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JD Collector: Back in my days in the inorganic chemistry lab, we would dry our crystalline compounds in a device called a desiccator. It was a metal container with a lid with a layer of calcium carbonate crystals in the bottom, generally situated under a piece of fine mesh screen so that wee could lay a piece of damp filter paper with our crystals on them. The calcium carbonate was so dry that it would absorb the moisture, and when the two compounds would achieve equilibrium of humidity, our product was very dry. We would prepare the desiccator by heating it over a Bunsen burner for about 15 minutes, remove it, put the lid on it and let it cool. The calcium carbonate would remain dry until we needed it. To make one at home, you can take a soup pan, and put about a pound of kitty litter (new, not used!) and heat the pan on the stove. This drives most of the ambient moisture from the clay. After it cools a bit, put a lid on it and let it cool further. Over night is fine. The next morning put your gauge in the pan, on top of the kitty litter, and put the lid back on. In a day or so it should have lost the evident moisture. You can then try to re-seal it with some clear dope, finger nail polish, or urethane clear around the front and back of the bezel. Just wipe it off the glass out towards the rim, and that might just seal it from getting more water. Pay particular attention to the bottom edge where the water tends to settle on the glass and lip. That's what I have done many times, and it will dry objects out. You can also suspend the gauge over a 100-watt light bulb over night, and that seems to work pretty well, too. Frank-in-Tallahassee
70D // 855
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