hulika

Author Topic: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...  (Read 27459 times)

Offline odalisque

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« on: February 24, 2007, 10:37:06 PM »
Do silica gel packs really help in preventing rust from "eating" your guitar especially the strings, hardware and etc.?

Offline Jaco D

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2007, 11:08:34 PM »
It should - as long as the silica gel packs are not saturated with moisture.  If they are, the reverse happens: they add moisture to the case interior.  Replace the packs with fresh ones or microwave the packs till the colored balls in the packs return to their colored state.  Put a paper napkin on a paper plate and put the packs on top of that one level deep (hindi patong-patong).  Zap at "defrost" for 5 minutes.  If the beads still look muddy, give them an additional 2 minutes.  If you have a hydrometer (tama ba?  the thing that measures moisture?) keep moisture at 40?%.  Too dry or too much moisture is just as bad for the wood and metal parts.

Offline Poundcake

  • GAS prophet
  • Administrator
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2007, 12:14:14 AM »
the silica gel's alright. i removed the silica gel pack in my Les Paul's case and i put a Dunlop Dehumidifier inside. it's been great so far, it does what it's expected to do :)
"The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD." Isaiah 38:20

Offline SuperWeak!

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2007, 12:21:16 AM »
ung libre sa muffins ng gardenia me silica gel dun ginagamit sa guitar case q epektib nmn sya so far...

Offline tele-tubby

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2007, 12:47:50 AM »
san makakabili?  hardware?


Offline mikep

  • Forum Fanatic
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2007, 12:57:25 AM »
I put silica gels in all my guitar cases but Rickenbacker advises they should never be used.  Still I used them and no problems so far.  You can buy them at Mercury sometimes.

FWIW
www.facebook.com/TRACKSAcoustics/Studios
guitars: gretsch 6122-1962; rickenbacker 330; epi elite casinos; gibson les paul standards, tribute, faded, double cut; gibson sg standards, faded; fender strats MIAs, MIJs, MIMs; fender tele MIAs, MIJs, MIMs; etc

Offline balance

  • Regular Member
  • ***
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2007, 03:06:09 AM »
It should - as long as the silica gel packs are not saturated with moisture.  If they are, the reverse happens: they add moisture to the case interior.  Replace the packs with fresh ones or microwave the packs till the colored balls in the packs return to their colored state.  Put a paper napkin on a paper plate and put the packs on top of that one level deep (hindi patong-patong).  Zap at "defrost" for 5 minutes.  If the beads still look muddy, give them an additional 2 minutes.  If you have a hydrometer (tama ba?  the thing that measures moisture?) keep moisture at 40?%.  Too dry or too much moisture is just as bad for the wood and metal parts.

Would you know kung ano effect kung too dry?  Nilalagyan ko ng silica gel packs (galing box ng running shoes hehehe) yung guitar case ng wolfgang ko pero worried ako baka too dry kasi medyo dry na rin dito sa mpls lalo na kung winter.

Offline i_banez

  • Senior Member
  • ***
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2007, 10:46:06 AM »
the silica gel's alright. i removed the silica gel pack in my Les Paul's case and i put a Dunlop Dehumidifier inside. it's been great so far, it does what it's expected to do :)

san po nakakabili ng Dunlop Dehumidifier? and how much? and ano yung pagkakaiba nyan sa Dunlop Corrosion Inhibitor?
« Last Edit: February 25, 2007, 10:50:42 AM by i_banez »

Offline Letour

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2007, 10:58:40 AM »
My guitar was in its case for two solid years. There was a silica gel inside and the strings were not rusty at all. I posted this suggestion in "tip" thread many months back.

Naturally, I replaced the strings but at least they didn't rust which meant that my guitar didn't suffer.

Dean of a law school
http://www.manilaspeak.com/author/rod-vera/
Twitter: @attyvera

Offline odalisque

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2007, 11:47:58 AM »
thx for the replies guys!

extra question:

Is it better to store your guitar inside it's case or just place it in a stand?

Offline Jaco D

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2007, 12:47:11 PM »
Would you know kung ano effect kung too dry?  Nilalagyan ko ng silica gel packs (galing box ng running shoes hehehe) yung guitar case ng wolfgang ko pero worried ako baka too dry kasi medyo dry na rin dito sa mpls lalo na kung winter.

I think you will need a lot of those packs to create a very dry environment in the guitar case to cause problems.  Kung sa case mo tinatapon yung mga pinupulot mong "Do Not Eat" packs like I do, I don't think that would be a major concern.  If it's too dry, the wood contracts.  Contraction/expansion of wood is best seen in the most unprotected part of the guitar - the fretboard.  Kung dry and the wood contracts, you gut "fret stubs" (it's called other things as well) wherein the frets stick out of the sides of the fretboard since the wood contracts and the metal frets do not contract as much.  Some people find this annoying.  Ako, nasanay na ako to expect it during winter.  Baliktad naman kung moist yung environment.  From what my tech tells me, its the sudden and frequent swinging of temperature and humidity from one side of the scale to the other that causes problems - both good and bad.  Good in the sense that it gives that "cracked" relic finish that people pay big bucks for or do funky things just to speed up the process.  Bad in the sense that warpage could take place.  That's why techies suggest that you acclimatize your axe when you go from one end of the temperature or humidity spectrum to the other before using it.

Is it better to store your guitar inside it's case or just place it in a stand?

Personally I'd say case, by a mile.  It could be a bit cumbersome but I find it a safer method in more ways than one.

Offline lao

  • Forum Fanatic
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2007, 01:14:35 PM »
very informative to ah, yung silica gel ko medyo madilaw na, is this normal? :-D

Offline mikep

  • Forum Fanatic
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2007, 01:46:02 PM »
I would say in a hard case.  Less possibility of it being destroyed accidentally.

FWIW
www.facebook.com/TRACKSAcoustics/Studios
guitars: gretsch 6122-1962; rickenbacker 330; epi elite casinos; gibson les paul standards, tribute, faded, double cut; gibson sg standards, faded; fender strats MIAs, MIJs, MIMs; fender tele MIAs, MIJs, MIMs; etc

Offline i_banez

  • Senior Member
  • ***
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2007, 03:57:48 PM »
saan po mismo nyo nilalagay yung silica gel? ako po dun sa ilalim ng strings in between the pickups... ok lng po ba yun?

Offline lao

  • Forum Fanatic
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2007, 04:26:29 PM »
i put it anywhere sa case :-D

Offline turiguiliano

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #15 on: February 25, 2007, 06:28:16 PM »
very informative to ah, yung silica gel ko medyo madilaw na, is this normal? :-D

yes. throw it away and get new ones. pag tumagal, sobrang baho. parang panis na gatas na hinaluan ng...just replace it.   :-D
US Toll Free: 650.488.7901
Globe:0927.858.1635
Smart:0949.190.0200 Sun:0932.748.6705 Bogner Amplification - CMATMODS - F-BASS - Jet City Amplification - Lava Cables - Paul Cochrane Audio - Pedal Train - Weber Speakers - Wilson Effects - XOTIC Effects

Offline don_martin

  • Netizen Level
  • **
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #16 on: June 13, 2007, 02:37:10 AM »
besides putting a dessicant inside my case, I wipe my strings with wd40. ewan ko lang kung masama siya sa wood ng guitar but I've been doing it for 10 years. ok pa naman siya.

Offline jun_gats

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #17 on: June 13, 2007, 08:16:16 AM »
i need this

Offline st0mpb0x_bahista

  • Forum Fanatic
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #18 on: June 13, 2007, 01:32:49 PM »
mga sir pwede din ba maglagay silica gel kung softcase lang yung gig bag mo, wala kasi akong hardcase eh at ilang pack kaya ang kailangan thanks
« Last Edit: June 13, 2007, 01:46:56 PM by st0mpb0x_bahista »

Offline ECUA

  • Veteran Member
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #19 on: June 13, 2007, 03:10:42 PM »
sa tingin ko, ok lang maglagay ng silica gel kahit naka-soft case lang... ganun din sa akin eh, wala rin akong hardcase

Offline pallas

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #20 on: June 13, 2007, 03:59:29 PM »
I also blow-dry my cases once in awhile with a hair dryer, grabe humidity dito :oops:
O Rose, Thou art sick! The invisible worm that flies in the night, In the howling storm, Has found out thy bed of crimson joy: and his dark secret love, Does thy life destroy.   

William Blake, The Sick Rose

Offline caloyburger

  • Senior Member
  • ***
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #21 on: June 13, 2007, 05:03:12 PM »
for me the best silica gel to use is the one they sell for cameras.  you can buy them in hidalgo, quipao for P50 and its about the size of two boss pedals.  change them every six months and you'll be ok.

Offline rockizta123

  • Philmusicus Addictus
  • *****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #22 on: June 13, 2007, 05:13:32 PM »
pag magkahardcase ako di ko dadagdagan ng boobs :lool:

Offline chupao

  • Veteran Member
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #23 on: July 21, 2007, 01:24:04 PM »
mga sir tanung lng kung ilang pack/s ang kailangan para sa guitar case n silica gels . ? hehe

salamats . . !!

Offline calvs

  • Forum Fanatic
  • ****
Re: Using Silica Gel inside a guitar case...
« Reply #24 on: July 21, 2007, 08:29:42 PM »
^ as far as i know 1 will do
esoteric; alternative rock-gazer: http://cerealbus.multiply.com/
FS:http://talk.philmusic.com/board/index.php/topic,216015.0.html