Moisture build-up in a gun safe.

F

FUD

Moderator
For those that don't know me by now, I live in the hot & humid Florida swamps. I placed a brand new, never fired, stainless steel Para-Ordnance P14-45 in my gun safe and about a month later, it was beginning to show early signs of rust.

I had a locksmith install one of those elecrtical de-humidifiers (dri-rod) in there which is suppose to minimize moisture but reading the instructions that the dri-rod was packaged in, it still recommends that you air the safe out for 10-15 minutes every couple of days.

Just curious if anyone else does or does not do this.

FUD
fudflag.gif
Share what you know & learn what you don't
 
Hey FUD,

Where is this moisture inside this safe supposed to go once removed from the safe by the dri-rod? Is there some sort of container or does it just throw it to the outside of the safe again? Like you, I'm just curious.

Ben

------------------
Almost Online IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
http://ben.gunsnet.net
 
I'm not familiar with dri-rod. It might be similar to a Goldenrod. The Goldenrod basically just heats up a bit. That does two things. First, warm air holds more moisture, thus reducing the chances of it condensing on the guns. Second, it sets up an air current that continually moves through the safe. It isn't a dehumidifier, and thus does not expel water.

I have a goldenrod in my safe and haven't had any problems with rust. But I do have a dehumidifier in the basement right next to my safe...

Jared
 
FUD,

When you get this one figured out, let me know. I'm about to use a safe in an unheated (MI) garage. I put an electrical outlet into it for a light, and I may use a goldenrod. I am going to put some desiccant bags into it.

------------------
NRA Life Member
Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners(MCRGO)
 
M1911, would a light bulb work as well as this "Goldenrod?"

------------------
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1)


"Freedom is given to the human conditionally, in the assumption of his constant religious responsibility."
(Alexander Solzhenitzyn)
 
Leave a plug out of the bottom of the safe for the moisture to leave.
The goldenrod will warm it up enough that the moisture will move towards the cooler air outside.

------------------
He who dares wins.
NRA Life Memeber
 
Fud,

Northern Virginia isn't the Everglades, but it certainly isn't arid either. I use a 20-watt light bulb, a couple desiccant containers, plus -- and most important -- I lavish my "deep storage" firearms with Mobil One. This is a great lubricant/preservative, and it seems to adhere to metal (low evaporation ?) a lot longer than traditional gun oils such as Breakfree CPL, Hoppes, Remington, and so forth. In addition, I keep my "deep storage" handguns in plastic/foam rubber boxes, usually the ones provided by the manufacturers. I never keep them in paper or in holsters of any type. So far, so good, but this worries me.

Regards.


[This message has been edited by RWK (edited September 05, 2000).]
 
We always just use those dehumidifer bucket things available at home improvement stores. They are little pails that have some dessicant in them. You put them in the safe and they trap moisture. When the pail gets full you simply dump out the water. They seem to work very well.
 
There should be a vent hole in the top. May look like a threaded bolt hole. They also use this for an eye bolt to lift. But it is also a vent hole. As the Goldenrod heats the air inside it rises to the top and pushes the moisture out. At least thats the way it works in my safe. I do open mine at least once a week just to check out the goodies inside :D

------------------
We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
Fud,

What I did was to install my dri-rod at the bottom of the safe (per the instructions) and I have a large can of silica dessicant on the top shelf. Should work well to keep things from rusting up.

Then again, I usually have mine open for more than 15 minutes every couple days so it does get plenty of chances to air out. :)

Joe/Ga
 
Joe, your set-up/procedures sound identical to mine but I was just curious if it's really necessary to air it out every couple of days?
 
On another board (non firearm) a poster said he visits his local Wally world or home improvement store every few months. For the price of a case of beer, he picks up hundreds of dessicant packages that would otherwise just be thrown away. All of the stuff imported from overseas is packed with a handful of the packs, and the packs are generally thrown away. You might give it a try to see if someone in the warehouse can collect them for you.

I store all my handguns inside plastic (docstall?) cases, inside the safe, with a generous coating of GIBBS oil and one of those packets. I took an opposite track rather than circulate air. I try to eliminate air. I will admit though, the humidity here isn't a constantly bad as down in Fl. So far it seems to work OK. IMHO, the best way is to wipe them down every so often.
 
My experience with Para O pistols is that they do rust unless coated with a nice preventative. I was very disappointed that my P13 developed rust under the screwed on grips that had been liberally oiled(CLP) but had been exposed to light rain. Even all my high cap mags rusted in mild humidity (Washington state). I had to Zcoate all of it to prevent this from ruining my toy...
I think dessicants are the best bet, combined with a power rod is better...
My 2 c.
TR
 
Fud,

-Necessary- to air it out every couple of days? I don't know. I think this may cause more problems than it fixes.

I noticed tonight that the indicator on my dessicant can is starting to change color indicating that it has absorbed a lot of water. I have had the safe open quite a bit in the past week and I think I might have allowed too much "airing out". :)

I think if I was going to close the safe and leave it closed for a long time (6 months or more) I would recharge the dessicant in the oven and then place it in the safe before closing. The dri-rod should circulate the air and the freshly recharged dessicant should be able to handle the water in the air if the door is not opened to let more in.

Of course, this is all a guess. I'm not a scientist and I don't play one on TV. :)

Since I doubt I'll ever go 6 months without needing to get something out of the safe for a trip to the range I'll probably never know if this theory works or not.

Joe/Ga
 
Keiller, yes a light bulb would do. But a goldenrod isn't expensive (~$30). Also, ideally you want the heat source at the bottom of the safe (to heat up the air at the bottom of the safe so it rises to the top and exits via the top vent hole). And a light bulb near the bottom of the safe is easy to break. A goldenrod is darn near unbreakable.

But, yes, a light bulb would do.

Jared
 
I was told by my safe dealer and also by my locksmith who sells safes, that guns should not be stored in a "fire rated" safe because the insulation attracts moisture.
MIKE
 
LocnLoad, you sometimes go a week between looking at the goodies in your gun cabinet? I try to at least open the door to look inside daily!

------------------
...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top