Silica gel was Re: Excercising vintage items

[Paul Koning]

>>>>> "Joe" == Joe R <rigdonj at cfl.rr.com> writes:

 Joe> At 11:56 AM 10/21/04 -0400, you wrote:
 >>>>>>> "Cameron" == Cameron Kaiser <spectre at floodgap.com> writes:
 >> >> Moisture has a habit of getting into funny places and going >>
 >> unnoticed.
 Cameron> This reminds me. Anyone in the States know a source for
 Cameron> those silica gel desiccators? Those might be a little
 Cameron> insurance and they seem inexpensive, but I need a source in
 Cameron> bulk.
 >> You mean a large quantity of little silicagel packages, or a large
 >> quantity in one bulk package?
 >> 
 >> Try Google...  I found one company I recognize: Cole-Parmer, 5 kg
 >> silicagel, $109.

 Joe> Ouch! Expensive.  Try Damp-rid or a similar product from your
 Joe> local grocery store. It's made to be used in closets to remove
 Joe> the dampness to prevent mold and mildew on clothing. I believe
 Joe> that it's mainly Calcium Cloride which is very hydroscopic.

If it's calcium chloride you want, try snow melting "salt" -- that's
often CaCl.

 Joe> I've found lots of silica gel around militry surplus places. The
 Joe> military loves the stuff. They pack it in just about everything
 Joe> to keep it dry and prevent mold, mildew and corrision. If you
 Joe> can only find used stuff it may still be usefull. Some types of
 Joe> these drying agents can be baked to remove the absorbed moisture
 Joe> and then be reused.

Right.  Silicagel is one of those.  I don't think calcium chloride is,
though -- but I'm not positive.

Not too long ago I bought a mil surplus item (a throat microphone).
It came packaged in the original box, coated in olive drab paraffin,
date coded 1942 or so.  Inside was a large (several ounces) bag of
silicagel along with the microphone -- both bone dry after half a
century.  Good work by the people at the Chicago depot of the Signal
Corps. 

       paul