As brewers we've all got plenty of grain storage. I use kitchen air tight containers for my spec malts, and a large old chest freezer for my bags of base grain (not switched on). So I make my own desiccant for very cheap.
Get a bag of Silica Gel kitty litter. This is the same stuff you get in the small air gel packs, but at a lot less cost. I just throw heaps in a bag of cheese cloth or swiss voile and drop it in the corner. For large areas such as my 700L chest freezer a small bucket in the corner covered with swiss voile and an elastic band to hold it in place works easy.
They last 3 months easily. After 3 months you can either dry them or dump it and load up some fresh crystals. You can dry them in the oven or using a microwave. I just dump it and get some fresh crystals. The only thing to be aware of is the main bag of crystals needs to be kept sealed shut, otherwise it too will be no good after the 3 months. I have cats so I just make mine from a fresh bag all the time.
The blue crystals change colors one they are saturated with moisture, I've never actually noticed mine change color. The used crystals are also great water saving crystals for the garden.
This is the stuff I use from Big W.
In this pic I'm using a double layer of cheese cloth, but swiss voile also works perfectly. This is 1 table spoon of crystal I'm going to use in a larger air tight container.
Fold it over, then fold both ends in (only one end folded in pic)
Then fold it over on itself again so no crystals can get out, and I use 1 wrap of tape to hold it into place.
Cable ties, cable twists, even an elastic band would work.
Give is a little shake to ensure no crystals can get out, and your done.
Get a bag of Silica Gel kitty litter. This is the same stuff you get in the small air gel packs, but at a lot less cost. I just throw heaps in a bag of cheese cloth or swiss voile and drop it in the corner. For large areas such as my 700L chest freezer a small bucket in the corner covered with swiss voile and an elastic band to hold it in place works easy.
They last 3 months easily. After 3 months you can either dry them or dump it and load up some fresh crystals. You can dry them in the oven or using a microwave. I just dump it and get some fresh crystals. The only thing to be aware of is the main bag of crystals needs to be kept sealed shut, otherwise it too will be no good after the 3 months. I have cats so I just make mine from a fresh bag all the time.
The blue crystals change colors one they are saturated with moisture, I've never actually noticed mine change color. The used crystals are also great water saving crystals for the garden.
This is the stuff I use from Big W.
In this pic I'm using a double layer of cheese cloth, but swiss voile also works perfectly. This is 1 table spoon of crystal I'm going to use in a larger air tight container.
Fold it over, then fold both ends in (only one end folded in pic)
Then fold it over on itself again so no crystals can get out, and I use 1 wrap of tape to hold it into place.
Cable ties, cable twists, even an elastic band would work.
Give is a little shake to ensure no crystals can get out, and your done.
