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Items that Can Be Ruined in A PackTite

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Chiotimhiphop

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 19 2012 11:51:28
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I am trying to create an inclusive list of all items that cannot go into a PackTite and/or will be runined in one. This is what I have so far:
• Medications
• Liquids
• Food (including candy, mints, and gum) and carbonated beverages
• Computers
• IPODs and MP3 players
• Cameras and camcorders
• Remote controls, audio & videotapes, records, undeveloped photo materials and related chemicals
• Heat susceptible ingredients, easily melted materials, and heat sensitive equipment including but not limited to:

o Candles, lipsticks, acrylics, paintings, pictures, crayons, paraffin wax, cosmetics, nail polish, picture frames, canning wax and art supplies including wooden art objects, and handcrafts assembled with hot melt glue.

• Aerosol cans and compressed gases (i.e. hairspray, mousse, etc.)
• Items with high alcohol content (i.e. hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, etc.)
• Flammable or combustible chemical compounds
• Cigarette lighters
• Stringed instruments may be detuned by the heat
• Vinyl objects
• Wet items
• Any valuable items that may be damaged by temps ranging between 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit

Is there anything I am missing?

Thank you!
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 19 2012 19:57:39
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I am not sure it is possible to come up with a comprehensive list.

I would note that electronics and especially batteries are at great risk.
punaisedelit

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Apr 23 2012 19:36:44
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Some shoes whose sole is glued will get unglued (Repetto ballet flats, haha).
theyareoutthere

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Apr 23 2012 22:04:56
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Yes, I had the glue loosen on some shoes. I probably did the time too long. I took them to a cobbler and he used some sort of nail/staple combo to attach the sole. It happened to some of those rocker shoes for me.
killdienow

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Apr 24 2012 10:46:10
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ugh. i thought i cod put my computer in. already did tv and printer. since i never use either who knows if they still work!
bugdefcon

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Apr 24 2012 11:15:13
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I heat treat my electronics all the time. I don't use a packtite. I use a low temp oven I built myself. My laptop and cameras have been treated about 5 times in the last year. I used to be uber careful and turn everything off but I don't bother anymore. The moment I get home from a trip, I just stick them in the chamber and let them bake while I shower. There has been no ill effect. The 50C or 120F that's needed to kill bedbugs is not a problem for electronics. Some manufacturers will quote temperatures at around 120F as the upper limit. They are being conservative since the most sensitive item is the battery. Li-ion batteries for the consumer market are designed to work at up to 60C/140F. Consumer batteries are the lowest quality. Military/Industrial rated ones can go up to 80C/100C. Also, it's not like once it hits 60C, the battery will die instantly. Li-ion batteries will degrade faster as the temperature increases. Even at room temperature, they will degrade. Ideally, they should be in the fridge.

Once again, I don't use a packtite and thus I am not suggesting people packtite their electronics. I'm just speaking about heat treating electronics in general. From what I can tell, the packtite has no temperature control other than safety shutoff which is fairly high. The low temp oven I built runs at 50C.
adapaoferidu

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Apr 24 2012 23:07:01
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ok-so i just packtited,
my toshiba tablet
my son's vita
wet shoes (they were in a bag of dirty clothes I put into the washer)

the electronics seem to be working fine- much better then the electronic key i put threw the washer in the same load as the shoes.
Winston O. Buggy

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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 13:48:39
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Sometimes there is a gap between legal disclaimers which make perfect sense and what will get damaged. Remember that many items are shipped around in hot trucks, containers and sit on hot runways while loading. I advocate nothing but following manufacturers recommendations, but some folks have heated items in a variety of ways without harm. Obviously batteries can be an issue and using heat sensors to monitor temps are a necessity. Of course generalizations about standards to which things are manufactured differ as well. Perhaps you can check around for success stories and failures.
Of course if you make it too hot or too long you increase risks. Check some of the University sites for DIY heat direction. As far as Packtites are concerned why would you want to put an aerosol can or lighter, in a Packtite?
theyareoutthere

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 27 2012 1:11:57
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Winston, there are people like me..that would forget what happens when batteries get hot..lighter fluid gets ignited...etc.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 27 2012 1:54:34
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Winston O. Buggy - 1 day ago »
Sometimes there is a gap between legal disclaimers which make perfect sense and what will get damaged. Remember that many items are shipped around in hot trucks, containers and sit on hot runways while loading. I advocate nothing but following manufacturers recommendations, but some folks have heated items in a variety of ways without harm. Obviously batteries can be an issue and using heat sensors to monitor temps are a necessity. Of course generalizations about standards to which things are manufactured differ as well. Perhaps you can check around for success stories and failures.
Of course if you make it too hot or too long you increase risks. Check some of the University sites for DIY heat direction. As far as Packtites are concerned why would you want to put an aerosol can or lighter, in a Packtite?

Everything Winston says it true.

This bears repeating over and over: keep in mind that someone here may have had an experience where an electronic item wasn't damaged. And yet yours might be.

We're also told electronic damage can present itself down the line. So realize that you are taking risks when you do anything outside of manufacturer's recommendations. And just because someone says they did it and it worked okay, you're still doing it at your own risk.

Even if the item works fine after heating, it may need manufacturer's service for other reasons later and you may find you have violated the terms of your warranty in ways the service techs can see -- even if the machine did not seem to sustain damage from your perspective.

At the end of the day if heating a risky item (like a laptop) keeps you from tossing it out, then it is probably a risk you're willing to take. But don't be crazy -- remove the battery and monitor temperatures, keeping them on the lower end of the bed bug killing spectrum -- for your best chance of success.