Humidity inside Safe

F

FloridaGuy

New member
I recently purchase a Champion Gun safe from my LGS. When it was first installed the humidity in the safe was below 50% no the humidity is staying around 66%. I have 2 of the Eva-dry E-500 Renewable Wireless Mini Dehumidifer and a GoldenRod Original Dehumidifier in the safe currently but the humidity still stays @ 59 - 66%. I would like the humidity to be below 50% as recommended by everything I have read.

At this point I am not sure what else I can add to lower the humidity in the safe. So I am turning to everyone here to see what everyone else is doing to lower the humidity in there safes.
 
You're in Florida.
It's going to be humid

Humidity alone isn't a big problem as long as you're not getting condensation or mold.

You're easiest solution would be a room dehumidifier, but really I think it's overkill
 
Snyper,

Yes, I am in Florida.

I see no condensation or mold in the safe. I have removed everything except for the firearms from the safe.

The humidity in the room is running between 60% and above.

I will keep monitoring the safe for condensation and the development of mold.
 
I'm not positive, but I think ideal is 40-60% RH.

I'm at 20% now! I'm thinking about adding a cup of water! ...to keep the wood ok!

Marion F. Mecklenburg; Smithsonian said:
If one attempts to interpret the temperature and relative humidity (RH) information developed for Smithsonian Facilities Management (or any institution for that matter) it would be most useful to look at the raw data from monitors at individual sites. At the Smithsonian, the current environmental guidelines are 45% RH +/- 8% RH and 70o F +/- 4o F for exhibitions and storage spaces. (Mecklenburg et al, 2004) This simply means it is acceptable to be within a RH and temperature box bounded between 37% RH and 53% RH and 66o F and 74o F.
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This is my basic guideline.
 
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moisture the continuous battle

I too live in a humid area. There are dehumidifier type devices that use a desiccant to attract moisture from the air and hold it. I don't think those are the best idea for keeping the inside of the safe dry. They have to be continually serviced and the water they have attracted removed. In my opinion the best way to go is the heater type devices that heat the air in the safe,,,,, moisture will go to the area of lowest energy. So if the air in the safe is warmer (more energy)than the air outside the safe the moisture will move to the area of lowest energy out side of the safe. I am using two golden rod heaters in my safe which is working well along with gun storage bags treated with vapor inhibitors. I have seen people use a light bulb inside an enclosure to keep it dry and that works real well also. look at "z rusts" web sight.
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Have you checked your humidity gauge to see if it is actually reading correctly? A lot of them are only ball park close to the actual humidity. Directions can be found online as to how to calibrate most of them.
 
Plus one on Buzzards comment. I tried the water gathering chemicals and bucket and all I got was a bucket of water and the leather molding. The heaters have been working with no signs of mold for years now in the NW. Not as humid as FL but the temp changes really caused water build up before. The heater rods are everywhere in sports stores and on line and some of the better ones are replaced free if something goes wrong or ware out.
 
A different approach to eliminating rust is to totally seal the safe. Have a pressure gauge installed reading ounces of pressure ( we want to pressurize to a couple oz of pressure).

Use a bottle of Nitrogen to purge the safe and minimize the oxygen. With little oxygen there will be LITTLE moisture to rust anything.

Every time you open the safe you will have to re purge it. Obviously this will not be good if you are in and out of it like a refrigerator, but if only once a month or so, it will work well.

Be cautious but not afraid of Nitrogen. After all 70% of what we are breathing is Nitrogen.
 
I would double check my humidstat and check the rating of my golden rod . If very thing checks out , I would contact golden rod .
 
I have tried different types of dehumidifiers in my safe, but no mattter what I use, it seems that the humidy inside the safe is never more than about 1% lower than the humidty in the room. At that rate, you might ask, "why bother?" I suspect that coating your guns with a good preservative is better than most dehumidifiers.
 
I suspect that coating your guns with a good preservative is better than most dehumidifiers.
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Exactly
Unless there's mold or mildew growing in your safe, you really don't have a humidity "problem"

A small light bulb does the same thing as fancy "Goldenrods" too
 
A wipe down with a RIG mitt, using silicone socks, the dessicant boxes, golden rods, etc. will all help and if it is really humid, you might need to use all of them.
 
I have an Eva Dry dessicant type, when the stuff inside turns pink you plug it into a wall outlet till its blue again. ( 10-12 hours) It's pretty humid down here but no mold or rust problems.
 
I live in a humid environment. I have used the same goldenrod in my safe for over 20 years now. I touch it every now and then to make sure its still working. Yep, it still works. And I have never had any problem with humidity or rust in my safe.

Now, a long time ago, when I was in college and required to keep my rifle with the campus PD, it got speckled with rust when I went to retrieve it. Boy was I mad!! From that point on, I kept it in my dorm room and had no further problems. Just a heart palpitation or two when the RA would come around to do a room inspection.:eek:....or when he heard noise from room as I was reloading for my 22-250 .:eek::eek::eek:
 
I too live in Florida. The humidity level is usually around 45 to 50% in my home even when its 100% outside. Its primarily because the central AC unit acts as a dehumidifier and keeps it low. Because its low in the home, its low in the safe. We really never turn it off unless the rare cold front moves thru, even then its only a day or two. If we leave the house, we bump up the thermostat but don't turn it off, keeps the humidity under control and the electric bill down.
 
In the nw rain forest is a whole new level of condensation lol, I lived in the south, but had no idea how bad moisture could get.

I live in WA state now and omg the wetness

I just lube the guns more

But did I say OMG it's wet up here?

I have nothing I'd call expensive tho

If they were rare guns I'd take precautions to protect the value

I would base your actions on the value of the guns, truck guns I wouldn't bother... Some antique engraved German something or other is a different story..

Did I say that it's really wet in the Pacific Northwest?
 
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