Dry Boxes and Keeping Gear, fungus free

[PARC]

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We live in a tropical country with high relative humidity. Gear stored in the cabinets/drawers for sometime, specially camera lenses get attacked by fungus growth. How can we prevent our expensive gear from getting fungus.

There are 'dry boxes/cabinets' in the market which cost from 2+k to over 10k pesos.

What about cheaper alternatives.

The smallest 'dry box', is a toolbox size with a rechargeable desicant, this is a little over 2k pesos.

For cheaper alternatives, you can go the DIY way. Airtight boxes (I use the Lock n Lock) can be bought in Department Stores. The 9.6 liter LnL box is about 480 pesos. Silica gel is sold by most photo shops in Hidalgo at 90 pesos or so per pack. A digital hygrometer for measuring relative humity (moisture) is about 750 at National Bookstore or Infomaxx. I think a cheaper analog hygrometer can be found at SM.

The silca gel can be recharged by putting it in the oven, or in the case of beads, pwede 'isangag sa kawali' or on sunny days, put on the roof.

Please continue discussion on this thread. Thanks!

PARC

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[jrj]

I got a dry box (size of a mini ref) from Aperture trading about 4 years ago and is working fine with no problems at all. Keeps most of my cameras and lenses. The glass door has a lock  and has a hygrometer to measure humidity.

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[kieron]

I got a dry box (size of a mini ref) from Aperture trading about 4 years ago and is working fine with no problems at all. Keeps most of my cameras and lenses. The glass door has a lock  and has a hygrometer to measure humidity.

Hi sir! do you have a photo of your drybox?

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[judell74]

Heto mga dryboxes ng Aperture....

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[Mandrake]

Heto mga dryboxes ng Aperture....

Hayan pala mga dryboxes ng Haperture Hanef!!!

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[dni]

around how much ba yung mga dry boxes ng Aperture?

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[nelman]

salamat po sa tips regarding the silica gel... may tanong lang po ako mga sir, is there a way of knowing when to recharge the gel? or do we have to recharge them regularly? thanks po in advance!

The silca gel can be recharged by putting it in the oven, or in the case of beads, pwede 'isangag sa kawali' or on sunny days, put on the roof.

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[syuter]

i bought a 10liter lock n lock box for my DIY dry box and a box of silica gel in True Value worth 60pesos, i think. the silica gel is packed into 25pcs. inside the box is a D70, 50mm 1.8, 18-50mm, 70-300mm, sb600. ilang pack of silica gel po dapat ang ilagay ko sa box?

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[bulaknoy]

how much does a real drybox cost? . tanong lang po mga bosing

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[rave]

salamat po sa tips regarding the silica gel... may tanong lang po ako mga sir, is there a way of knowing when to recharge the gel? or do we have to recharge them regularly? thanks po in advance!

Hello nelman.. share ko lang experience ko on my DIY drybox.. I'm also kinda new with the drybox thing pero based on what I've read regarding fungal growth.. fungus needs at least 70% RH to grow so I make sure my drybox is about 50-60% RH.. di ko pinapalampas ng 60% just to be extra safe.. 

@syuter - i also use a 10L Lock n Lock box.. I use about 8 - 12 packets of silica gel (box of 25 packets bought at True Value) mas maganda if you have a hygrometer para may basis ka. Pag tumaas yung RH (about 60% and above) a few mins after closing the box.. that means the silica gel needs charging..
 
Again.. these are only based on my personal experience.. any additional info., comments and suggestions would be gladly appreciated.. 

Here are a couple of pics of my drybox.. wala pa ako budget for a "real" drybox kaya DIY muna.. hehehe.


 

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[judell74]

Hayan pala mga dryboxes ng Haperture Hanef!!!

indi ka Kafanfangan no?

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[diver]

how much does a real drybox cost? . tanong lang po mga bosing

They have one at True Value na Tackle Box type with a hygrometer na and it's around P2000.00 ( was looking at it last week lang ).

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[judell74]

how much does a real drybox cost? . tanong lang po mga bosing

They have one at True Value na Tackle Box type with a hygrometer na and it's around P2000.00 ( was looking at it last week lang ).

Maliit lang yata yan eh. Yung sa aperture na parang ref, around 5k to 10k yata?

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[syuter]

@rave - thanks sir for the tip... currently i'm using 3 packs. kulang pa pala.    mukang importante nga talaga ung hygrometer...

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[Estong]

I like it to DIY....

Where do you buy a hygrometer and how much does it cost?

 

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[raymie_v]

My DIY which is a good solution really is tupperware.  That's right.  It is air tight and water tight as well.  Get a good sized tupperware box, put some silica gel to absorb the moisture that is "in" the box when you close it and you can expect no more moisture to penetrate it until you open the box again.  Hope this helps.   

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[rave]

@syuter - Yup.. important talaga hygrometer.. bumababa kasi yung absorption capacity ng silica gel the longer you use it and pag madalas mo buksan yung drybox. Pag na reach na ng silica gel yung limit sa pag absorb ng moisture, instead of pababain yung %RH, most likely patataasin pa yun.. That's why kailangan mo talaga mamonitor yung %RH.. Too high (approx 60% and above) = fungal growth | Too low (approx 40% and below) = possible drying of lubricant for both the lens and mechanical parts inside the camera body. 

@Estong - nabili ko po yung Hygrometer sa Infomax Parksquare @ P750.. Pati sa Infomax megamall meron din. May nakikita din ako na mga table top clocks w/ analog Hygrometer sa SM department stores.. dun sa accessories section.. Mas cheaper yun than the digital Hygro... siguro mga nasa P200+

@raymie_v - oki din ang tupperware. basta ang important is air-tight yung container hindi kasi magiging effective yung silica gel pag hindi air-tight   

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[syuter]

@rave - thanks sir for the info... i'll try to look for a hygrometer later sa glorieta @ photoworld.. sana may sale.... hehehe...

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[Estong]

thanks for the info...   

@syuter - Yup.. important talaga hygrometer.. bumababa kasi yung absorption capacity ng silica gel the longer you use it and pag madalas mo buksan yung drybox. Pag na reach na ng silica gel yung limit sa pag absorb ng moisture, instead of pababain yung %RH, most likely patataasin pa yun.. That's why kailangan mo talaga mamonitor yung %RH.. Too high (approx 60% and above) = fungal growth | Too low (approx 40% and below) = possible drying of lubricant for both the lens and mechanical parts inside the camera body. 

@Estong - nabili ko po yung Hygrometer sa Infomax Parksquare @ P750.. Pati sa Infomax megamall meron din. May nakikita din ako na mga table top clocks w/ analog Hygrometer sa SM department stores.. dun sa accessories section.. Mas cheaper yun than the digital Hygro... siguro mga nasa P200+

@raymie_v - oki din ang tupperware. basta ang important is air-tight yung container hindi kasi magiging effective yung silica gel pag hindi air-tight   

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[rave]

You're welcome guys...  Buti pa kayo makakapunta na ngayon sa Photoworld.. ako bukas pa.. hehehe

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