I am not sure if this is even of any interest to any of you but after much searching I was able to locate a company that would sell prepackaged oxygen absorbers and dessiccants to someone outside the restaurant business. I ordered 50 of each ($20) per and some mylar bags ($1.24ea). They will ship them tomorrow. I had tried to order through Walton's but was backed up 6 months. I need to get my food into the buckets now so this was the answer for me. The company is Royco and their number is 800-677-6926. I don't have any vested interest in the co. or in lining their pocketbooks, just know that I have had a very hard time finding these products and hoped someone could benefit from this information. Mary

-- Mary Howe (doesnotmatter@thistime.com), November 03, 1998

Answers

Just to make it clear the $20 is for 50 of them. So $40 for both those and then the bags. Mary

-- Mary Howe (oops@Ifeelsilly.com), November 03, 1998.

Thank you, Mary!

You've just solved a problem for me.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), November 03, 1998.

If you live in or near a city with a LDS cannery you can get the oxygen absorbers for 8 cents each (100 ct). You can get thick (4 to 6 mil.) bags for a lot less than mylar. I am using a poly-nylon bag (8x10) @ 7 cents each. Tough, easy seal, will give good barrier to oxygen transfer. I have been to the cannery but also am packing at home.....Beans, rice, wheat, pasta, oatmeal.....use the 8x10 bag with a oxy packet..seal... put into a 5 gal plastic bucket with a 4 mil. 18x28 liner ... couple more oxy packets...seal...Lid onto plastic bucket (this is the third seal) Should give many years of shelf life!!!

-- T C (trashcan-man@webtv.net), November 03, 1998.

Somewhere else (maybe on this forum) I saw mention that the oxygen absorbers may lower the pressure inside the sealed bucket too far and risk collapse. Anybody know about this? to confirm, deny, or amplify?

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 05, 1998.

THANKS A BUNCH, MARY!! I have been waiting for an order from Walton's for a few months, and I am beginning to get nervous. I went through the phone book looking for other places to purchase those above- mentioned things and no one would sell to me. Thanks!

-- madeline (runner@bcpl.net), November 10, 1998.