Recharging Silica Desiccant Gel Packs

[Por_sha911]

I have Dry & Dry silica gel desiccant packs.
https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packets-Indicating-Desiccant-Dehumidifier/dp/B07Q39VZKL/ref=sr_1_24?crid=37A8ACCYUBTT8&dchild=1&keywords=dry+%26+dry+dessicant+packets&qid=1608164165&sprefix=dry+%26+dry+de%2Caps%2C276&sr=8-24

The beads go from royal blue to pink (looks grey to me) when needing to be recharged. The instructions say use a microwave on low but the recharges don't seem to last as long as the originals. When they are done 'cooking' I could see what looked like moisture droplets inside the clear packs.

The other option is to bake in the oven 200-250 degrees F for 1/2 - 2 hours. I had them at 225 for an hour and then cool in the oven for an hour. There seemed to be less humidity inside the packs but I wonder a couple things.

-Am I wasting my time trying to recharge them or will the oven do a better job?
-Do I put them in the storage container hot or wait to cool?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[crustychief]

we used to bake them for 12 hours at 225 for the RAM missiles, worked great, I do the same for the spoon safe every six months. Wait for them to cool.

[Por_sha911]

Thanks for the info.
These are fairly small 3x3" and the instructions say 1.2 - 2 hours. You did 12 hours?
Won't they start to absorb moisture when they are left out in open air to cool?

(Using them for ammo and pistol storage).

[Bill Douglas]

They sound like the ones I use, but mine are not in a bag but are loose, and I tip them into the air dryer on the compressor, This is what I do to dry them.


I tip them into a stainless steel bowl, hold the bowl with one leather gloved hand. Blast it with a hot air gun (paint stripper type) while I swirl the beads around so they don't get too hot. In about a minute, they have gone back to blue.

Let them cool down a bit before you put them back. they won't pick up any moisture in the few minutes it takes to cool down.

I heard somewhere you should do this outside in case dust/fumes are bad for you.

[drcoastline]

It seems to me you could use a dehydrator, dehumidifier or an air conditioner to recharge them?

[Arizona_928]

Bake them.

Put them in the container cool.

You're just dehydrating them.

[peppy]

The ones we had for hearing aids would stop changing colors after about a year or so.

[Ziggythecat]

^
Exactly right
Slow bake, and eventually replace

[1990C4S]

In a former life I serviced air dryers that used activated alumina.

Large surface area, excellent absorption, and made to be reheated and re-used forever.

Not sure if that's what you're starting with, but that's what you need.

[biosurfer1]

I wonder if an air fryer would work well for this? Heats up quicker and the constant air movement I would think would be great for removing humidity.

[Ziggythecat]

It’s silica beads
They absorb moisture and baking them dries out the moisture
There is no need to reinvent the oven and a cookie sheet

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

I wonder if an air fryer would work well for this? Heats up quicker and the constant air movement I would think would be great for removing humidity.

That's just a convection oven....

[Bill Douglas]

Why poison a good airfryer. A hot air gun, as mentioned, works 100%