Ditto on that last warning; wear gloves and a dust mask. Also be careful with silica gel containing a cobalt chloride color-changing indicator. You should have the MSDS for the gel you’re using but I would also recommend visiting the Conservation online website at:
http://cool.conservation-us.org/
and googling “silica gel” for more than you’ll ever want to know about the stuff: its uses, conditioning, health and safety and suppliers. Prepare to be overwhelmed!
