Zorb-It

with Fall here now this is something to file away for your next trip -- or next summer...

Taken directly from Art Morris' Birds As Art

At one point on my trip to Panama last year, I had three dead cameras. Dead as in dead. This year I realized that I needed to protect my camera bodies from the stifling humidity. After an on-line search, I found Zorb-It™: http://www.zorb-it.com/Scripts/default.asp.

I recommended the product to the whole group and many purchased several of the Zorb-It 4X4" packets here: http://www.zorb-it.com/Scripts/cart.asp. When not being used, I kept each of my three camera bodies in a one-gallon plastic Zip-loc bag along with one of the 4X4" packets. Each camera performed flawlessly for the entire trip in spite of the fact that I used my EOS-1D Mark III bodies several times in both heavy drizzle and pouring rain.

I am now storing my camera bodies as described above both to protect them from the high humidity here in Florida and to prevent long term corrosion problems. My big mistake on the Panama trip was not protecting my laptop with Zorb-It™. For the second year in a row my laptop suffered near-fatal humidity problems that were gone once I got back to the US. Yes, it is quite humid in Panama. On my next trip I will switch to Zorb-it Ci™ as it offers protection against the corrosion of sensitive electronic components. (Heck, my cameras and lens are often doused with salt spray.) If you live in a wet place like the Pacific Northwest, anywhere in the Southwest, or if you visit tropical countries with your cameras and laptops, you need to get yourself a few packets of Zorb-It or better yet, of Zorb-it Ci™. Unlike all desiccants, Zorb-It™ never needs to be replaced or artificially regenerated. (As below, Zorb-it Ci™ will need to be replaced every 7-10 years.)

This from the manufacturer's web site:
Zorb-It™ is a unique, patented, double-action™ agent for the positive control of moisture and humidity. It is no mere desiccant. The Zorb-It formulation has been proven effective in the toughest industrial environments around the world. Zorb-It™ now is available to you exclusively through this Worldwide Web Center. Zorb-It™ is unlike the ordinary sugar-packet desiccants you find in leather goods, briefcases, camera and binocular cases, and so on. It is superior. Its granular structure absorbs at least 10 times more moisture from the air inside any enclosure containing your prized possessions and valuables. Additionally, it stabilizes the ambient relative humidity to a near constant level over the long-term. It does not need to be replaced or artificially regenerated.

Zorb-it Ci™ contains an extra granular element that helps prevent corrosion of electronics and electrical contacts, and also the tarnishing of silver. It transfers through its packet membrane a patented micro-thin coating of corrosion inhibiting molecules which attach to metal surfaces. It is never oily or greasy to the touch however. And it aids in electrical conductivity. While Zorb-It™ never needs replacing, Zorb-It Ci™ will need replacement about every 7-10 years,

The Zorb-It™ and Zorb-It Ci™ packets are easy to use. Their granules are contained in a semi-permeable membrane packet material. The packet material allows only water vapor to pass into and out of the packet. Since the granules are very aggressive in their absorption of liquid water and water vapor, the packaging material is designed to protect the granules from contacting liquid water. The handy packets eliminate the need for messy powders or having to dispose of “buckets of liquid” left behind by other types of desiccant products. The double-stick tape on the back of the packets allow for easy installation in many cases and other enclosures.
You can learn lots more about Zorb-it ™ products here: http://www.zorb-it.com/usermods/ownersmanual.asp.

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