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Storing lenses
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
spiralcity wrote:
Here's the shelf in my study, I also have two cabinet with gear.
It's a bit of a mess and really not the best way to store gear. Confused




That would have scarred the devil out of me when I was living in Southern California. Once you have lived in Cali for any length of time, you will never look at shelving the same way twice. Laughing


PostPosted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Interesting Topic,


http://www.flickr.com/photos/29368735@N06/4982466022/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29368735@N06/4980646327/in/photostream/

that's how i treat my bunch of Olympus in container (dry box wanna be) with lot of silica gel to keep the humidity


PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
declan wrote:
that's how i treat my bunch of Olympus in container (dry box wanna be) with lot of silica gel to keep the humidity


Is it efficient when you keep silica in polythene cover?


PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
ajaikumarr wrote:
declan wrote:
that's how i treat my bunch of Olympus in container (dry box wanna be) with lot of silica gel to keep the humidity


Is it efficient when you keep silica in polythene cover?


I don't think so small amount silica gel able to control mass amount of humidity for years. That is temporary solution only and I am unsure it is good enough.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Available is super markets to dry rooms. Product name is "Ceresit" made by Henkel. Plastic boxes are made from transparent plastic. Chemical is Kalcium-klorid.

I found in google product link.
http://www.makingdiyeasier.co.uk/unibond/stophumidity.html

I use big ones (500g).




Sorry to dig up such an old thread but I wanted to ask a question, is that box a special airtight box or do you just depend on a combination of reduced airflow and the water absorbing chemical?

I ask because my house has suddenly become more humid than usual, I think it depends on how much rain we have and this year there has been a lot! I was looking through some of my lenses and a lot of them had very early signs of fungus, luckily it's not bad or even internal and just wipes off without leaving any etching because it is still young but I was surprised and it has formed in a relatively short period, perhaps the past few months and before now I have left lenses untouched for years and nothing has happened so there has been an obvious change recently!

Obviously I need to get these lenses into a drier environment asap but I have a lot of lenses and buying a box large enough that is designed to be airtight is VERY expensive, you can get smaller airtight food boxes but I would have to buy about 15 of them!

I'm trying to work out if I can use large plastic storage boxes and water absorbers/dehumidifiers to get things under control, someone said the actual box needs to be 100% airtight but you seem to be using regular storage containers without any problems and I did wonder if that could end up being TOO dry anyway?


PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
any kind of box okay what you can buy a store, I use air-tight boxes to avoid dusts.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ok I'm going to get some asap.

I find the more modern lenses seem to be less susceptible, only one of my AF lenses showed any signs but a lot of the older ones had either the snowflake patterns or little round marks on them and I feared the worst but it all wiped off very easily with some lint free cloth and sterile alcohol, I couldn't find any inside the lenses either so I guess I caught it quick, I had no idea it could grow so fast in the right circumstances!

Time to look for a house that isn't as prone to damp!


PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I really need to get some better storing. My biggest hobby is aquarium and with a couple of tanks in the house I suspect that the humidity is through the roof for my lenses.

Do you think any of these hygrometers would be good enough? http://www.clasohlson.se/Siteseeker/Search_o.aspx?q=hygrometer


PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
No idea, I bought crap and good one both a bit gamble...

I bought my good ones in Conrad Electronic shop and crap ones in TESCO.

Buy from here , cheapest option and it has 24 reviews , read it

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1-9-mini-digital-lcd-humidity-hygrometer-and-thermometer-1-lr44-35061


PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
And what dehumidifying equipment do you recommend? I checked the thread but most links are way dead right now. Anything available here in Sweden or (the worlds best shipping) Germany would be nice. I guess any one of the clear IKEA boxes would work just well.

Damn you aquariums. damn you...

Kösz!


PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Any kind of good one I use different ones what is available in Supermarkets.

One of them made by Henkel Ceresit Stop

http://www.henkel-cee.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_cee/hs.xsl/1815_2801_CEE_HTML.htm

basically all same you should look with hygrometer it works or not, it is keep humidity low or not.


PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
You know the guys installing "termopan" windows? These are big business now in most eastern europe countries. They have silicagel in quantities. These windows have a container inside the frame so humidity going between the two sheet of glass would be absobed and the dry air act as termal insulator. Ask them for some kg of silica.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I use the 10lt size boxes for my lenses and the larger 20lt + size for all the bits and pieces that come with the cameras/lenses... Very Happy I have tried putting a thin foam mat down on the bottom of the box to stop the lenses rolling when I have to move them.

#1 I bought the shelving unit from the hardware store and the boxes from the cheap shop.

#2 The larger boxes hold the extras

#3 This is a cheap dehumidifier from the $2 dollar shop...It does not work to well so I have to use the more expensive brand


PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I would get only plastic boxes with an O-Ring. (= rubber at the closing perimether of the lid) Anything else will let humidity in.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've just seen this thread, how about this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silica-Gel-Self-Indicate-500g/dp/B0027IXYGA/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ADFVZ0Z6C253U

Contained in one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xlarge+clear+plastic+storage+container&_nkw=large+clear+plastic+storage+container&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Trouble is it will be inconvenient to dig out the lens you want as opposed to picking it from a shelf....... Rolling Eyes


PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I store mine in my gear bag, each in individual zip lock baggies with a small silica gel packet in each. Since I live near the beach and do a fair amount of work shooting there, the baggies keep the sand from getting into helicoids or scratching finish or lens elements. It works like a champ. The key is to have a desiccant packet it each.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Has anyone used these from ebay?
Click here to see on Ebay Click here to see on Ebay another humidity reader Click here to see on Ebay
I suppose they are cheap enough to try them out,but I thought I would ask here first Very Happy


PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
That mini hygrometer is so cool.

Also, is there any preferences regarding analog hygrometer?


PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I use a similar product. Attila had something for sale a year or two ago...

I also use plug-in-to-renew silica gel similar to product in last ebay link.

I didn't consider analog gauge (wet bulb/dry bulb, hair, etc., see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygrometer ) because of higher cost. A sling psychrometer will NOT work unless your dry box is big enough to swing it around inside! Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 3:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote




PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 6:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I contacted one of the sellers about the plug on the rechargable crystal device, they don't stock one with an Australian plug.Yours is a nice one Eugene,did you buy it in the US?


PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have bought plastic boxes (non hermetic) and dropped in calcium chloride dehumidifier. I am not impressed. The hygrometer indicates 60% in the apartment and 53% in the box.

Considering the small volume I would have expected a steeper drop in humidity. Any thoughts?



This kind of product:

https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits/materiaux/etancheite-des-murs-et-sols/absorbeur-humidite/lot-de-2-recharges-tablette-pour-absorbeur-humidite-6-m2-equation-100g-82202812.html


PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
lumens pixel wrote:
I have bought plastic boxes (non hermetic) and dropped in calcium chloride dehumidifier. I am not impressed. The hygrometer indicates 60% in the apartment and 53% in the box.

Considering the small volume I would have expected a steeper drop in humidity. Any thoughts?



This kind of product:

https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits/materiaux/etancheite-des-murs-et-sols/absorbeur-humidite/lot-de-2-recharges-tablette-pour-absorbeur-humidite-6-m2-equation-100g-82202812.html


First, I have no experience with calcium chloride dryers. Seems like storing lenses with a possibly corrosive substance is not recommended.

Second, with outside air leaking into non-hermetic container, the humidity cannot be expected to drop much no matter the drying agent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_chloride


PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
visualopsins wrote:
lumens pixel wrote:
I have bought plastic boxes (non hermetic) and dropped in calcium chloride dehumidifier. I am not impressed. The hygrometer indicates 60% in the apartment and 53% in the box.

Considering the small volume I would have expected a steeper drop in humidity. Any thoughts?



This kind of product:

https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits/materiaux/etancheite-des-murs-et-sols/absorbeur-humidite/lot-de-2-recharges-tablette-pour-absorbeur-humidite-6-m2-equation-100g-82202812.html


First, I have no experience with calcium chloride dryers. Seems like storing lenses with a possibly corrosive substance is not recommended.

Second, with outside air leaking into non-hermetic container, the humidity cannot be expected to drop much no matter the drying agent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_chloride


You need to seal the container. But there is a catch; you need to monitor the desiccant regularly because once it is exhausted a sealed container with an exhausted desiccant can actually get to high RH levels once the temperature drops.

Personally I would recommend a rechargeable small unit filled with silica-gel, and pop that into a sealed box. They come in small plastic containers with a built-in mains operated heating element and a detachable cable. Once the blue indicator beads turn pink it means the silica-gel desiccant is exhausted. Then take the dehumidifier out of the box, plug it into the mains and the built-in heater will dry the silica-gel overnight, ready for reuse. I use a number of these in my cabinets and after at least a hundred times recharging (if not more) they still work like new. Something like the ones below (those particular ones aren't the best, but there are many different models/sizes available from different manufacturers depending on the country you are in):



Incidentally, 53% RH is OK; it is low enough to make already growing mould go dormant, and it is certainly not high enough to germinate mould spores.


PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you all for the answers. I am reducing my criticism. I wondered what was the point of reducing humidity in the container if you were storing water just beneath. So I threw the retained water and put back the calcium chloride in the box and gained 6% humidity in a few hours at around 45% which is not bad.

I think you must monitor the thing if you want to optimize the results which raises questions if you plan to be away from home for a period of time unless you use electrical systems.
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