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This is a review of the 5lbs of Industry Standard 2-5mm Silica Gel Desiccants.Summary – Bulk silica is a great idea if you ask me. Instead of buying various size packages of silica, I can now save a ton of money and make my own various sized bags. I use silica all the time for storing electronics, hard drives, guns and in my safe. What I love about this item is how they contain cobalt chloride which allows them to change from blue to pink indicating they need to be replaced. (These absorb 40% of their weight in water.)When I used a free online silica gel calculator, it shows I would need 238grams for a one cubic foot area. I then convert that to ounces and fill my back using a scale to the desired amount.In terms of the bags, after researching I found organza bags are the best. You can get about 100 on Amazon for really cheap.Lastly, these should last a very long time as they can be reused again and again. You can do either of the two methods below to restore them when they are pink.1.) Bake in a convection oven for 2—3 hours at 200 to 240 degrees. Do not exceed 250 degrees F.2.) Microwave on LOW power for 30 seconds to two minutes.Taking away 1 star for the poor container idea. With an item as sensitive to moisture as this, a paint can design with a metal rim is a bad idea. You need to pry the lid off and bang the lid on which will certainly leave a good chance you will have an air opening. They should come in some form of a plastic container with a screw on rubber sealed lid. I would have paid more for this same product in that type of container. At least I can move these into another airtight container to store.Note – These are 2—5mm and not 3-5mm as per the listing description.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2018
This is a review of the 5lbs of Industry Standard 2-5mm Silica Gel Desiccants.
Summary – Bulk silica is a great idea if you ask me. Instead of buying various size packages of silica, I can now save a ton of money and make my own various sized bags. I use silica all the time for storing electronics, hard drives, guns and in my safe. What I love about this item is how they contain cobalt chloride which allows them to change from blue to pink indicating they need to be replaced. (These absorb 40% of their weight in water.)
When I used a free online silica gel calculator, it shows I would need 238grams for a one cubic foot area. I then convert that to ounces and fill my back using a scale to the desired amount.
In terms of the bags, after researching I found organza bags are the best. You can get about 100 on Amazon for really cheap.
Lastly, these should last a very long time as they can be reused again and again. You can do either of the two methods below to restore them when they are pink.
1.) Bake in a convection oven for 2—3 hours at 200 to 240 degrees. Do not exceed 250 degrees F.
2.) Microwave on LOW power for 30 seconds to two minutes.
Taking away 1 star for the poor container idea. With an item as sensitive to moisture as this, a paint can design with a metal rim is a bad idea. You need to pry the lid off and bang the lid on which will certainly leave a good chance you will have an air opening. They should come in some form of a plastic container with a screw on rubber sealed lid. I would have paid more for this same product in that type of container. At least I can move these into another airtight container to store.
Note – These are 2—5mm and not 3-5mm as per the listing description.
Summary – Bulk silica is a great idea if you ask me. Instead of buying various size packages of silica, I can now save a ton of money and make my own various sized bags. I use silica all the time for storing electronics, hard drives, guns and in my safe. What I love about this item is how they contain cobalt chloride which allows them to change from blue to pink indicating they need to be replaced. (These absorb 40% of their weight in water.)
When I used a free online silica gel calculator, it shows I would need 238grams for a one cubic foot area. I then convert that to ounces and fill my back using a scale to the desired amount.
In terms of the bags, after researching I found organza bags are the best. You can get about 100 on Amazon for really cheap.
Lastly, these should last a very long time as they can be reused again and again. You can do either of the two methods below to restore them when they are pink.
1.) Bake in a convection oven for 2—3 hours at 200 to 240 degrees. Do not exceed 250 degrees F.
2.) Microwave on LOW power for 30 seconds to two minutes.
Taking away 1 star for the poor container idea. With an item as sensitive to moisture as this, a paint can design with a metal rim is a bad idea. You need to pry the lid off and bang the lid on which will certainly leave a good chance you will have an air opening. They should come in some form of a plastic container with a screw on rubber sealed lid. I would have paid more for this same product in that type of container. At least I can move these into another airtight container to store.
Note – These are 2—5mm and not 3-5mm as per the listing description.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2020
The product itself is great and works as described, but upon opening the resealable seal for the first time it tore off from the packaging more easily than the seal itself thus rendering the packaging useless.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
Now that it's been humid/rainy lately, the jar of silica gel beads I keep in my bathroom turns from blue to pink in less than two days. Timing how long it takes for the beads to saturate can also help quantify just how moist a room or space is.
I plan to find more ways to creatively use these around the house.
Excellent for combating moisture in bathrooms
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
I use this in my bathroom, putting some in a jar with holes poked in the top, to absorb the moisture in the air. The beads start out dark blue, then turn a little bluish-purple, then become light pink once they have absorbed all the moisture they can. At that point, I put them in the microwave oven and heat for 1-2 minutes, depending on how much I have, on a paper plate loosely covered with another paper plate. (It is important to keep it loosely covered, because some beads will explode and jump up.) Some of the beads become ruptured after being heated, but they still work, and can be "recharged" in the microwave oven or a conventional oven over and over again.Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
Now that it's been humid/rainy lately, the jar of silica gel beads I keep in my bathroom turns from blue to pink in less than two days. Timing how long it takes for the beads to saturate can also help quantify just how moist a room or space is.
I plan to find more ways to creatively use these around the house.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021
