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Surprising source for a desiccant for ammo storage--scoopable cat litter

Posted on 03/10/2013 5:34:51 PM PDT by RoosterRedux

A friend encouraged me to store my ammo with a desiccant (something to remove moisture/humidity from the ammo can/box).

After talking to my pharmacist (a gun lover), I learned that the primary ingredient in desiccant packets is silica.

After an online search for available products containing silica in a volume that would work as an ammo desiccant, I learned that there is a surprising source of which I already had plenty...scoopable/clumping cat litter.

Thought I would share this and ask for comments.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Weird Stuff
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

When I was cleaning out the garage, I discovered some old 30-30 ammo that belonged to my grandfather. It was stored under less than ideal condition for at least 75 years.

I was afraid to use it, so I salvaged the brass & bullets. Though I didn’t use the powder or primers, I tested them & they seemed fine.


41 posted on 03/10/2013 7:11:25 PM PDT by jimbobfoster
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To: RoosterRedux
Been using one of these for years. Just plug it in and dries itself out when the color indicates that it's full of moisture.

http://www.eva-dry.com/products/eva-dry-500-mini-dehumidifier/

42 posted on 03/10/2013 7:34:58 PM PDT by DocRock (All they that TAKE the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52 Gun grabbers beware.)
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To: jimbobfoster

The velocity would have been decreased, but other than that they would have worked fine.


43 posted on 03/10/2013 7:43:11 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("Somebody has to be courageous enough to stand up to the bullies." --Dr. Ben Carson)
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To: jespasinthru
I looked at some surplus ammo cans yesterday...and they were loaded with rust. And they were $14.95 apiece.

I've got over a thousand rounds to store. I need something very effective and at a very low price.

44 posted on 03/10/2013 7:47:03 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (Get armed, practice in the use of your weapons, get physically fit, stay alert!)
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To: SampleMan

“I find it impossible to believe that clay will not release water vapor when baked. I’ve seen an awful lot of clay suck up water when it rains, and then turn to dust in the sun.”

Me too, especially since I have commercially available desiccant bags filled with what I believe is bentonite clay and the instructions on each bag give a baking time and temperature to dry them out.

I wouldn’t use cat litter since it has perfumes which will make ammo smell like cat litter and might have other unwanted effects. Just buy desiccant bags, they aren’t super expensive: http://www.uline.com/BL_1001/Kraft-Bag-Clay-Desiccants


45 posted on 03/10/2013 7:52:40 PM PDT by zagger
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To: RoosterRedux
Your conclusion is not very useful. Do ALL scoopable clumping cat litter contain silica?
Does it permit drying occasionally to restore its dessicant properties repeatedly?
46 posted on 03/10/2013 8:01:26 PM PDT by publius911 (Look for the Union label, then buy something else.)
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To: publius911
You remind me of someone...I can't remember who...


47 posted on 03/10/2013 8:09:46 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (Get armed, practice in the use of your weapons, get physically fit, stay alert!)
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To: publius911

Google is your friend!;-)


48 posted on 03/10/2013 8:12:23 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (Get armed, practice in the use of your weapons, get physically fit, stay alert!)
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To: RoosterRedux

You only have over a thousand rounds???... Go to the shoe department at Wally world and ask the attendant to dig out the silica packets from a half dozen shoe boxes. I have my local store collecting them and evry so many months I go by and thew department head hands me a bag of five or six dozen packets. Baked in an oven for thirty minutes, they are as good as new. Ammo cans are $13 a piece. You can probably get you small amount of ammo in two cans and five or six packets from the shoe boxes is all you need when sealed up. Before you close the lid for the storage, rub a finger wetted with CLP on the rubber seal.


49 posted on 03/10/2013 8:27:52 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)
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To: RoosterRedux

I see pictures of that ugly cat everywhere. Is that the same cat, or do a lot of people just have the same kind of ugly cat?


50 posted on 03/10/2013 8:40:02 PM PDT by jespasinthru (Proud member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.)
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To: SgtBob
Save the Ol’ Lady’s panty hose, cut it into squares,

Real mean use their own darned panty hose, they don't depend on their women folk for everything.

51 posted on 03/10/2013 8:55:07 PM PDT by ansel12 ( August 29,2008 A Natural Born Reformer inadvertently unleashed within palace walls, change ensues.)
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To: RoosterRedux
Use MY litter? Don't think so!!
52 posted on 03/10/2013 9:19:49 PM PDT by Bon of Babble (I have seen the future and I'm going back to bed!!)
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To: RoosterRedux

Preppers use 5 gallon buckets, fill them nearly full, then set a piece of dry ice (frozen CO2) on the top of everything. When the dry ice is nearly gone, they seal the top. The cold and CO2 gas displaces most of the moisture inside the bucket.


53 posted on 03/10/2013 10:00:32 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( ==>sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: this_ol_patriot

Already emailed it to mine..........


54 posted on 03/10/2013 10:20:42 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: American in Israel
Most cat litter is grey and is not silica, but bentonite clay. Not a good dessicant.

Bentonite is a hydratable layer silicate clay and thus an excellent desiccant. That is why it dries out the cat feces in short order. If you take the bentonite and cook it in the oven at about 300 degrees for a few hours it will drive off any water of hydration that is in the layer silicate. You can then use it as a most excellent desiccant.

55 posted on 03/10/2013 10:28:58 PM PDT by cpdiii (Deckhand, Roughneck, Mud Man, Geologist, Pilot, Pharmacist. THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR!)
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To: RoosterRedux

Every time I open anything that has one of the “do not eat” packets (here at work its several a week) I save those and toss them in my gun cabinets. I always toss a couple in my ammo stash as well.
Keep those little moisture packets.


56 posted on 03/11/2013 5:45:49 AM PDT by envisio (Its on like Donkey Kong!!)
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To: RoosterRedux

Put it in coffee filters... then staple closed.

Been using this stuff for years... works well!


57 posted on 03/11/2013 9:51:04 AM PDT by ataDude (Its like 1933, mixed with the Carter 70s, plus the books 1984 and Animal Farm, all at the same time.)
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