Dessiccant / Silica Gel

[mbisc]

Hopefully this isn't a FAQ (at least I couldn't find anything) -- how do you get Dessiccant / Silica Gel (the spice pack in you favorite camere gear 😀 ) back to original condition? When they have been used in humid conditions for a while, they "contain" a lot of moisture -- how do you 'remove' that?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kaiyen]

Depending on the packaging, you can just heat them in the oven until they turn back to their original color.

However, if it's the paper packets, the paper might burn before you dry them out (plus you can't see into them). I'd buy some silica packs that have vented holes, where you can see in, from a science supply store. Mine specifically mention how to heat them up to dry them out.

 

[Tuolumne]

I think you can microwave them, too. Works even with paper.

/T

 

[caperunner]

Can microwave silica gel but seems to shatter under the high energy heating, in my experience. Best results for me come from laying it out in the oven (on a dish) when the cooking is finished i.e around 50 degrees C with the oven turned off and just left to undergo its standard cooling cycle. If the gel has an indicator it will turn ocean blue when dry from pink. If it has no indicator leave it until oven is quite cool from about 50 degrees. Hope it is dry!