Reducing Humidity in the Camera Bag

[SirMike1983]

Well I recently moved to an apartment where there is a bit more humidity in the air than my old one. Does anyone here have good solutions for keeping the air in the camera bag as dry as possible? I have put one of those "Damprid Hanging Bags" in it (well as best I could). I also put a damp rid mini bucket next to the bag to keep the nearby air dry. Anyone have any ideas besides that though? Is it better to keep the camera in the utility bag or to leave it out?
The bag is a leather camera utility bag and I've wrapped the camera in clean cloths from moving.

[walterick]

Mike,

I save up those little packets of Silica that come packed with some items. They do an excellent job of absorbing moisture and are very small. I put one or two in my camera bag and leave my gear in the bag at all times.

GL

Rick

[zrfraser]

I second what rick says. You could probably take a stroll through a department store and stock up for years, people just through them on the ground, and I should know I used to see it everyday.

Z

[mjs1973]

I'm with Rick and Z. I keep all those little packets I can find and stash them in my camera bag.

[cyberlord]

Ditto, being in the SE (Florida) the humidity is really bad here. Those silica packets (decesant) work wonders. Just remember to replace them every once in a while as they do get saturated and quit working.

You can re-dry them in the oven at low temps but with all the free ones around it's not worth the effort.

I have some 2lb decesant bags I used to keep the closet a little less humid and those are worth re-drying. They are huge and absorb a ton of moisture.

Tim

[freygr]

Ditto, being in the SE (Florida) the humidity is really bad here. Those silica packets (decesant) work wonders. Just remember to replace them every once in a while as they do get saturated and quit working.

You can re-dry them in the oven at low temps but with all the free ones around it's not worth the effort.

I have some 2lb decesant bags I used to keep the closet a little less humid and those are worth re-drying. They are huge and absorb a ton of moisture.

Tim

The decsant bags can be dried in the oven set at 350 deg for thirty minutes. Be carefull as some plactics will melt.

[SirMike1983]

The decsant bags can be dried in the oven set at 350 deg for thirty minutes. Be carefull as some plactics will melt.

This is only for the silica plastic bean bags? Or does it work for the Damprid rock packs as well?

[Peter_AUS]

Or you can buy 40 Gram Silica Gel Hydrosofbent Products packet which has silica gel beads contained in a sealed metal case with little holes in them. The silica gel is blue and turns pink when it has absorbed enough water to indicate it needs to be reactived by putting in 300 degree oven for 3 hours. Good for 3 cubid fee of enclosed space.

I got mine (have 2 of them) from Pelican.

Having the little packs in your bag, good suggestion but then then tend to get in the way, you forget how long you have had them in there, are they still working. With the one I mentioned you can just look at the crystals and if they are turning pink then put in the oven and dry it out. Very quick easy and tidy as well. Not all that expensive, with postage here it was around $28Aus, but I am sure in the states it would be even cheaper by far.

The top one http://www.dehumidify.com/ProdDisc.html on this page.

http://www.dehumidify.com/order.html

$5.95 plus postage of $3 certainly much cheaper than I get here in Australia.

KEH seem to have them for $2.25 each.

[SirMike1983]

Sounds good, I ordered one of the 40 gr silica boxes the other day. Hopefully that will be the most reliable method, as my current place has more humidity than my old one.

[SirMike1983]

Got the sillica tin today. It looks good. Where do you keep yours in the bag? I put it in on top of the camera (I don't think they emit any moisture).

[Peter_AUS]

I keep mine next to my most expensive lens, but seeing it is in the bag then it basically absorbs what is in the bag. Glad you got one ??

[SirMike1983]

Yes, it sure beats the big sack of damprid rocks I've had in there. It's much smaller but supposed to be just as effective. The damprids also can't be reused. If I get decent results in the camera bag I'm going to get a couple more for my guitar cases. The camera and attached lens are the most expensive items in the bag so I guess I'll keep it with them.

[Peter_AUS]

Yes and it postage wasn't so expensive from the US to Aus I would buy them direct from the States. My two cost me equivalent in US$45's here.

[another view]

I'm going to get a couple more for my guitar cases

Careful here - too little humidity is a bad thing. Not sure if you're talking solid body or acoustic, but a lot of shops run humidifiers in their acoustic showrooms - at least in winter where it's really dry around here. I can't tell you what humidity percentage you should try to stay at - but check it out.

[SirMike1983]

This is for a solid body electric guitar and solid body electric bass. The acoustics will crack along the top grain if it's too dry. I left mine in CT though so it should be okay.

My one cost me $9 so a second would get me up to about 18-20 or so. Good price, and they're tiny and weight next to nothing.