How to use a Dry box effectively

[bence8810]

Hi,

I am terribly late, its September and the humid summer is almost out bit I guess better late then never... Yesterday I bought a dry box with a gauge and added in all my gear with some silica packs. The gauge read 80% at first and by the morning it went down to 45% which is perfect. Then in the morning I opened it to take my camera out and by the time I closed it, the humidity was up to 80% again. Since I take my camera every day with me, not sure what I should do about this.

Do you guys keep opening and closing your dry boxes or just keep it shut and leave the camera out you are using most frequently?
I have a camera bag which I used to keep my M3 in all year around with a few silica packs at the bottom. The rest of my gear was sitting in two other camera bags somewhere in my room.

I guess if I keep opening the dry box, that sort of defeats its purpose, right?
If so, what am I to do to keep the camera I use daily safe?

I was thinking of perhaps taking a largish ziploc bag and put the camera in when I get home for overnight, squeeze the air out and use a small silica pack to keep it relatively dry? I guess I'd need a gauge there too to make sure the air doesn't get too dry?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Avotius]

I also live in a humid area. You should buy a plug in “rechargeable” dehumidifier brick. It’s a device about the size of a small paperback book that has silica beads that when you plug it in for an hour or so it warms up and removes the moisture from the beads and they can suck more moisture out of the box, just remember to let it cool down before sticking it back in the box. These devices can be used over and over, I have 3 and have been using them for years without fail.

The silica packs will only absorb so much, not sure if they can be reused somehow though.

 

[Scrambler]

The silica packs will only absorb so much, not sure if they can be reused somehow though.

Reuse the same way your packs are: gentle heating. Use your oven on low with the paper packs of silica gel inside. I'm sure Google has the details.

 

[WJJ3]

I would just buck up the ¥20,000 and get an electric one. It will control the humidity and sterilize the air inside the cabinet.

 

[matoqui]

dry pack that can be "recharged" on microwave

dry pack that can be "recharged" on microwave

I use the following

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pack-Reusable-Moisture-absorbing-Silica-Gel-Desiccant-cameras-and-lenses-/331200024298?pt=US_Camera_Cases_Bags&hash=item4d1d0f4eea

They can be "re-charged" by heating them on the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

There is also this one and several similar items that you recharge in the oven:

http://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Gram-Silica-Canister-Dehumidifier/dp/B003QZ6PZ0

 

[Avotius]

Neat I did not know those packs could be recharged too.

After a while of using the bricks I ended up buying a plug in dry box with auto sensor. Very handy.

 

[bence8810]

Thanks a lot for the replies.

I did want to buy a cabinet but found it too expensive at first sight. If I could do away without it... If not of course I'll buy one.

However, my question would perhaps still be unanswered even if I had these rechargeable bricks or the plug in cabinet.
The question is how often do you open your whatever drying solution you have?
I noticed that as soon as I opened mine, the humidity went up from 45 to 80% and it takes a while to come back down. Even if I have the drying substance inside, until it does the work there's 2-3 hours gone by already. If I do that two times a day (morning / evening) I wonder how effective this will be....


Thanks,
Ben