The silica that’s in the packets is synthetic, so it’s not the same thing at all!Ĭhildren and animals sometimes swallow the entire packet and choke, which is the only way in which the packets can be considered hazardous. Silicon dioxide is basically sand, and it’s found in drywall and other construction materials. It’s important to understand that people get silicosis from inhaling the dust of crystalline silicon dioxide. If you’ve ever Googled silica, you may have seen a serious disease called silicosis mentioned. That warning is just trying to tell you, “This isn’t food.” It doesn’t mean, “Eating this might kill you.” Silica gel packets aren’t actually poisonous, though. (Not that an adult would be tempted to eat them… I guess they could possibly look like those little packets of black pepper that restaurants have.?) After all, they say “DO NOT EAT” on them. You might wonder why would people put silica packets in guitar cases if they’re poisonous. It’s sad to see a nice guitar ruined because somebody didn’t pay enough attention to moisture and humidity. Sometimes the damage is so severe, the guitar can’t be saved. The frets on a dried-out guitar can become sharp, because the fretboard shrinks but the metal doesn’t.įixing these problems can be a big job. Silica is nothing but bad news for your instrument if it stays.Īnything made out of wood needs a certain amount of moisture to function properly - otherwise you can get cracking, shrinking, waves in the finish, and basically a huge mess.
The silica packs are NOT meant to stay in your guitar case once you have purchased it. Who knows what sorts of environments your guitar case will encounter during its long journey from the factory to your house? The silica helps the case cope with wild swings in temperature and humidity, so it arrives in good condition.
Silica gel packs come in guitar cases to keep moisture away during shipping. You’ll often find them in new shoes, electronics, bottles of vitamins, and even beef jerky! Anything that condensation and moisture can ruin may come with silica packets. Silica packets are desiccants, which is a fancy word for “makes things around it dry.” (The clay in cat litter is another desiccant you might have in your house.) The packets come in two forms: sand-like granules or small beads.Įither way, the point of these packets is to trap moisture. Gun owners are usually the main purchasers of these packs for keeping ammunition dry. Thankfully I was able to find reusable silica packs in bulk, like these, on Amazon. When my basement flooded and my cases got wet the way I was able to save the cases was with a combined approach of leaving the cases open next to my dehumidifier and putting 6-10 packs of silica into the case. The only time you should put silica packs in your case is if it gets wet. If you have a silica packet in your guitar case right now, stop reading this post and throw the silica packet away now! Is there ever a good reason to put a silica pack in your guitar case? But these packets come in new cases, so lots of people just assume they’re supposed to be there and never take them out. I don’t think it would occur to most people to put silica packets in their guitar cases. This luthier friend (Scott Miller of Naked Guitar Repair and Stonewall Pickups) is always preaching about the effects of moisture and humidity, or lack thereof, on guitars. Get those silica packets out of your guitar case! They will draw out moisture and cause significant damage to your guitar over time. I asked my luthier friend, “What’s one thing you wish more people understood about maintaining their guitars?” His answer was surprisingly simple:
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