raid
Dad Photographer
I thought that I share with you information on where to get really great dehumidifiers. I have had my unit for many years now. I place it inside a closet with all camera equipment, and recharge the Silica Gel as needed in the oven.
It is a large canister, as you can see below. I have been using it for many years now. They are still in business! I just checked it online.
http://www.dehumidify.com/about-hydrosorbent/
Hydrosorbent Dehumidifiers is nestled in the quiet village of Ashley Falls in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. That's our original office in the photo at right.
The business was begun in 1976 in Rye, New York by S. Brady Brown as a mail order business. Brady had served as an Army officer during the Korean War and had used silica gel to protect his weapons. When he tried to find silica gel to protect his own firearms, he found that there was nothing readily available for the consumer.
The first product Hydrosorbent sold was a unit used on naval vessels. Over the years Brady designed and manufactured a series of different sized units to meet the demand from his customers. In 1982 Brady began to sell Hydrosorbent dehumidifiers at wholesale, through his first distributor. This was a real turning point for the small company.
They now have smaller units. My unit may be large enough to cover an entire room.
Large Canister
This heavy duty unit provides lifetime protection for closets, lockers, cabinets vaults and safes. The unit is preferred by police armories, hospitals and museums as well as individual collectors of firearms and artifacts. The large canister contains 750 grams of silica gel packaged in a steel can that measures 4" x 6", about the size of a coffee can. Protects 57 cubic feet of enclosed space.
Two versions available:
SG-750 – Blue silica gel turns to pink when saturated
OSG-750 – Orange silica gel turns to clear when saturated
It is a large canister, as you can see below. I have been using it for many years now. They are still in business! I just checked it online.
http://www.dehumidify.com/about-hydrosorbent/
Hydrosorbent Dehumidifiers is nestled in the quiet village of Ashley Falls in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. That's our original office in the photo at right.
The business was begun in 1976 in Rye, New York by S. Brady Brown as a mail order business. Brady had served as an Army officer during the Korean War and had used silica gel to protect his weapons. When he tried to find silica gel to protect his own firearms, he found that there was nothing readily available for the consumer.
The first product Hydrosorbent sold was a unit used on naval vessels. Over the years Brady designed and manufactured a series of different sized units to meet the demand from his customers. In 1982 Brady began to sell Hydrosorbent dehumidifiers at wholesale, through his first distributor. This was a real turning point for the small company.
They now have smaller units. My unit may be large enough to cover an entire room.
Large Canister
This heavy duty unit provides lifetime protection for closets, lockers, cabinets vaults and safes. The unit is preferred by police armories, hospitals and museums as well as individual collectors of firearms and artifacts. The large canister contains 750 grams of silica gel packaged in a steel can that measures 4" x 6", about the size of a coffee can. Protects 57 cubic feet of enclosed space.
Two versions available:
SG-750 – Blue silica gel turns to pink when saturated
OSG-750 – Orange silica gel turns to clear when saturated
BLKRCAT
75% Film
I've read here that you can have too little humidity. If you run too little humidity with your camera storage you run the risk of drying out lubricants.
raid
Dad Photographer
Yes this is correct. I do not recharge the unit too frequently and I air the closet. I have been living in Florida for 40 years now. No problems. Knock on wood.
Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
I love the design of that thing.
If you are not dehumidifying an armory, there is now a rechargeable (well, re-dry-able) silica gel pack (Eva Dry) that simply plugs into the wall when it's time to recharge (the gel beads are also indicator-style through a window so you can see when it needs to be recharged or is recharged).
I understand the allure of these big military style canisters, but when you are at that point, you might want to look into B&H's periodic sales on dry cabinets. They don't require any monitoring or periodic recharging (they run continuously at very low power) and indicate the humidity level inside.
If you are not dehumidifying an armory, there is now a rechargeable (well, re-dry-able) silica gel pack (Eva Dry) that simply plugs into the wall when it's time to recharge (the gel beads are also indicator-style through a window so you can see when it needs to be recharged or is recharged).
I understand the allure of these big military style canisters, but when you are at that point, you might want to look into B&H's periodic sales on dry cabinets. They don't require any monitoring or periodic recharging (they run continuously at very low power) and indicate the humidity level inside.
raid
Dad Photographer
Thank you for the tip, Dante. I will check out B&H for it.
In this unit you have to remove the collected water.
Eva Dry:
The EDV-2500 is a mid-sized, electric dehumidifier designed to pull moisture from areas that are up to 2500 cubic feet. Using thermal electric Peltier technology, the Edv-2500 packs a quite yet powerful punch against the damaging effectives of excessive moisture. It's effectiveness is measured in gathering approximately 20.5 oz. of water per day at 86° F and 80% R.H. Additional specifications of the EDV-2500 includes: a power adapter of 12V DC 6AMP, power consumption of 72W, 2 Liter capacity removable water tank and an automatic water level detector switch to indicate tank is full. The unit measures 9"W x 13.5"H x 5.75"D and carries a UPC # of 83285600527.
Dry Cabinet at B&H:
In this unit you have to remove the collected water.
Eva Dry:
The EDV-2500 is a mid-sized, electric dehumidifier designed to pull moisture from areas that are up to 2500 cubic feet. Using thermal electric Peltier technology, the Edv-2500 packs a quite yet powerful punch against the damaging effectives of excessive moisture. It's effectiveness is measured in gathering approximately 20.5 oz. of water per day at 86° F and 80% R.H. Additional specifications of the EDV-2500 includes: a power adapter of 12V DC 6AMP, power consumption of 72W, 2 Liter capacity removable water tank and an automatic water level detector switch to indicate tank is full. The unit measures 9"W x 13.5"H x 5.75"D and carries a UPC # of 83285600527.
Dry Cabinet at B&H:
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Go here (http://www.dpcalc.org) to assess the risk of mold and metal corrosion at any temp/humidity.
Key point: Keep the dew point low. I'm in NH, dry during the heated winter, humid during the summer. I run a dehumidifier keeping 65° and 40% RH (Dew point 40°, "No Risk").
Key point: Keep the dew point low. I'm in NH, dry during the heated winter, humid during the summer. I run a dehumidifier keeping 65° and 40% RH (Dew point 40°, "No Risk").
RObert Budding
D'oh!
By what mechanism? Desiccants do not absorb organic compounds, they absorb water vapor.
Bill Clark
Veteran
I don’t do anything unusual. I keep the cameras in a cabinet with glass doir fronts. The cabinet was originally designed for books.
And, currently, we have lots of Gulf if Mexico humid air here.
And, currently, we have lots of Gulf if Mexico humid air here.
raid
Dad Photographer
If you keep your home air conditioned and keep the windows closed, the humid air should not affect your gear too much.
back alley
IMAGES
living on the prairie helps quite a bit...
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
They (dessicants) absorb water vapor but by decreasing the atmospheric vapor pressure you could cause hydrocarbons to outgas prematurely then they can thicken. We're talking over the course of months or a year but it does happen. It's why oil based lubricants are used on bicycles in more moist environments and wax based are used in deserts. The oils tend to "dry out" quicker.
Phil Forrest
Bill Clark
Veteran
You are correct Raid.
I only run the a/c about a dozen or so days a year up here.
What I find that can be an issue is small grains of dirt blowing in from farmland, especially during the spring and fall and if it’s dry. I make sure sll my stuff is in the cabinet! Or close the windows.
Another possible issue is clothes dryer lint. Evrn though the dryer has a large screen to filter out most of the lint and it is vented outdoors, I’m surprised how it still gets around. I clean the condenser coil on my refrigerator about on an annual basis.
At any rate, it’s a constant battle, one thing or another.
I only run the a/c about a dozen or so days a year up here.
What I find that can be an issue is small grains of dirt blowing in from farmland, especially during the spring and fall and if it’s dry. I make sure sll my stuff is in the cabinet! Or close the windows.
Another possible issue is clothes dryer lint. Evrn though the dryer has a large screen to filter out most of the lint and it is vented outdoors, I’m surprised how it still gets around. I clean the condenser coil on my refrigerator about on an annual basis.
At any rate, it’s a constant battle, one thing or another.
peterm1
Veteran
If you travel anywhere in Asia where photography is a "thing" but humidity can be high, (Singapore and Hong Kong are good examples) you will find that camera stores commonly sell plastic camera storage boxes in various sizes ("dry boxes") often with inbuilt containers for silica gel packs and often too, with inbuilt hygrometers. The silica gel is readily available in those stores too though I fancy it can be had much more cheaply elsewhere.
Of course, there is no real reason to use special (for which read, expensive) containers - ordinary household plastic storage bins work fine as long as some silica gel packs are placed in with the cameras. Just remember that opening the bin to remove or replace a camera potentially lets moisture laden air to enter. And remember to dry the silica gel packs in low oven heat or replace them regularly. Special expensive equipment is not really needed unless you want to go down that route.
I am lucky as I live in Australia in a state where the summer is hot and dry and the winter cool and sometimes damp. Excessive humidity is not all that often an issue.
Of course, there is no real reason to use special (for which read, expensive) containers - ordinary household plastic storage bins work fine as long as some silica gel packs are placed in with the cameras. Just remember that opening the bin to remove or replace a camera potentially lets moisture laden air to enter. And remember to dry the silica gel packs in low oven heat or replace them regularly. Special expensive equipment is not really needed unless you want to go down that route.
I am lucky as I live in Australia in a state where the summer is hot and dry and the winter cool and sometimes damp. Excessive humidity is not all that often an issue.
Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
Raid, the Eva Dry I am referencing (the E-333) is a unit that basically acts as a silica gel pack - the one you found is a full-blown condensing dehumidifier. Which is impressive in its own way!
maddoc
... likes film again.
Most excellent explained!
retinax
Well-known
I saw this stuff in Asia, but no silica desiccants - camera stores were selling lime based desiccants. I guess they're fine, but I was afraid of using them as I thought any lime dust getting out might cause corrosion. Does anyone know about that?
If you travel anywhere in Asia where photography is a "thing" but humidity can be high, (Singapore and Hong Kong are good examples) you will find that camera stores commonly sell plastic camera storage boxes in various sizes ("dry boxes") often with inbuilt containers for silica gel packs and often too, with inbuilt hygrometers. The silica gel is readily available in those stores too though I fancy it can be had much more cheaply elsewhere.
Of course, there is no real reason to use special (for which read, expensive) containers - ordinary household plastic storage bins work fine as long as some silica gel packs are placed in with the cameras. Just remember that opening the bin to remove or replace a camera potentially lets moisture laden air to enter. And remember to dry the silica gel packs in low oven heat or replace them regularly. Special expensive equipment is not really needed unless you want to go down that route.
I am lucky as I live in Australia in a state where the summer is hot and dry and the winter cool and sometimes damp. Excessive humidity is not all that often an issue.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
One can make their own dessicant pack for super cheap using the kind of tea bags that you fill yourself.
Cover a clean baking sheet with salt, stick it in the oven and let it dry out at a few hundred degrees for at least half an hour, let it cool, fill the tea bags and you're good to go. Make sure the tea bags are stapled shut securely.
Phil Forrest
Cover a clean baking sheet with salt, stick it in the oven and let it dry out at a few hundred degrees for at least half an hour, let it cool, fill the tea bags and you're good to go. Make sure the tea bags are stapled shut securely.
Phil Forrest
retinax
Well-known
Salt dust, just like lime as I mentioned above, doesn't seem like a thing I want around and inside a camera. It promotes corrosion. I'd be worried some dust comes out of the bags.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
True. I've never used this for a camera bag but it would be fine for a cabinet or bin that isn't being moved around.
How many people actually have problems with fungus and corrosion (not caused by sweat or exposure to chemicals) though? In the last 25 years the only time I've experienced either was if I actually bought a lens with fungus already in it or was given a camera that had some corrosion. An old Nikon FM I was given had a bit of corrosion on one of the shutter blades as well as in the battery compartment. I cleaned it up and used that camera for 11 years. But I've never had fungus nor corrosion develop on or in any of my gear and I haven't taken any special care of it. This is also during eight years in the Navy, all of them close to water and in humid environments like Guam, Puget Sound, the Persian Gulf.
Phil Forrest
raid
Dad Photographer
Such a good discussion is useful to some people here. We haven'd had a similar one for a while, I think.