Does Desiccant Wear Out?

[jaytee]

I've got a couple of containers of desiccant and they seem to become waterlogged very quickly and was wondering if they can loose their effectiveness? I understand that we've had a lot of rain and water is standing in lots of places but for whatever reason these canisters just have never seemed to work for very long. I've got an older canister that would work for a couple of months in the gun safe before I would have to reactivate but these latest ones that I bought just dont seem as good. Is there a difference in effectiveness of different brands or is desiccant desiccant?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Does it turn pink or just kinda pinkish clear?

 

[jaytee]

The two newest cans that I have turn green when they need reactivated. When fresh they are a dark orange color.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ok never seen that color. Let us know what you find out

 

[jaytee]

What I'm trying to find out is does desiccant become non absorbent over time or at least does the length of effectiveness diminish with age and use or with the quality of the desiccant? I'm not doing an experiment. lol

 

[Uthink Uknow]

If I had cans of desiccant that became heavy too soon, I’d be wondering where all the humidity is coming from. A desiccant turning heavy tells me it’s working as long as re-activating makes it lighter.

 

[mousegunner]

I think you put them in the oven to dry out. I use the packs that come in stuff and throw them in with my reloads. I put them in the microwave to make sure they're dry.

 

[Hohn]

Pretty sure that dessicant just needs to be recharged (dried) and that it is not sensitive to cycles.

For the same reason you can get a towel wet and let it air dry as many times as you want.

 

[spclark]

There are two main types of humidity-control compounds sold: silica gel, which changes color as humidity is absorbed, and calcium chloride which should be avoided for use around firearms, primers and propellants due to it’s corrosive nature when wet.

Calcium chloride-containing products usually have a reservoir as part of the packaging, meant to catch the corrosive liquid they produce once they’ve been opened. These products generally are for one-time use.

Microwave’ll work for small packs of silica gel. DON’T microwave any gel-containing metal enclosures, even if they’re perforated. Those must instead be oven-dried.

Larger containers ought to be oven-baked at 225°F until you see the color change that indicates when all the moisture has been baked out.

MW’ing those can lead to overheating of the stuff in the center of the container which may cause the container to burst or worse, catch fire.

Typically these products come with instructions for regenerating the humidity-absorbing capability printed on the packaging or a sheet of instructions. If there’s a product or manufacturer’s name on them you ought to be able to find instructions for regeneration on-line somewhere.

 

[Bc'z]

Buy fresh, check with automotive paint stores. I believe Devilbiss has quart and 1/2 gallon containers.

 

[jsn]

I would think most of these products have some type of identification that could be looked up, even if you couldn't contact the manufacturer. I have some Desicite 25 packets, you can't see the actual product, but it has a military specification.

It also has a reactivation time printed on the bag.

 

[jonbearman]

Don't you just heat them in an oven to dry them out? I would get a humidity meter and put it in the safe for a few hours, and if it reads high there is the problem, you have high humidity and two canisters cant hold that much water so to speak. A real dehumidifier will solve your problem if you can isolate the safe into a room hopefully to use the dehumidifier to dry it out. Those canisters are a joke when super high humidity is present. I have to dehumidify every spring and summer. I used to use 1 # packs of it in my safe and they just didn't cut it. Then when you open the safe of a room full of humidity you just refilled the safe with water vapor again.

 

[Gun Smith]

I have two fairly large inline desiccant dryers for my CNC's and air tools. These are clear Lexan(?) containers inside a perforated metal shield. About once every two-three weeks I dry out the little pellets when they turn pink from dark blue. Done this many times in the kitchen oven.
They have been going strong for many years now. Don't know what the pellets are made from, must be magic!

 

[divingin]

I've got an older canister that would work for a couple of months in the gun safe before I would have to reactivate but these latest ones that I bought just dont seem as good. Is there a difference in effectiveness of different brands or is desiccant desiccant?

I would be wondering if the older one wasn't the one with a problem. Could be the new ones are doing a better job pulling moisture from the air.

I personally use one of the safe heater strips, as I too much time recharging the dessicant packs (and let them go too long a few times.)

In any case, a cheap hygrometer would tell you what's going on.

 

[jaytee]

Thanks for the reply's folks, greatly appreciated! I think I'll get a hygrometer and see where I stand. I do have a larger dehumidifier that I use in the house, smaller house roughly 1100 sq.ft. and I can turn it up a little and see how that helps. Its kind of a fine line from being too damp or so dry that your skin dries out and is rough!!

 

[Fast14riot]

Crystal type cat litter is cheap and effective. You can even buy pure (not chemically, just the only ingredient) silica gel type litter.

 

[watercam]

I have been using the cat litter version for years combined with a more traditional type in my powder bunker and primer box (these two have the color indicators within their box). When the color changes to blue all go into the oven at 240º (recommendation on the box) for 4 hours. Works in Coastal Oregon year round.

 

[Eraser]

I also have used cat litter, made the containers from coffee filters.

Lay a filter flat, hot glue around the edge leaving an opening for adding the silica gel type cat litter. Place another filter on top of the hot glue, add the litter and seal the opening. Works good.

You can also staple around the edge if you have no hot glue.
​

 

[Bc'z]

I also have used cat litter, made the containers from coffee filters.

Lay a filter flat, hot glue around the edge leaving an opening for adding the silica gel type cat litter. Place another filter on top of the hot glue, add the litter and seal the opening. Works good.

You can also staple around the edge if you have no hot glue.
​

Or take a pair of the wifes panty hose.

 

[Jsjac]

Ok never seen that color. Let us know what you find out

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N98ZR69/?tag=accuratescom-20

I found this the other day.
I ordered a jug to try.
I need to figure out containers for use in the gun safe. I was thinking about using pint canning jars with lots of small holes drilled in the lid.