Trains.com

silica gel

1088 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Terre Haute IN
  • 199 posts
silica gel
Posted by robscaboose on Friday, May 6, 2005 9:30 PM
Where does one get silica gel??????
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 44 posts
Posted by dk99358 on Friday, May 6, 2005 10:35 PM
Gun shops should have big packages like you would use in a gun cabinet. Cabelas (cabelas.com) or Midway (Midwayusa.com) are a couple of online places to look.

I just looked, Midway has a whole bunch of stuff under the 'dehumidifier' section.

Dale
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 1,821 posts
Posted by underworld on Saturday, May 7, 2005 6:47 PM
Look in your grocery or discount store for the crystal cat litter. It is just bigger cunks of silica gel. If they have a store brand it will be pretty inexpensive. I think the major brands are about $9 to $12, I got the store brand at my local Meijer store for about $5.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
currently on Tour with Sleeper Cell myspace.com/sleepercellrock Sleeper Cell is @ Checkers in Bowling Green Ohio 12/31/2009 come on out to the party!!! we will be shooting more video for MTVs The Making of a Metal Band
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Saturday, May 7, 2005 8:10 PM
Kinda embarrased to admit this, but during my first tour of duty in Japan, I tried to live and eat like the natives. I got a bento box full of sushi and seaweed and stuff and started to chow down. Ate everything including the silica gel. Course I couldn't read the label as to what it was.

Tasted kinda funny but tried to get used to the flavor. Heck, I had an iron stomach back then! :-)
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Frankfort, Kentucky
  • 1,758 posts
Posted by ben10ben on Sunday, May 8, 2005 11:29 AM
Most laboratory supply places will also stock it. It usually comes in an open package that changes color(often from red to blue) as it is used up and needs to be replaced.
Ben TCA 09-63474
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 8, 2005 11:39 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ben10ben

Most laboratory supply places will also stock it. It usually comes in an open package that changes color(often from red to blue) as it is used up and needs to be replaced.


Real silica gel cam be baked in an oven to "recharge" it, DO NOT throw it away.
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Monday, May 9, 2005 6:06 AM
Talk about timing?! I was going to post the same question about where to buy silica gel this morning, and here it is, already done for me with some great answers to boot.

Last night I relocated our carpet layout to the basement after 5 months in the den. The new basement layout is going to be on a 5' x 10" table. My main concern is humidity but figured storing the locos/tenders in Tupperware type containers with silica gel would keep them dry. Most model railroaders of all scales operate out of a basement, so what if any other precautions should one be aware of with electric trains in a basement?

Thank you all for some very informative posts on silica gel! Cat litter? Really?!!

Once again, I learned something new here.

Jim

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 9, 2005 12:50 PM
Craft Stores like Michael's also carry the stuff.
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Terre Haute IN
  • 199 posts
Posted by robscaboose on Monday, May 9, 2005 10:40 PM
Thank you very much
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 5:23 AM
I bought a huge jug of silica gel cat litter at WalMart last night for $7.00. All my locos are now in a huge tupperware container along with a bowl of silica. Thanks for some great info!

Jim

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Over the Rainbow!
  • 760 posts
Posted by eZAK on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 6:40 AM
QUOTE: so what if any other precautions should one be aware of with electric trains in a basement?


Use a fan to circulate the air and use a dehumidifier!
Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Home Brew!</font id="size2"> Pat Zak</font id="size3">
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 9:41 PM
i beleave you can re-activate the silica gel by bakeing it in the oven at very low heat like 150F it will drive the moisture out of the gel >>>>>glennbob

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month