Desiccant Packs

[gmhill33]

Greetings,

Does any use the little (unless you have the larger ones) desiccant packs in their tool boxes?

Gary

[NitroPress]

We call them do-not-eats around the house.

We save all the ones that come in packaging and I tend to throw them in stored tools etc. Humidity was never a problem in CA but here... well, you don't store things in cardboard boxes because they slowly turn to rubber.

Other than maybe a neatness factor or if you live in the furthest southwest, there's no reason not to save all the ones you get and toss them in the corners of tool boxes, tool cases, etc.

[gmhill33]

Originally Posted by NitroPress

there's no reason not to save all the ones you get and toss them in the corners of tool boxes, tool cases, etc.

Thats what i was thinking.

Thanks for the info.

Gary

[shopnut]

They sell reusable ones in aluminum cases that can be popped in the oven and "dried out" when the indicator turns a certain color. The ones I have are about 1.5 x 3 x 1/2" in size and I found them on fee-bay a couple of years ago.

[gmhill33]

Originally Posted by shopnut

They sell reusable ones in aluminum cases that can be popped in the oven and "dried out" when the indicator turns a certain color. The ones I have are about 1.5 x 3 x 1/2" in size and I found them on fee-bay a couple of years ago.

Cool I'll try to find out the cost.

Thanks,
Gary

[Gary S]

I've used them around the house and garage, but I don't know if they ever helped or not. I don't have moisture problems with or without them.

[Lippyp]

I use some large one at my holiday home. I have some plastic bags that have a valve so you can suck all the air out with a vaccum cleaner. We use them to store bedding over the winter when we're not there and have a couple of large dessicants packs in each one as a further precaution. Once a year I stick them in a low oven for an hour or so to dry them out. Never had anything get mildewed and the house is empty and unheated over the winter.

[NitroPress]

Originally Posted by Gary S

I've used them around the house and garage, but I don't know if they ever helped or not. I don't have moisture problems with or without them.

Well, they keep elephants away, too.

[PCO6]

I throw them in my tool box drawers where I keep my air tools. As said above though, I really don't know if they are helping or not.

[ClassicGMJunkie]

I usually stick them inside the service door under my wire spool in my Lincoln welder. keep humidity from eventually rusting the insulator in the gun or feed rollers.

[Stuart in MN]

If you're going to buy something, you may as well get some VCI emitters: http://www.theruststore.com/VCI-C12....FYUKKgodSxdlPw In the old days, machinists would put a little lump of camphor in their toolbox to prevent rust. A VCI emitter works much in the same fashion.

[Buckgnarly]

I keep them in my containers of welding rod, have not had any issues with wet rods so I guess they may be working....

[James E]

I have a buddy that works for a computer tower manufacturer. They throw thousands of large packs of dessicant away and he brings me some every once in awhile. The ones he gets me are about eight inches square and about two inches thick. Lots of businesses have or get them in packaging and throw gobs of them away. Ask around and you might get some for free.

I had a car stored under a cover outside for a long time. It would mildew inside pretty badly and I'd have to clean it up every time I drove it. I put a box of dessicant packs inside and it has stayed dry and mildew free after that.

Now I keep them in my tool box, in my stored vehicles and in cabinets. I live in NC so the humidity is pretty bad here. They work great.

[mpire]

You can also go get some crystal cat litter at the grocery store, its the same stuff.

Any brand will do.



http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Clear-.../dp/B0002AQQOC

Put it in bins, or get creative and put in in cloth bags.

[billwright]

Here are the Aluminum Silica Gel Canisters another responder was talking about, I guess they are called "Dry-Packs":

http://www.silicagelpackets.com/dry-...-canister.html

I use them in 5 gallon buckets with bolts, nuts, tools, etc. Works great, just pop in oven after a few months and it dried it back out to reuse again!

Originally Posted by gmhill33

Greetings,

Does any use the little (unless you have the larger ones) desiccant packs in their tool boxes?

Gary

[gmhill33]

Originally Posted by billwright

Here are the Aluminum Silica Gel Canisters another responder was talking about, I guess they are called "Dry-Packs":

http://www.silicagelpackets.com/dry-...-canister.html

I use them in 5 gallon buckets with bolts, nuts, tools, etc. Works great, just pop in oven after a few months and it dried it back out to reuse again!

Thanks for the info and the link.

Gary

[1948]

your tools shouldnt get rusty if youre using them and you got greasy mechanic hands haha had to say it.

[fitz11]

I have them in every toolbox drawer I have. I figure they are free so why not? I also got some from harbor freight made for an air dryer, it was on clearance for $0.47 a 2.2lb box have about 20lbs left so I should be good for a while lol