Posted by Raymond Chapman on March 19, 2004
Mike Jackson - Texas HumidityAnother glue chip story just came to mind. When we were doing the first Lone Star Letterhead meet back in '83 we were trying to get some glass to chip and nothing was working because of the humidity (and no box back then). Someone (maybe Mike again - you know how he always has an idea) suggested using silica gel to pull the moisture out of the glue. Silica gel is what is in those little packets that come with your electronic equipment that has the warning "Do Not Eat", as if there would be food in your camera box. Silica gel is used for drying flowers and is available in most craft stores.
Off to the store to buy a box. The idea was to put the glass in a plastic bag, pour in the silica gel and close up the bag tight and allow the gel to take the moisture out of the air.
Since the box didn't have a warning other than not to eat it, I scooped up a big handful and immediately the gel took all the moisure out of my hand. It was almost like it was numb. What a strange feeling. When you rubbed your fingers together you couldn't feel anything.
Another "guess how I learned that?"
I don't think the gel was very successful with the glue chipping either.
Raymond ChapmanHa! At some times of the year, you can sweat in the shower in Texas. That's a tough playground. You gotta be tough to live in Texas.
I guess in Oklahoma, we just poured the silica gel onto the glass from the box instead of handling it with our hands. I never had that problem!
Mike
Or Dumb!
Now you tell me to just pour it out of the box. Duh, where were you twenty years ago?
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads