Silica gel

[Leif]

I want to avoid fungus in lenses and keeping a small sachet of silica gel with each lens seems to be the solution. I have found two small sachets (yippee) and one large one (as big as my hand) that contains colour indicating gel. Does anyone have any ideas how I can make small sachets from the big one? The big one is in some sort of fibre material so maybe I can divide it and use heat to reseal? Or is there some suitable material? Please note that needlework is beyond me. I'd rather pay for some from Jessops.

Leif

[yelvertoft]

I know that 7 day shop do multi-bags of silica gel very cheap.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by yelvertoft

I know that 7 day shop do multi-bags of silica gel very cheap.

They do, but the P&P doubles the cost. And the stuff I have is self indicating, which tells me when it need drying.

Leif

[nirofo]

If you know someone who works in a welding or fabrication workshop, ask them if they can let you have or purchase the large Silica Gel bags that are packed in with welding rods, they are normally just dumped. When you get them, stick them in an oven for a few minutes on a low heat, this is to dry them out before you use them. make sure you don't overheat them! You can make small bags from some thin, clean linen type cloth material, or use sections cut from a nylon stocking and tied with thread.

nirofo.

[Leif]

I found another source yesterday. I'm currently doing work for a Japanese company and they regularly get Japanese rice crackers left on the table for general consumption. Very nice too. (Better than the foul Kim Chee chocolate from a Korean customer.) Anyway the crackers come in nice boxes with silica gel sachets. I suspect that buying Japanese rice crackers to obtain silica gel would be cheaper than Jessops sachets (£5 for 2) and you get some snacks.

Leif

[Coaldust]

Try the Camping shops, I use the re usable ones in my camper van and I just put them in the microwave oven to dry them out.