Silica in caches

[Muggle B]

I was wondering if putting silica into caches was a good idea or bad one, I work in the health field, and when passing pills I always have to throw away the small silica containers found in some pill bottles, they adsorb water.

Just thought id ask others with experience before I put them in, FYI each little container has warnings on them NOT to eat, so they are well labeled.

thankx

[RJ McKenzie]

I’ve never seen them in caches before, but for some of the small and regular containers it sounds like a good idea.

[Walkingadventure]

I was just thinking about this the other day Brian. Can’t wait to hear what others think. There really should be a use for those things outside of having to dig them out of whatever they are in and chucking them in the trash.

Following the signals from space.

[CodeJunkie]

I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’ve saved a few also but I’m not sure what would happen if they get totally soaked. Maybe it’s time for an experiment.

[rtrezrsnhvn]

Here’s an example I found of one put in a cache:

http://rumkin.com/reference/desiccant/

My only concern (and I’d have to research) would be if one got opened. We are just learning about my son’s asthma and I wonder if the dust would trigger a reaction from him. His asthma is mild compared to some, but this summer I’ve learned more about how things like campfire smoke and hot tub chemicals/heat create a reaction.

I’ve found articles now from New Zealand and it looks like Europe where individuals regularly use them in their caches.

I think it could be a great way to recycle (although one of the articles says you need to use fresh/new packs or they aren’t as effective. Of course, they sell them….)

[gkrone]

Considering that most caches containers really don’t seal well and will hopefully be opened several times I would think that the silica would lose effectiveness quickly. How do you measure the effectiveness and if it needs to be replaced?

I recently found a pill bottle cache with a small silica canister glued to the lid. I didn’t really think to much about it at the time, but I wouldn’t even worry about it when I hide a cache.

[Mister Greenthumb]

Concentrate on selecting a good water tight container and forget the silica. In placing over 200 hides I can count on one hand the containers that leaked. I quickly changed to something better and the problem was gone.

[Muggle B]

1 the silica I have is beads, in a small plastic container with holes in it, and they are melted shut, so I don’t see kids getting into the stuff

2 I wouldnt’ use them in non-water proof containers, that would be useless

3 they would have to be tossed or replaced once they get fully saturated

4 I would probably put them in the bag with the log, not that the container isn’t water proof, but ive opened dry containers and found moist logs, from signing in the rain, or just moisture in the air.

I did read online of people using them in caches, I just wanted to hear from some “old timers” to see if this topic has been covered already, and hear your views on the topic.

thankx
Brian

[Team Deejay]

The main purpose would be to absorb condensation or incidental water. That said, condensation is rarely an issue. If you think back on wet logs you have found, very few are “damp”. More typical would be the cache I recently found near Oconomowoc, where the flood waters had risen above the cache location near a drainage canal. Let’s just say that those plastic coffee containers are not waterproof for pressurized water and leave it at that.

[huffinpuffin2]

@CodeJunkie wrote:

I’ve saved a few also but I’m not sure what would happen if they get totally soaked. Maybe it’s time for an experiment.

If soaked, they’d be done for, until totally dried out (…which an oven can do, or a really hot ammo can, perhaps? Adsorption v. absorption….hmmmmm……..a puzzle or Earthcache subject candidate?

As for an experiment, where might we find someone to analyze the data? 😆

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

When I started caching, I used silica packets in a couple of ammo cans. They worked well for about siz weeks, then had to be replaced. Once they are saturated, they leak a white goo. I stopped using them. It might work well for smaller water tight containers tho. Never tried.

Pretty sure there was a discussion in these forums about it 3-4 years ago.

[huffinpuffin2]

@Team Deejay wrote:

Let’s just say that those plastic coffee containers are not waterproof for pressurized water and leave it at that.

Toss in a disposable diaper? 😉

[RJ McKenzie]

@huffinpuffin2 wrote:

@Team Deejay wrote:

Let’s just say that those plastic coffee containers are not waterproof for pressurized water and leave it at that.

Toss in a disposable diaper? 😉

Tampons should work as well? The only issue that is we will have more exploding caches due to pressure from the ever expanding tampons.

[EnergySaver]

I’d go with the camp that says: better off keeping water out, than trying to dry it up from the inside. Condensation from within is much less of an issue that water getting in … the silica will not hold up to water getting in, don’t waste your time.

[Walkingadventure]

Wow, my Exploding Ammo Can thread would be so different if it was the tampons or diapers. 😯 😳

Following the signals from space.

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