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How Silica Gel Took Over the World

(www.scopeofwork.net)
225 points Hooke | 2 comments | 01 Apr 25 19:33 UTC | HN request time: 0.399s | source
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nvader ◴[01 Apr 25 20:18 UTC] No.43550901[source]▶
I didn't find this in the article, so:

You can "recharge" silical gel by baking in the oven at 120 C for a couple of hours. If you do, be careful to remove the casing before you do, unless it is heat safe.

I have a small collection of oven safe dessicant packs that I keep on hand for emergency drying electronics.

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JohnFen ◴[01 Apr 25 20:20 UTC] No.43550910[source]▶
I use a food dehydrator for this, but the principle is the same.
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1. nvader ◴[01 Apr 25 20:54 UTC] No.43551224[source]▶
When my last phone took an unsanctioned swim, my research suggested that a food dehydrator is a last resort. It risks forcing water vapour further into the electronics of the system, rather than encouraging it to move out.

I did find a clever solution online that tried to induce mechanical suction on your phone to force the vapour out, but it was too expensive for a one off use.

In the end I had to resort to the food dryer anyway, after the silica gel failed to work.

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2. JohnFen ◴[01 Apr 25 20:59 UTC] No.43551274[source]▶
I've never used it for drying wet electronics. The couple of times I've dunked my phone, I've just let it air-dry for a couple of days and it's been good.

I use silca gel for storing 3D printing filament and long-term clothes storage.