Moisture munchers

[DandyDon]

Boy I like that Damp Rid...!!

I don't know of anyplace close to me that carries it here on the Texas High Desert, but Walgreens in Lubbock had the 42 oz size for less than $4. You can order it if needed: Moisture Absorber Refill | Damp Rid | Walgreens

The one MM that survived my microwave test turned back lavender again, so I dropped it in a zip-lock with a quarter's worth of Damp Rid a few days ago. Now it's as Blue as the ones in the never opened package. I just found a Pink one still in my housing and dropped it in there.

So if nuking in the microwave at 2/3 power or baking in your stove works for you, cool but I like this best - especially since I have a cheap microwave with no settings and don't want to heat up my kitchen, and my motel rooms on trips often have neither. I'll carry a bag on trips but leave some MMs in the bag so it won't resemble anything funny to Customs :11: and still be working all the time. Haha, I carry zip-locks of sugar for Kool-Aid too, but the Baking Soda I leave in boxes until I arrive.

I suppose that the smaller packages might be more beneficial in humid places, and if I had a gun cabinet I'd hang one in there, but my $4 carton is inside a gallon zip-lock to keep it fresh and to resupply my little bag as needed.

 

[SkipperJohn]

I agree 100%
If you are concerned about damp-rid dust getting onto the munchers and subsequently getting into the housing and maybe on the o-ring, I put my munchers in a small cloth bag with a draw string then put this in with the damp-rid. Keeps the dust off and doesn't have any affect on the drying.

 

[cmburch]

I use a vacuum oven at 65C. It works great on many items that may melt at 103C in a regular oven. I then cool it in a desiccator.

 

[TN Traveler]

I use a vacuum oven at 65C. It works great on many items that may melt at 103C in a regular oven. I then cool it in a desiccator.

Probably the best solution - BUT - most of us don't have access to vacuum ovens and desiccators.

 

[TN Traveler]

I agree 100%
If you are concerned about damp-rid dust getting onto the munchers and subsequently getting into the housing and maybe on the o-ring, I put my munchers in a small cloth bag with a draw string then put this in with the damp-rid. Keeps the dust off and doesn't have any affect on the drying.

That's what I like - someone always coming up with an improvement.

One thing I aways do is use a soft photo brush to brush off the o-ring and sealing surface before I close the case. That pretty much eliminates the chance of leaving anything on there that might cause a problem with sealing.

 

[underwaterjim]

Silica Gel Packets are probably the best and cheapest moisture absorbent available. I would assume that is all Moisture Muncher is anyways. Just Google Silica Gel Packets and you will see a lot of web sites selling the Silica Gel Packets. I have used a site called: SilicaGelPackets.com as they offer smaller quantities and free shipping.

 

[DandyDon]

Silica Gel Packets are probably the best and cheapest moisture absorbent available. I would assume that is all Moisture Muncher is anyways. Just Google Silica Gel Packets and you will see a lot of web sites selling the Silica Gel Packets. I have used a site called: SilicaGelPackets.com as they offer smaller quantities and free shipping.

Perhaps so, but it is nice when they fit inside easily, without problems. Do you have a Sealife?

 

[vondo]

I'll bet sealife does not make the MM's either. They are probably made for them by a 3rd party. Most of the info they get are probably from the original manufacturer.
Regardless I am happy to see Denise here and she is awesome with answers and responses. I am also a big fan of the sealife products. My camera Sl130 has served me well for many years and am really looking forward to playing with my DC800! Like a kid at Christmas!

Yeah, I suspect they come from a place like this:

desiccant capsules - sorbentsystems.com

Minimum quantity is about 800, though, it seems. I'm happy to give SeaLife $10 for 50 cents worth of product once, but I'm going to go the Damp Rid route too. Now I have to see how many I have left after my nuking experience (which recharged them a bit but mad some blow up like balloons).

 

[spoolin01]

There is a way to rejuvenate Moisture Munchers.

1. Go to Home Depot and buy a container of "Damp Rid"

Really great tip about this stuff, thanks. There's also a regenerable indicating dessicant called Drierite that can be bought inexpensively if you want to avoid the MM 'middleman' but like the indicator feature, and have some means of packaging it conveniently.

Drierite Desiccants

I've regenerated my MM capsules a couple of times in the oven. It seems to take more than 225F before they start to deform, and they seem to get drier the higher you take the temp, based on the indicator color. When I travel, I just put the capsules in an airtight jar. I like the utility of the MM capsules, but if I had a case with more dead space, I'd use one of the cheaper bulk dessicants, or lots of the little bags collected from shoe boxes. Not that I've ever done that before.

 

[reeldive]

There is a way to rejuvenate Moisture Munchers.

1. Go to Home Depot and buy a container of "Damp Rid" - the small size, about a pint.
2. Open it up and insert your spent Moisture Munchers into the white material.
3. Put a piece of plastic wrap across the top and put the lid back on.
4. Put the container inside a big ziplock plastic bag (gallon size works best)
5. Let them sit for about a week or until you need them - pull them out and put them back into the bag they came out of. They will be DARK blue.

Steps 3 and 4 are necessary to preserve the Damp Rid - if you don't do it, the Damp Rid will suck moisture out of the air and be bad in a couple of weeks. Even though I think it can be rejuvenated in the oven - but I've never tried it.

I've probably rejuvenated 15 Moisture Munchers about 10 times each this way using the same container of Damp Rid - total cost about $5. And I've never seen even brand new Moisture Munchers this blue.

I use Silica Gel reusable flower drying crystals Available at Jo-Ann Fabrics and other craft stores. Iv'e always ave a source of nice dark blue moisture munchers on hand.