Best Options for Silica Gel in Safe Deposit Boxes
airplanenut
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I'm thinking about ways to keep humidity down in safe deposit boxes, and specifically how to use silica gel efficiently. I've used the small canisters (a bit larger than an Altoids tin) before, and admittedly I'm not so great at remembering to recharge them. Searching around now, I also see that you can buy jugs of silica gel for way less than those canisters cost, which means if there's an easy/practical way to make your own container that can be recharged, there may be some flexibility in size/shape to best fit available space in the box and having more silica gel, which will go longer before getting saturated. Some reviews have said those little beads are super bouncy so handling them can make a big mess if you aren't really careful.
I'm curious what products you've tried that work well... are those canisters the best option because they're easy, or is there something else to consider?
Comments
I use the canisters. You just have to heat them every so often.
Remember that for paper extremely low humidity is bad. The museum curators that I've ask about storage conditions recommend about 50% humidity.
Yes, that’s another consideration. Since paper is flat, my thought there is to put everything in a ziplock, which theoretically would seal in the ambient humidity. Of course if that humidity can get absorbed over time and dry out the air, then some air exchange may be needed making this a similarly bad idea. 🤔
Do we know that these things or any humidity absorbent doesn't give off harmful fumes?
Silica gel just by itself shouldn't give off fumes. If anything, it'll absorb any "fumes" from anything else it's stored with - though silica gel is specifically designed to absorb water, not other stuff.
The chemical they put in that bottle of silica gel which turns from orange to green is methyl violet, which is also non-volatile.
Older indicating silica gel formulas turned from blue to pink; this used cobalt chloride, which is also non-volatile but more toxic than methyl violet so that formulation is being phased out in many places. My own experimentation, I only obtained weird corrosion or toning from blue-pink silica gel that was in direct physical contact with coins i.e. dropping coins directly into a sealed jar of silica gel and leaving them in there for a couple of years.
You can buy non-indicating gel, but you'd need to essentially guess as to if/when it needed to be recharged.
In terms of usage, there's nothing technically wrong with just getting a bowl, dish or glass and pouring some silica gel into it; the only "issue" with that is, as intimated by the OP, if you bump it over it could spill and those tiny little marbles tend to bounce around and get everywhere. If you have a giant bottle of silica gel and want a less accident-prone option, you can make your own "silica gel bags" with a heat-sealer and some of those make-your-own-teabag pouches. Just be aware if using those, not to "recharge" them too hot or the whole bag will melt and leave you with a gooey mess.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice.
The thing is, the bag would have to be archival to avoid potential reactions with paper in the long term.
I would not stire paper in a sealed bag regardless.
I had my wife take a cotton washcloth, cut it in half, and sew two blocks filled with the silica gel. Cotton is important because you can put it it the oven to bake and recharge. Polyester/blends will melt in the oven.
I guess not. 😂 😉
I use Eva- Dry, available at Amazon. Plug in to recharge.
https://www.amazon.com/Improved-Eva-dry-333-Renewable-Dehumidifier/dp/B000H0XFCS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E4G6934RSR5X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2fI81qMTW_mnVV3ZcEKnb-m2hbTz9Li5zQDlH48E1imOPscctYVQPutddf5Wfe1cSvqQRuvCAxjwUGCORswz9_7JC0-A_qt9Az7PgyN02FfvgJvCaVIiSs941elDP-_em-tSBYvuPoWgTH3NKK3-HPOWwCQ9RTw4s_i1txIj_nz-Ad8F5E2ZCYBTllOW2zHtS4w8Gnk_9Hn59eMnWRFAGZ8YY7P9QXoWEZ9YbCtVoYCu05n5iT35BY2se2JoenlzRetmVA6pEnHRTmq_wmmWScaMePTvVA3bQu5wYEkgSmw.t0KMaUiZvgPDSCzdL17VcnamX51qRlH2QKt3jAOzDYc&dib_tag=se&keywords=eva+dry+e333&qid=1790836911&sprefix=Eva+dry,aps,146&sr=8-1
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
It's important to put the coins and silica-gel into a sealed air-tight container like Tupperware or a zip-lock plastic bag. Otherwise, if you put them into your safe deposit box loose, you'll have to recharge the silica-gel every week since SDB vaults are kept somewhat humid to preserve the paper documents stored in most SDBs.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
"Any" is too broad.
We know exactly what EACH of these things do.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
We do? Okay, that's good to know. Thanks.