DIY dry box

[Qingkai]

About cobalt chloride... I usually use microwave to dehydrate the silica gel (blue) will that cause release of the cobalt chloirde from its gel form and increase its carcinogenic effect??

Any chemist around here able to enlighten me...

Wouldnt want to put my family's health in harms way !!

 

[Artosoft]

Uhh... Time to set the record straight.... Cobalt Chloride is classified under IARC category 2B meaning that there is inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans but evidence of carcinogenicity in animals. As of now, no country in the world has banned the use of cobalt chloride. Cobalt Chloride paper are still being used in school for lab experiments.

If you think that inadequate evidence does not mean it won't cause cancer then consider this:
1/ cobalt chloride has been used for more than 60 years and still there are inadequate evidence
2/ blue silica gel only contains 0.5% to 1% of cobalt chloride
3/ the cobalt chloride in silica gel is trapped in gel form and is not released in to the environment.

If you are tight on budget a dry box with silica gel is perfectly fine for use. You can get a 500gm bottle from CP for only $5 and that 1 bottle can possibly last you 1-2 years depending how often you open your drybox. A dry cabinet is better but remember, they cost more, require electricity to run and will breakdown eventually (electrical stuff never last forever). As to why you need to change the silica gel once every 2 weeks my guess is your dry box is leaking since an air tight drybox will not allow any humidity in.

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/C4928.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IARC_Group_2B_carcinogens
http://www.geejaychemicals.co.uk/cobaltchloride.htm

Thank you for valuable additional infos.

For me, once it is known as carcinogen, I would rather avoid it. Dry cab is still in my pocket reach.

Regards,
Arto.

 

[yanyewkay]

it's the same thing that the experts can't make up their mind whether wearing bras have better or detrimental effects. Or whether eating soy products are good for health, and if vitamin C actually cause cancer,etc...

I've been using my lock/lock air tight boxes with silica gel as a student for years before getting lazy after starting work and upgraded to a luxurious dry-cab.. the dehumidifying unit lasts only 5 years or so. after which you have to get yourself another dry cab.

 

[hacknet]

i'm still using silica gel, looks like i have to go fry my gel soon...

 

[XC Pictorial]

just a little newbie input from me. I am using a DIY dry box also. But i use thirsty hippo. I bought a 10L "airtight" (lock and lock wannabe) box from one of those plasticware wholesaler at $8 (I got mine from the one next to MSC). I will then lay the inner faces with bubble wrappers. I get those big plastic tub of thirsty hippo and open them all up to get the dessicator on the inside. Then i will use a plastic box, underlay with tissue to suck the water, and put in the dessicators. I don put all the dessicator from one tub. I store the rest in a good ziplock bag for future use. I also mount a hygrometer in my dry box (cost about $7-$10 from Homefix, goto car section).

U will have to play around with the amount of dessicator to be placed to get the right RH. Mine worked well and stayed in 40-50% RH, i only need to change the dessicator and tissue about once every month. I open my box about 8-10x a month. My pack of 3 thirsty hippo tubs bought a year ago, and i am still using the dessicators from the first tub.

To be honest, the only reason why i still use a dry box is because i stay in a hostel. Not convi to have a dry cabi around. If u are not limited by circumstances, get a dry cabinet anytime. U can also keep your certificates and other stuff in them. U will not go wrong with it. Hope this helps.

If u really need a dry box.. you can easily pick up a new one fr BS at $15-20...

 

[Fotophilic]

If u really need a dry box.. you can easily pick up a new one fr BS at $15-20...

Hi XC, i had one liao, as seen in my post. I don like those i-Case kind. thanks.