So I'm making a dessicant pack... on ROIDS. :-)

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wacki

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This project is going through but I haven't finalized the plans. I figured I'd post for feedback before I start buying the metal parts.

I store my rifles in pelican cases. I have a bunch of smaller desiccant packs but they are small, inconveniently shaped and sometimes they are hard to tell if they changed color. My favorite right now is the Dry Packs as it's super easy to inspect the color but at 45 grams it's small.

So far I own this:



And I'm thinking about buying this:

  • Round Steel Tube 4 FT $23.88 1-1/2 OD x .065 wall x 1.370 ID 1020 DOM
  • Steel Sheet $11.74 16 GA. (.060 thick)

And I will cut the tubing into 7" lengths to match my SilencerCo Saker. This is a convenient shape for me. I can pull out the dry pack and put in a suppressor. Plus it's big. Another possible shape is a 2-3" deep hockey puck as there's always some corner you can put that in. Not sure how to cheaply fabricate that kind of shape though.

I can weld the sheet steel to the end of the tubing but not sure whats the best way to perforate the metal. Lots of little holes (tough to do in regular fashion) or cut big holes or slots and put steel mesh inside. Big holes or slots will aid in visual inspection. Cutting 1/8" x 2" slots that are perfectly and evenly spaced on a tube may be a bit tricky as well. But I can try.
 
Interesting.

Can you see the silica go from orange to purple?

I didn't think the cloth would fare well at 250 F. Guess you learn something new every day.
 
Can you see the silica go from orange to purple?
Click to expand...

You could if you just velcro one end of the cloth bag together so you could easily check it and change it out. I'll bet sewing some cloth will be easier and cheaper than the metal fabrication.
 
Is it possible to sew cloth to glass to get a window?

Interestingly enough this Cutlery cylinder is the perfect ticket if I want to go the hockey puck route. One end is already sealed off and all I need to do is weld sheet metal to the top and drill holes / cut slots. Looks like there are even a few that come with holes.
 
Ball mason jar, (used for canning). Ice pick, punch multiple holes in lid. When it's time to re-activate, pour into pyrex pan, pop in oven a while, then pour back in mason jar, screw down lid, back in safe.

(missed the part where you store them in cases. Works well in a safe though... :)
 
I made a whole bunch of dessicant packs out of zip tied panty hose and silica. The biggest one was almost a whole lower legs worth, but I would hate to accidentally nick it and have to clean all that up.

Interesting idea.
 
Ball mason jar, (used for canning). Ice pick, punch multiple holes in lid. When it's time to re-activate, pour into pyrex pan, pop in oven a while, then pour back in mason jar, screw down lid, back in safe.
Click to expand...

I will be doing this in my gun safe. Thanks!
 
Look at the link and you'll see that the poster sewed clear vinyl to the cloth. You'll get much much quicker redrying times if you'll empty the silica out into a pan to increase the surface area.
 
I like the mason jar plan - but rather than punching holes in the lid, why not just put fabric where the lid normally goes?
... on top of the jar mouth, under the screw-on ring
 
In my gun closet I have a Folgers can full of kitty crystals with no lid. In my cases and toolbox I use Skoal cans that I cut a hole in the top and put a piece of window screen on before putting the lid on. I secure it with electrical tape.

There isn't much moisture here so I just replace it once a year before monsoon season.
 
I have a dessicant pack that is small ceramic bb sized beads. It's for my hearing aids. Some are blue colored and begin to fade to the tan color of the majority of the beads. When the blue ones are almost faded to a very light blue, I put them in a pyrex dish in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let them cool a bit then back in the glass jar for the "artificial ears" to sit in overnight.

I don't know what temperature the silica dessicant packs should be dried in the oven. I used to have a silica pack that held the hearing aids and you re-activated it in the oven too, just don't recall the proper temp.

Gander Mt., (and I'm sure other gunstores like Cabela's), sell similiar dessicant packs of the ceramic beads. Same re-activation as for my hearing aid's jar.
 
If you go to your local Harley dealer (and perhaps other MC's as well) you'll find they toss more big desiccant bags in a day than you will use in a lifetime. they will be more than happy to lighten the load in their dumpster by giving you a few. They come in the crates when the bikes are shipped.
 
Went to a Harley dealership a month or two ago. Harley use to ship in crates with desiccant but not now. Apparently they ship on pallets without the desiccant. Another source, though not free, is flower drying crystals from Hobby Lobby and other stores.
 
You are in Denver and concerned about moisture??

I am from Colorado and have never had a moisture issue here with any storage. I once bought a model 70 from a very old gentleman who had kept it in a closet for 30 years. It had extremely light rust but it all came off with steel wool and oil and left no mark.

That said I did ruin the finish on two rifles when I put desiccant packs in the cases the rifles were in. They sat in my car, got hot and the desiccant melted. It was corrosive and stripped the blue right off of two receivers and etched both of them.

I lived in North Carolina for a while. My desiccant in the safe bottom had to be emptied of water every week.

Maybe you are traveling to a place where moisture is an issue and I am missing the point.
 
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