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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,112 |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
Hello, I have a quick question on humidity control. I have been doing more towards protecting my growing collection, and right now I am keeping them all in 2x2's, they are all in archival 2x2 pages, and all the pages are in archival safe binders. I put all the binders in the large 2.5 gallon ziplock bags and try to squeeze out as much air as I can. I have been reading about putting humidity control packs in. What are the best type, I see on jp's corner they have Silica Gel and Clay Desiccant? How many packs should go into a 2.5 Gallon ziplock bag? And how do you recharge them? And how often? Here is a link to JP's page. http://www.jpscorner.com/Silica_Gel_Desiccant.htm Thanks Edited by pennrj430
07/20/2012 7:44 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
538 Posts |
I would say the 40 gram silica gel canister they have on there would work just fine for a single bag as it says it works on up to a 3 cubic foot area. Typically there is a window on the unit that you check and when it changes colors you would put it in the oven to dry it out and reactivate it. It should come with directions that tell you exactly what to look for and how to reactivate.
A very cheap and easy way to keep moisture away from your coins.
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Valued Member
 United States
132 Posts |
Great, thanks Williamson!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Where you live and how you live is sometimes more important for humidity control. For example if you live in Arizona, in a house with a dehumidifier, most of what your doing is unnecessary or mostly so. If you live in St.Louis, Missouri and in an apartment near a lake or river, what your doing may just barely be enough. Alsmost anywhere though in a house where you have the ability to dehumidify the house, that would be one of the more important things. Howveer, some do and then have windows and doors open so much, no dehudifier on Earth is sufficient.
Basically I keep my house well closed up. I have a large dehudifier that keeps my house at less than 30% all the time. I've never had to use any gel type items at all.
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
Thanks Carl, I live on Long Island (NY). The Summer gets pretty humid, but the rest of the year it's not all that humid. Again, with closing them up in Ziploc bags, I try to keep most of the humidity out, maybe I will even try double bagging them. I'm just looking to put the gel pack in just to add another level of protection.
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
I'm in California where humidity is rarely an issue. Only know in late July and August, do we get slightly more humidity due to the overflow of the Arizona monsoons.
Still, I keep silica in the SDB.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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I try to keep most of the humidity out, maybe I will even try double bagging them. Exactly what I've been doing lately. Put an Album in one, turn over the excess, push that into a second one, turned over end goes in first. |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
I keep copper penny jars in the basement. The jars are sealed. I've yet to sort them beyond the copper aspect but plan on it when I have more time...one day.
Bad idea? Good idea?
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
Hi VGRX, I'm pretty sure sealed up in a glass jar they are probably safe from humidity, but I would search them for wheat's and other rarities and put them safely in 2x2's to protect them against marks from other coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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Hi VGRX, I'm pretty sure sealed up in a glass jar they are probably safe from humidity, but I would search them for wheat's and other rarities and put them safely in 2x2's to protect them against marks from other coins. Possibly the most important part of storage. Every time you move that jar you possibly could scratch a valuable coin with one marking another. Those plasic tubes for making a roll would be somewhat better for protection. And pending on how much air is in that jar too, could be a problem. If about 3/4 full, that would mean about 1/4 full of possibly humid air. |
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Valued Member
United States
256 Posts |
I can't imagine humidity in 1/4 of a sealed jar could ever affect 3/4 of a jar of pennies.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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I can't imagine humidity in 1/4 of a sealed jar could ever affect 3/4 of a jar of pennies. So much depends on how much humidity. Even such a small amount of air at 85%+ humidity can certainly effect the highest placed coins in that jar. And remember placing any type of gel pack for absorbing humitiy in anything may too have a problem. They only hold so much moisture. After that as the temperature changes, they tend to release some of that moisture unless constantly replaced or taken care of. |
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Moderator
United States
189340 Posts |
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I can't imagine humidity in 1/4 of a sealed jar could ever affect 3/4 of a jar of pennies. That humidity becomes a problem when the temperature of the jar falls below the dew point. Condensation is the real threat to the coins. |
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Valued Member
United Arab Emirates
242 Posts |
Is such a product good for preserving " Banknotes" collection as well?  Cuz, I read somewhere, Silica might have some sorta of chemical reactions to which eventually lead to affecting Paper Money colors adversely (I'm not sure about this info.) Appreciate your feedback ... Cheers |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2120 Posts |
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humidity becomes a problem when the temperature of the jar falls below the dew point. Condensation is the real threat to the coins.  Also read about Relative Humidity Vs Absolute Humidity. Big difference. This is why consistent temp is so important. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,112 |
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Posted 07/21/2012 09:12 am
