Keeping your cameras and lenses safe from humidity

Dante_Stella said:
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!
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There are several good options out there, Dante.

http://www.eva-dry.com/eva-dry-333-mini-dehumidifier

E-333 Renewable Dehumidifier
Moisture Absorber Ideal For Small Spaces
Be the first to review this product
$24.95



eva-dry-333_1.png
 
raid said:
Two versions available:
SG-750 – Blue silica gel turns to pink when saturated
OSG-750 – Orange silica gel turns to clear when saturated
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Worth being aware is that the blue indicator is cobalt chloride which is classified as a 'substance of very high concern' as a suspected carcinogen by the EU. I think that the orange indicator is the slightly more benign organic compound methyl violet but is still considered to be a somewhat risky material. It is the presence of the indicators which makes Silica Gel unsafe to eat! I mention this because the place it is often dried out in is the oven .....
 
Thank you for the warning. WOW! I will look deeper into it.

This is from their current ad:
Two versions available:
SG-750 – Blue silica gel turns to pink when saturated
OSG-750 – Orange silica gel turns to clear when saturated

I found this online:

Blue silica gel has cobalt chloride, which allows the blue silica gel change its color to pink when it reached its maximized adsorption capacity. Once pink it can be reactivated with heat to dry out the moisture. When it turns blue again, it’s ready to use. Do not use blue silica gel around food since the cobalt chloride is poisonous.
Orange silica gel has methyl violet which is capable of changing from orange to green, or orange to colorless. It is also toxic and potentially poisonous, even though it does have some medicinal merits. Like blue silica gel, once the color changes to indicate maximum adsorption, it can be reactivated with heat to dry out the moisture. When it turns orange again, it’s ready to use


I usually place aluminum foil below the cannister in the oven. I better rethink this all..
 
I use some little units about the size of an Altoids tin (or a thin pack of cigarettes). They're made of metal and easy to pop in the oven to "recharge". I'm lucky that I can easily keep a reasonable level of temp and humiditiy in my house because of where I live. Still, I find it wise to use the dehumidifer packs because my gear is often stuck in dark cabinets/drawers where air flow is non-existent...and winter is humid where I live. I find I need to recharge my units about once every other month (on average).

I have orange silica in my units. I heard that the orange silica is a little harder to see the color change (less dramatic) than the blue stuff. And I can confirm that it is a little difficult to tell the color in anything but good light.

The blue stuff might be carcinogenic. Cobalt compounds are something to be carful with. I don't think it would be unusual if the blue silica had a carcinogenic risk. There are so many products on the shelves that are carcinogenic to some degree. We all know the most infamous of them....;)
 
Phil_F_NM said:
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
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Do you have any references? I would expect that oxidation would be the biggest problem for lubricants.
 
When heating up such a container of Cobalt Chloride, are there toxic gases being emitted or is it the actual solid particles that may fall out onto the oven?
 
I have thrown away my container with silica gel. Better to be safe than be sorry. It could be that the new stuff is safer. I will get a new unit with safer ingredients.
 
FWIW, I suspect (but I don't know for sure!) that the Cobalt salt does not offgas during heating (recharge). However, I could easily imagine the small particles of material... Again, I don't know this for sure. Any chemists around???


This thread has reminded me to recharge my silica units. They're just into the toaster oven now. Orange silica:)
 
raid, for camera equipment the electronic dry cabinets are the better solution as they can maintain a constant humidity. If you must use a closet there is also "Damprid" and similar products where you can see the water accumulate in the container and change/ dispose as necessary. Here in the Far East, where relative humidity is on average 80%, such things are essential not just for gear but prints and negs.
 
rfaspen said:
FWIW, I suspect (but I don't know for sure!) that the Cobalt salt does not offgas during heating (recharge). However, I could easily imagine the small particles of material... Again, I don't know this for sure. Any chemists around???


This thread has reminded me to recharge my silica units. They're just into the toaster oven now. Orange silica:)
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I have used this unit for so many years now, so I got my money's worth out of it by now. I usually place the contained inside an aluminum pan to catch any silica gel falling out.
 
LKSC said:
raid, for camera equipment the electronic dry cabinets are the better solution as they can maintain a constant humidity. If you must use a closet there is also "Damprid" and similar products where you can see the water accumulate in the container and change/ dispose as necessary. Here in the Far East, where relative humidity is on average 80%, such things are essential not just for gear but prints and negs.
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I will do a study of what is available on the market. Our home is always air -conditioned, so maybe it is not needed? Thanks for the tip.
 
Peter Wijninga said:
I need something like this. The dehumidifier cabinets are available locally but only at a very high price.
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How high is a "very high price"? Considering the cost of the gear you'll store in it, surely its worth the outlay?!

I used to do the dry-box with silica thing, but a proper dehumidifier cabinet is so much less hassle.
 
jonmanjiro said:
How high is a "very high price"? Considering the cost of the gear you'll store in it, surely its worth the outlay?!

I used to do the dry-box with silica thing, but a proper dehumidifier cabinet is so much less hassle.
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Will it hold many lenses and many cameras, and can it be locked?
 
raid said:
Will it hold many lenses and many cameras, and can it be locked?
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Can it be locked?
Yes

Can it hold many cameras and many lenses?
How many is "many"? The cabinets come in different sizes. Mine is a mid size one, and I have about 20 lens, 10 cameras, a Coolscan scanner, and a bunch of other stuff in it. If I need to I'd just get another one or a larger one. Several friends with extensive collections are using multiple dehumidifier cabinets. They come in a range of sizes depending on your needs.

33943747_1002740226547700_5922472975893790720_n.jpg
 
The dry cabinets are the most convenient: plug it in and it's done. They are essential in East Asia, as during the rainy season (which is now) the humidity can hit 100% for well over a month (more so further south, you can squeeze water out of your shirt in February). But they do take up some space.
 
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