Anyone Use Silica Gel Packets or "Sorb-It" to Keep Carbon Knives Dry?

[vajd]

for enclosed spaces a lot of reloading dies come with a cardboard disk impregnated with something I think called VCI that works very well, and dose not attract moisture.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I use a large silica gel canister in my inventory room to absorb moisture and it has a color change to it when it's full. When fresh it's blue and when tapped out it's pink. I recharge it in the oven about every two weeks or so and it's kept rusting completely at bay. Had a couple of "victims" before picking it up due to Maine weather weirdness and humidity.

 

[DorisR]

I will definitely try to keep those silica gel packets for my household needs. If you’ve ever bought a pair of new shoes, you’ve seen the little packets of silica gel. They’re the small white paper packets covered with “Do Not Eat” warning messages, filled with silicon dioxide globules that work as a desiccant, preventing moisture damage. But did you know they work well in the kitchen? Here’s how to keep food fresh with silica gel – and why the “Do Not Eat” warning may be overstated. Take a peek here.

 

[HoosierQ]

I use it for my bullets. .50 caliber ammo cans with a few that come in packages of computers at my work.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

I recently bought a tackle box (air tight) at a local sporting goods store that has blue dividers (the rest of the plastic is clear), anyway it's advertised as being rust proofing plastic. Basically it promises to keep lures rust free. Maybe someone can research it, I'm pretty busy atm.

I use it to keep my carving knives in, which are 1095 and o1 steel. I use them a lot so I don't know if it works, but I sure hope so!

 

[phillipsted]

Two comments:

1. Only use silica gel dessicants in a closed air-tight container. If it is open to the ambient air, it will continue to absorb moisture until it is saturated - in some cases this could be a matter of hours or days...

2. Never put dessicant containers in direct contact with your knives (such as in a sealed ziplock). The gel absorbs moisture and putting it in contact with your steel is not a good idea.

TedP