SIG Sauer aluminum frames: Corrosion

T

Tactical Jackalope

New member
I had no idea SIG Sauer's aluminum frames could corrode this badly!

I've never had anything remotely close happen to me in the 7 years carrying SIG handguns, in a very humid state and city. Just knowing this raises an eyebrow though. I wasn't aware of the scientific aspect of this mix: aluminum frames, stainless steel slides, and moisture causing this!

SIG Sauer Corrosion

Anyone ever see such a thing? Haha... The things you learn!
 
It'll buff right out.

I was always told never to store a gun in a padded case. Only guns I own that have been stored in a case have been Rugers in their plastic case.

That SIG wow. Just wow never seen anything like that that wasn't submerged.
 
That's pretty intense, right? The aluminum turned into powder.

I mean, I've gotten some surface rust on the decocker and grip screws. Got those coated in TIN and they've been fine ever since. But this is on a whole other level.
 
That is pretty wild. I had a number of SIG's that had frame wear, but nothing even remotely close to that.

The only thing Ive seen rust on the Glocks, has been the night sights and the slide stop, where the finish had worn off.

I would have thought SIG would have worked with them, but then again, it really wasnt their fault. Still, for what they go for these days, I would have expected more.
 
Yuk.
Wrapping a well oiled gun in a silicone soaked cotton rag seems to protect them, even in a foam case.
The tighter the case closes, the better.
I've had good results with this method for as long as 2 years between treatments.
And we live in a high humidity area, too.
 
I agree with the galvanic corrosion theory. I surmise that the foam was saturated in water for some extended period of time, possibly as a result of something like a plugged a/c condensate line, or a leaking attic-mounted hot water heater. A steady drip could be all that it took, since the water would have no way to escape from a closed case.
 
humid in las vegas? lol I dont think so.

The foam had to have been holding water for a long time. Either that or the person who stored them, got them wet with water for some odd reason, and locked them in a foam case where moisture would have a hard time escaping.

Well, that's what you get. :D
 
Wow. The problem with Sig was intense.

I never would have thought this could happen.

Thanks for posting the link to this story.

I could not have resisted calling Sig and getting them to take it back to examine 'a blemish I found in the frame'...

P.S. Who knew HK and Sig had the same customer service reps? :D
 
Cases can become a trap for moisture .The moisture can be from condensation.
For the boat owners here Galvani was an Italian scientist and there are galvanic tables showing the position of more or less active in that type of
corrosion.
But don't store your gun in a case especially one with moisture absorbing foam !
 
I have to think that there is more to that story. I might take it at face value if the guns had been in Miami, but LV is not exactly a sea-coast city (at least not yet). Nor would just storage in a case cause that kind of corrosion. Even a gun that had been handled with sweaty hands would not corrode that badly internally.

The padding had to be wet, probably with salt water, before the guns were placed in the case.

Jim
 
I remember this story popping up in a previous thread not too long ago. I'd second what others said and I'm inclined there's a bit more to the story than is admitted.
 
I have used SKB padded pistol cases, and SKB Dri-Tek padded soft handgun/rifle cases for 12 years.

At one time i stored my guns for 4 years without opening/checking. Blued steel guns, stainless steel guns, rifles from 60+ years ago.

Only proem was organic material breakdown in a grease i had used on rails. Can't remember ame of grease, but it was sold in a kit, and brand is relatively popular. It will come to me. TETRA grease, that was it!

No special treatment before locking them up for so long. Just normal clean/lube.

No rust or other damage.

So. California, but 50-150 miles from any ocean, so dry climate.

Point is that locking/storing guns in foam in right type of case shouldn't cause this type of problem.
 
Closed cell foam is fine for storage. It runs multiple times the price of open cell foam.

He cleaned and sealed them in air conditioning, then stored them in a self-storage locker or similar. In Las Vegas that resulted in a 50*+ temperature swing. The metal was sloppy with condensation in a sealed box. Then the heat rose during the day, and, being a desert, dropped at night. Causing the water to dry and re-condense daily. Submersion isn't that bad. Ships last a century or more submerged. Its the in and out that really does damage.

Active electric... Was the plastic box sliding around at all during storage.
 
When i had to use self-storage, i found a way to pay for climate - controled, as i could not bear thought of heat damage (where i live summer reaches 115 and winter reaches 32).

Too great of risk to my stuff from thermal changes.
 
Foam lined cases are for carrying guns, not for storing them. I have seen the foam react with gun oils to form a corrosive sludge that will eat the finish right off of a gun.
 
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