i have the 40 gram and i think 200 gram Dehumidifiers, so when can i expect them to turn pink or whatever???? ive had them for maybe a week now any help
Depends on the conditions of where the coins are stored. If you are in FL, expect them to turn pink sooner than AZ. Is the storage area at room temperature? There are a number of variables that all effect storage of one area to the next. Think of a high school experiment. What is the given and what are the variables? Repeat it a 1,000 times before you offer a definitive conclusion.
I use the 40 gram silica packs myself, as a general rule it takes anywhere from 4 to 6 months for them to need drying out. But that's in Utah - 2nd dryest state in the nation.
Or on a related note. I was given a gun safe far too large for the number of guns I actually own (1). There's more than enough space in it for my coins. I think I heard someplace though that putting coins and notes in a gun safe is a bad idea. Something about the environment, but I don't remember what. Am I remembering right, or is it something different altogether?
Both guns and coins have to worry about some fire-resistant safes. The heat-insulation used in some safes can release gases or retain humidity or something. I forget. As far as the guns and coins cohabiting, I wonder if gun oil fumes might be hazardous to coins. I dunno.
We've discussed safes many times - a quick search will bring up any and all threads on the subject. But in a nutshell, the original question in this thread was how long do silica gel packs last. But as has already been said - there is no hard answer. How long they last will depend on each individual situation. What the silica packs do is absorb moisture out of the air to keep it away from your coins. So what the climate is like where you live will determine how long they last. If you live in a humid climate - the won't last very long, maybe a few weeks. If you live in a dry climate like me - they can last for months. But that's why they were designed the way they were - they change color. All you have to do is look at them to see it. So check them once a week. If the color is pink - put 'em in the oven at 350 for 3 hrs and start over. It's just that easy
