Rechargeable desicant. Anybody use it

**Knightshift** · August 16th, 2020, 08:56 PM

Since I stocked up before the ammo crunch I figured I better keep it fresh so bought some 50gram silica packs for the cans that claim to be rechargeable via microwave or oven after they turn a dark color indicating saturation. Anybody try these and do y'all think they work or is it just a sales gimmick. Wasn't too expensive so thought it was worth a try.

**zachomega** · August 16th, 2020, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Knightshift

Since I stocked up before the ammo crunch I figured I better keep it fresh so bought some 50gram silica packs for the cans that claim to be rechargeable via microwave or oven after they turn a dark color indicating saturation. Anybody try these and do y'all think they work or is it just a sales gimmick. Wasn't too expensive so thought it was worth a try.

Yes. I have the plug in ones. I also just recently bought a bunch of desiccant from dry and dry that turns from orange to green.

I've heard that the microwave can crack the beads and to use an oven if at all possible.

-Zach

**streaker69** · August 16th, 2020, 09:31 PM

Yup, I have altoid type tins filled with them in my filament cabinet. I dry them by sticking them in a toaster oven.

**Manxdriver** · August 16th, 2020, 09:41 PM

I use the bags in instrument cabinets for hydrogen compressors out on Long Island. They*re supposed to be rechargeable but the humidity out there completely breaks the beads down and turns them to gel. They work great in my gun safe though.

**Bucks_Man** · August 16th, 2020, 09:44 PM

I have the beads in a can that you bake. They turn a color after absorbing moisture and turn clear when you bake them. They work great. I also use the plug-in Golden rod to keep moisture down.

**Delkal** · August 16th, 2020, 11:39 PM

Be careful recharging silica gel in a microwave. It is the fastest method but can kill your microwave if you are not careful. A two hour bake at 250 is safer.

**Berncly** · August 17th, 2020, 01:33 AM

Evadry works well for me.

**JenniferG** · August 17th, 2020, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by streaker69

Yup, I have altoid type tins filled with them in my filament cabinet. I dry them by sticking them in a toaster oven.

Yup, use the same toaster oven that you use for heating Kydex. We had an oven at work made especially for drying desiccant, Blue good, pink bad. We used desiccant in many different systems on the trains.

**STBear** · August 17th, 2020, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Berncly

Evadry works well for me.

Works for me too.

**Knightshift** · August 17th, 2020, 05:55 AM

Ok, glad to hear I didn't waste my money and will probably use the oven to dry rather than microwave. These start out pink and turn dark blue they say.