Recharge Desiccant

[Monkeybat]

How do you re-charge Desiccant in the oven?

I have the metal canisters.

[KahrMan]

The ones I have used in the past I just baked for an hour or two at 200 degrees.  Mine were not is a metal can though.

[Ronald_55]

Basic instructions. You might check the temps and stuff to be sure.

"Proper function can be restored by placing the metal can desiccant in an oven for two (2) hours or more at a temperature of 225°- 325°F max (105°-163°C max)..... Repeat as necessary. The metal canister will be hot when it is removed from the oven, so caution should be used to avoid burns."

 

Got those instructions from here:

http://dryandstore.com/pdf/CAN_inst_single.pdf

Edited January 3, 2017 by Ronald_55

[monkeylizard]

It dries out faster if you pour it out into a baking pan. Plus you can easily see when all of the desiccant is dried out (assuming yours changes color). Then use a funnel to pour it back in the canisters. I use an old baking pan that's only used for this. I wouldn't use one for food after this.

[peejman]

45 minutes ago, monkeylizard said:

It dries out faster if you pour it out into a baking pan. Plus you can easily see when all of the desiccant is dried out (assuming yours changes color). Then use a funnel to pour it back in the canisters. I use an old baking pan that's only used for this. I wouldn't use one for food after this.

Why not use the pan for food?  The silica pellets just sit there and dry out, it's not nearly hot enough for anything else to happen.  Line the pan with foil if you're concerned. 

And this reminds me, time to swap out the desiccant pack. 

[monkeylizard]

Call it paranoia. I don't like too much chemical contact in my food. I don't know exactly what's in silica pellets. It's more than just silica to get the color-change effect.

[mikegideon]

I recharge it all the time. I use regular clear glass baking dishes. 250 degrees until it's all blue. I usually do pounds of it at a time. You can tell it's done when it's all deep blue. You may have to stir it. I cool mine in a 2 gallon Home Depot bucket with a lid. You don't want it open to the air. I store it in double one gallon ziplock freezer bags.

Edited January 3, 2017 by mikegideon

[Randall53]

Where's the best (cheapest) place to buy desiccant  ? Like maybe 2 lbs or so?

[mikegideon]

We have bought from this place...

http://silicagelpackets.com/

[Randall53]

7 minutes ago, mikegideon said:

We have bought from this place...

http://silicagelpackets.com/

Thanks!

[ehull20000]

Mine is in a periforated metal container and it is very easy.  Whenever I notice it is blue I pop it in the oven, wait a few hours, let it cool and then pop it back in my safe.  Great product.  

[lanceputnam]

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 11:47 AM, Randall53 said:

Where's the best (cheapest) place to buy desiccant  ? Like maybe 2 lbs or so?

Amazon.

[xsubsailor]

On 1/3/2017 at 11:47 AM, Randall53 said:

Where's the best (cheapest) place to buy desiccant  ? Like maybe 2 lbs or so?

 I got mine at Tractor Supply

 

upload pics

[Omega]

In the army (maybe DOD wide), they pack many things in desiccant so I collected them instead of discarding the bags upon opening the item.  I chuck mine in the oven, bag and all on a cookie sheet for a couple hours then put them back in the safe.  

Recently I came across a sale of one you plug in, with a moisture/temp sensor which stays outside the safe, lets you know when to plug it back in to dry.  But I may look for a can to perforate so I can tell when the others need a recharge.