited:
Al Kaplan said:
...

If you're still worried about dampness have them wired to have a 15 watt light bulb inside each section. That will elevate the air temperature and reduce the relative humidity. The heat will also create some convection air circulation.
Click to expand...

Years ago in Vietnam, that was the standard solution. A container with a light. Heat and circulation.

Prior to that, on Okinawa, the PX used to sell packets of anti-fungal powder. I have no idea what it was, but it seemed to work well enough in wall lockers and footlockers. Helped temporarily clear sinus problems as well. :D
 
Here is a link to the Australian distributor of "Wonderful" dry cabinets;

http://www.drycabinet.com.au/main.html

Click on "Dry cabinets" and at the bottom of the next screen click on "dry cabinet models." You can then view the various models which should give you an idea of the size, style and functions of these particular dry cabinets. The number included in the product code is usually close to the cabinet volume in litres.

I have a AD-108M and am very happy with it as far as quality of build and in use. The dry cabinets are generally finished in a grey much like regular filing cabinets so they don't stand out in a work space.

However the Wonderful dry cabinet models that have a "C" at the end of their model code are a little more posh. These models are finished in a semi gloss black and have a full size frameless glass door. Its hard to see this if you click on the pic of the "AD-050C" and compare it to its more modest brother the "AD-050" but the black model does look better.

I did consider the AD-096C but preferred the more solid steel framed door on the AD-108M and additional volume. I also got a very good price so the looks weren't so important to me.

These cabinets work well, are priced well and should be available locally. I'd stick with something that is proven to do the job over a custom built for something this critical.
 
Thanks for all the responses everyone.

I've found a local dealer who sells Eureka dry boxes. While they're not the beautiful furniture pieces that I was trying to find, akalai's point about choosing something that is proven to do the job does take precedence over aesthetics in this case.

I'll take a look at the models they have. I'm tending towards getting a pair of their DX-76 boxes.

Here's the link for anyone else who might be looking for one:

http://www.eurekadrytech.com/index.aspx
 
Do I recall Al Kaplan saying TWICE and Fred both mentioning that you NEED air circulation and sun????!!!

Why does this simple fact not register? JMHO but, dammit, these guys have a combined history of experience of what?....????!!!:eek::eek::eek:;););)
And one of them lives in tropical, humid Florida!!!

I believe that I would listen to them rather than a company trying to sell something....YMMV but mine doesn't!:rolleyes:

(*Note: judicious use of smilies, etc. may go overlooked....just trying a little humor to make a point, LOL)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom