Rust is the demon for mail, and I keep my new 6mm, riveted hamata in a sealed plastic bin between uses, oiling it after each use. I was wondering about the efficacy of keeping packets of silica gel in there as well, to soak up any left over moisture. Has anyone tried this long term? I shudder to think of getting rust off 5000 rings.
Mail is pretty much self cleaning, the action of wearing it cleans off most of the rust. You are doing pretty much all that can be done, wear it, oil it and store it in a dry, clean container. Silica bags may help a bit if the atmosphere is particularly humid of damp.
phil
Rice (uncooked) works too Rich.
keep it in a container with dry sand.
The silica gel packs I find in my shipments usually get re-used..not sure how much it has helped though. most of my mail is pretty oily.
I keep the silica gel in with my bronze coins to help prevent Bronze disease. Every 4-6 months though you need to bake them in the oven to remove any moisture or else they don't work anymore. At least that is what I've heard.
Where do you get the silica gel? I have also heard if you bake it, it will change colour back to it's original state and be good to use over.
Quote:Where do you get the silica gel? I have also heard if you bake it, it will change colour back to it's original state and be good to use over.
Whenever I get stuff shipped there are always a bunch of packets. I think you can buy them at Office Depot too.
Haven't managed to find a place to buy them over here.
I keep my mail in a leather bag. Before that I kept it in a cardboard box. If it ever got wet, I allowed it to air dry first before putting it away. Keeping mail in plastic seems a bad idea to me as moisture can't escape. Leather and cardboard take moisture away. My mail has stayed rust free.
Paul
A linen bag, or an (open) plastic bag. When dry, no moisture can get in either.