Silica Gel packs (the moisture absorbing things) - damaging

wilch · #1 08-09-2001, 12:50 AM

Howdy,

Quick question about the silica gel packs. (u know the moisture absorbing packets).

Are they good to use in guitar cases? Will they dry out the fretboard?

I'm asking because my DNA didn't come with a silica gel pack inside, so I put one in there (just under the neck, I put the bag over the top of the guitar), and I "think" I've noticed that the fretboard 15-24 seems to be drying out. Maybe it's all in my head. But I'd like to make sure!

thanks,
Wil..

Mr Orange · #2 08-09-2001, 09:33 AM

Too dry will do damage.
Too humid will cause trouble, too.

Keep it right. If it gets too dry, out with the silica.

BloodySwirl · #3 08-09-2001, 10:31 AM

Throw caution to the wind and eat them

iain · #4 08-09-2001, 02:53 PM

They taste best on wheat toast.

Devo · #5 08-09-2001, 06:55 PM

I wouldnt put it on the fingerboard, I put my desicant bag on the trem, sitting directly on top of the lo pro, this prevents pitting ( or so I believe ).

tomizm · #6 08-09-2001, 11:38 PM

Putting a small package like that in small space like a............guitar case (sexual allusion up until the case part huh?) will affect the air volume in the whole area, not the immediate surrounding volume of the bag. *"On the bridge" will just as equally protect the headstock I would think. *
I'd say it's only in there for shipping safety reasons, like if the case gets submerged in the Atlantic or something. *That small packet will suck up all the water for the nearest 5 cubed miles and the guitar should remain pretty dry.
Throw caution to the wind and eat one? *Are you mad? *Those bags have been known to cause severe headaches and third limbs to grow on neighbors trees. *I do NOT recommend mixing it with Fruit Loops either because contrary to the popular belief that it brings out the "Strawberry" flavor, I can say that it most certainly will not.
It's the lime that gets brought out.

(Edited by tomizm at 10:39 pm on Aug. 9, 2001)

wilch · #7 08-11-2001, 12:13 AM

"...eating (silica gel)....cause you.....to grow third limbs..."

hehe...cool. I'll eat one now and tell you of the effects tomorrow. Imagine the stuff you could play with three hands or even with 6 fingers on your left hand!!!

I could be FAMOUS

delussions of grandeur aside. Seriously, should I use a silica gel pack or not? For those of you with alot of guitars [size=0.2](glen, rich, and anyone with alot of JEMs I'm looking in your direction)[/size] do you use these silica gel packets, or have you found them to be damaging?

devo, I thought that putting a silica gel pack on the bridge would put funny chemicals on there, and cause damage.

wil..

(Edited by wilch at 3:16 pm on Aug. 11, 2001)

**jemsite** · #8 08-11-2001, 12:19 AM

imho these silica gel packs are TOO SMALL to do anything to effect the neck (unless you maybe lay several of them on the fretboard itself so it dehydrates it by osmosis).

I always felt these are used to stop moisture or sweating that could over long periods of storage cause RUST of the metal parts. I don't think they have any intended effect on the wood. I do not use them, but would consider a more elaborate humidity-controlled device when storing a guitar under abnormal circumstances... glen

wilch · #9 08-11-2001, 12:33 AM

cool. That makes sense.

Although the paket's I'm using are 7cm X 7cm (3"X3" )and rather thick.

But it does makes sense that they'd only absorb moisture(not much) that is "sweating" out of the instrument.

It's just that part's of my dna's fretboard (the rosewood) are going whitish, and dry looking. But after I play for a few hours it goes away (comes back again after a day or two in the case with the silica gel). Maybe I should get some of that fast fret stuff to put on my strings. That might polish up the fretboard and keep it in better condition.

thanks,
wil..

(Edited by wilch at 3:34 pm on Aug. 11, 2001)

**jemsite** · #10 08-11-2001, 12:43 AM

those are pretty big. see if the 'whiting' occurs w/o the silica.

i personally would not use them in the case. i'd take the axe out every few days and wipe it down and let it acclimate if you don't play it for many days. Typically you'll see silica packs used that are much smaller... glen

spiro · #11 08-19-2001, 10:39 PM

I use packs that are about the same size as the ones you are using...

I have had no problems with them (they are in all my cases. 27 to be correct)...

You should also be aware that when the crystals turn pink (hold up the bag to the light and check) * they need to be put in the oven for a few minutes to dry them out again so that they do their job.....