Anybody tried waterproofing a cam?

Shufigo

Active Member
When my cams die, it's usually accompanied by some condensation inside the IR flash windows and/or the camera lens. Quite often I also have some water in or around the batteries too, depending on the make of the cam. I can usually dry the cam out in a warm oven and some patient application of my wife's hair dryer. Unfortunately I usually end up with some residual mess on the camera lens and circuit boards doing strange things. My question is, has anyone attempted to do an aftermarket waterproofing of the camera case? I've tried using duct tape on the top and side seams in the plastic with mixed results. How about you?
 
When my cams die, it's usually accompanied by some condensation inside the IR flash windows and/or the camera lens. Quite often I also have some water in or around the batteries too, depending on the make of the cam. I can usually dry the cam out in a warm oven and some patient application of my wife's hair dryer. Unfortunately I usually end up with some residual mess on the camera lens and circuit boards doing strange things. My question is, has anyone attempted to do an aftermarket waterproofing of the camera case? I've tried using duct tape on the top and side seams in the plastic with mixed results. How about you?
I've taken a few Brownings apart to replace the IR cover. It appears that while inside there are a few places where a thin bead of silicone would do a LOT of good. Of course the warranty is void the second you take the first screw out.
 
I've heard of guys putting the humidity eliminating packets out of medicine bottles in cameras with some success. I haven't tried it myself; I've had pretty good luck without having to do anything for the most part.
 
Go to a Michael's hobby shop. They have a product called "Flower Drying Art". It is just a 5 pound box of dessicant material, silica gel. make your own dessicant packets for pennies apiece.

Try to keep our camera's out of direct sunlight. They get really hot during the day and as it starts to cool off in the evening the air shrinks and sucks in outside air. The dessicant can help but you have to remember to change them out. Otherwise you are only storing moisture inside the camera.
 
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Go to a Michael's hobby shop. They have a product called "Flower Drying Art". It is just a 5 pound box of dessicant material, silica gel. make your own dessicant packets for pennies apiece.

Try to keep our camera's out of direct sunlight. They get really hot during the day and as it starts to cool off in the evening the air shrinks and sucks in outside air. The dessicant can help but you have to remember to change them out. Otherwise you are only storing moisture inside the camera.
How often would they need to be changed?
 
How often would they need to be changed?
I always carry a few with me when checking cameras. Unless it's been a wet period, I don't bother to change them. If it's been wet or they are in an area that gets really bad dew, I change them out every time I pull a card. It only takes a second. The ones I remove I take home and pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. That will drive the moisture out of the packet. After "recharging" them, I put them into a small sealable plastic sandwich bag, ready for the next time.
 
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Go to a Michael's hobby shop. They have a product called "Flower Drying Art". It is just a 5 pound box of dessicant material, silica gel. make your own dessicant packets for pennies apiece.

Try to keep our camera's out of direct sunlight. They get really hot during the day and as it starts to cool off in the evening the air shrinks and sucks in outside air. The dessicant can help but you have to remember to change them out. Otherwise you are only storing moisture inside the camera.
Sorry, I should have asked this too. What do you make your packets out of?
 
Sorry, I should have asked this too. What do you make your packets out of?
I make mine out of coffee filters. I bought a pack of the cheapest ones at Wally world or Aldis's. I cut them into one inch by two inch strips. Fold them in half and us a small stapler to seal the edges, add about 1 tsp of silica and fold and staple the end shut. Over the past couple years, due to medical issues, I haven't really made any new ones. I keep the ones from my prescription meds. I just put them through the micrcowave to recharge them.
 
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