I am seeking advice on keeping optics free of fungal growth. We are enduring a few humid weeks in Brisbane right now and I was concerned about keeping any nasty growths off my optical surfaces.
My OTAs (refractor & SCT) are each stored in a home made wooden box with a large sachet (3"x3") of silica gel inside each box and a smaller sachet inside the dust cap of each 'scope.
I store my gear downstairs where there is relatively poor air circulation. Any advice, strategies or suggestions on minimising my risks would be gratefully appreciated. I would prefer not to have to haul the gear upstairs, where the air is at least circulating due to open windows and ceiling fans. We don’t have the “luxury” of air conditioning.
I am seeking advice on keeping optics free of fungal growth. We are enduring a few humid weeks in Brisbane right now and I was concerned about keeping any nasty growths off my optical surfaces.
My OTAs (refractor & SCT) are each stored in a home made wooden box with a large sachet (3"x3") of silica gel inside each box and a smaller sachet inside the dust cap of each 'scope.
I store my gear downstairs where there is relatively poor air circulation. Any advice, strategies or suggestions on minimising my risks would be gratefully appreciated. I would prefer not to have to haul the gear upstairs, where the air is at least circulating due to open windows and ceiling fans. We don’t have the “luxury” of air conditioning.
Cheers
Dennis
Hi Dennis, (Humid is one way of calling it) I'm careful to remove dew before closing down for the night, but apart from that I'm doing less than you are. My scopes are kept under the house too, but setup on their mounts with a plastic cover. Actually you've given me a prompt that I should do more and I'll be taping silica gel packs under the dust caps from now on - ta mate
Qld, beautiful one day, swampy the next. It is a concern that's for sure. fortunately my downstairs is cooler and drier than the rest of the house. I tend to have a small pedestal fan running most of the time I'm down there so that helps a bit. I like the idea of the silica gel packs under the dust caps.
Robert, re your plastic sheets covering the scopes. You don't find that they trap moist air under them???? I use old sheets as dust covers. Plus I reason they are absorbant to a certain degree and "may" help prevent excess moisture getting to the scope Don't know for sure though.
I've just found an Aussie website at http://www.miteyfresh.com.au/11444.html which sells dehumidifiers (see "Dampchasers") for small spaces in the price range $83 to $123 so I'm off to explore...
They are a bit tricky on that site Dennis. I just had a look too. Its the wardrobe "Dampp Chaser"s that are in the $83 to $123 price range. The room dehumidifier is $1100 Probably still a good idea if you can afford it, but I'd be more likely to go for airconditioning for a bit more.
They are a bit tricky on that site Dennis. I just had a look too. Its the wardrobe "Dampp Chaser"s that are in the $83 to $123 price range. The room dehumidifier is $1100 Probably still a good idea if you can afford it, but I'd be more likely to go for airconditioning for a bit more.
Yes - thanks Paul - I spotted this soon after my previous post. I just ordered one of their General Purpose Area Packs at $29.00:
"The General Purpose Area Pack (907g) controls moisture and odour problems when placed in living areas, bathrooms, baby rooms, kitchens, laundries, clothes hampers, wardrobes, cars, boats, storage rooms, your office, restaurant, motel rooms".
I'll let you guys know how it works - hopefully well!
Dennis, you have to keep the air circulating. A small, (10"), fan will do. Just leave it running on low speed, or you could build a speed control unit for it. A light dimmer will suffice here. Just mount it in a 'Jiffy box' from D. Smith's with a 240 volt socket as well.
ving, if you really want a lot of silica gel, goto any shoe store, eg; K-mart prob. best & ask them. You'll end up with literally 'a shoe box full'. L.
ps. & IMHO, there's nothing wrong with a plastic cover to keep the dust out. Cloth just doesn't do it. (lets dust thru!). Just air/dry your t'scope before placing the plastic cover on.
pps. I 'hook' a 1/4 lb bag of silica gel inside the tube every time I pack up.
Thanks for the advice, links and great ideas. I'll stop building the hermetically sealed, climatically controlled, thermally insulated, fungi isolated, cryogenic, inert gas filled chamber immediately and go visit a shoe shop instead.
Cheers
Dennis
PS – make sure any silica gel sachets are not made from perforated plastic, which may soften or melt at 150 deg C?
In terms of regenerating, the EcoFresh, General Purpose Area Pack at $29.50 which I have ordered from http://www.miteyfresh.com.au/11443.html states the following:
“The zeolites are active for many years and can be easily regenerated in the sun”.
Matt, Sorry. I am of the 'old' school. Always think in Imperial terms. (eg; degs F). Paper burns @ 451 degrees F.... 150degs F wont hurt it/them. I think it's a synthetic fibre of some kind....
ps. There was a picture made,quite a few years ago called, 'Farenheit 451'. The 'firemen' went around burning books. Strange show!
Well, I've noticed over the years SA getting slowly but surely more humid. I predict in 20-30 years time (if it keeps going like it is) mould on optics.
My mum lives in Bagara & tells me all these horror stories about mold growing on just about everything! YUK!
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Don't know for sure though.
Probably still a good idea if you can afford it, but I'd be more likely to go for airconditioning for a bit more.
L.
40% humidity one day - 15% the next!
.....SA and dry air here I come.
