Mike Irwin
Staff
Well, I'm to the point where I think I'm going to go both golden rod and the silica gel I have in there.
This is getting insane.
This is getting insane.
What are you using in your safe for dehumidification?
- Thread starter Mike Irwin
- Start date
Shane Tuttle
Staff
You have central heat/air in your house, Mike?
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
Mike... I think you need to address the main problem... the basement
if you are talking a home you own, fix the problem...
not going argue geographic differences, but in southern MN heat & humidity is about as bad as it gets, during the summer... ( think 10,000 lakes steaming in the hot summer heat )
I used to have problems... ( my stuff is in the basement as well ) central air conditioning, & 2 large dehumidifiers, & I no longer have a problem... if the air is cool & dry in & around your safe, it will be cool & dry in your safe...
my local builder has several safes in his basement, & he has had many rifles in long term storage for many years now, with nothing but a normal wipe down with an oily rag before putting them away, & has never had a rust issue, running his central air, ducted to the basement, he doesn't even need a dehumidifier, & nothing like silica or golden rod in the safes... I used to oil more heavily, & the guns were OK, but my leather slings & such used to get scuzzy in the safes, with just one dehumidifier, & nothing like silica in the safes... I added 2 extra outlet vents to the heating & AC unit, one in my storage / loading area & a 2nd dehumidifier sitting in my gun safe / reloading area, & I've not had any problems for the last couple years...
IMO, you won't need anything in your safe, if the surrounding air is cool & dry
if you are talking a home you own, fix the problem...
not going argue geographic differences, but in southern MN heat & humidity is about as bad as it gets, during the summer... ( think 10,000 lakes steaming in the hot summer heat )
I used to have problems... ( my stuff is in the basement as well ) central air conditioning, & 2 large dehumidifiers, & I no longer have a problem... if the air is cool & dry in & around your safe, it will be cool & dry in your safe...
my local builder has several safes in his basement, & he has had many rifles in long term storage for many years now, with nothing but a normal wipe down with an oily rag before putting them away, & has never had a rust issue, running his central air, ducted to the basement, he doesn't even need a dehumidifier, & nothing like silica or golden rod in the safes... I used to oil more heavily, & the guns were OK, but my leather slings & such used to get scuzzy in the safes, with just one dehumidifier, & nothing like silica in the safes... I added 2 extra outlet vents to the heating & AC unit, one in my storage / loading area & a 2nd dehumidifier sitting in my gun safe / reloading area, & I've not had any problems for the last couple years...
IMO, you won't need anything in your safe, if the surrounding air is cool & dry
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Mike Irwin
Staff
Forgot about this thread...
Yes, I have central air in the house. But, it's a crappily designed system. It really doesn't run long enough to remove a lot of humidity, especially in the basement, before it cools the house off.
I made a few changes in the basement, and it seems to be working.
Where I have the safe is pretty restricted, so I shut the one door to the back room, opened up a vent over the safe, and put the dehumidifier right there. It seems to have set up a "dry zone" around the safe.
No rust on anything, so I think I'm doing OK.
The DC area is so hot and humid during the summer that, in the days before air conditioning, many European nations classified it as a tropical posting for their diplomats.
In June we had 18 days over 90 deg. F., two days over 100 deg. F, and very high humidity. During the evening hours humidity levels were as high as 75%, during the day it would dip down into the high 50s or low 60s percentage wise.
This whole area is pretty much swamp (DC was a reclaimed bottom land swamp), and we get coastal humidity and Gulf of Mexico humidity.
It's not at all uncommon to have a very hot and humid day with a thunderstorm where there's rain coming down, bright, strong sun, and water vapor cooking off the ground to produce a ground mist, all happening at the same time.
Yes, I have central air in the house. But, it's a crappily designed system. It really doesn't run long enough to remove a lot of humidity, especially in the basement, before it cools the house off.
I made a few changes in the basement, and it seems to be working.
Where I have the safe is pretty restricted, so I shut the one door to the back room, opened up a vent over the safe, and put the dehumidifier right there. It seems to have set up a "dry zone" around the safe.
No rust on anything, so I think I'm doing OK.
The DC area is so hot and humid during the summer that, in the days before air conditioning, many European nations classified it as a tropical posting for their diplomats.
In June we had 18 days over 90 deg. F., two days over 100 deg. F, and very high humidity. During the evening hours humidity levels were as high as 75%, during the day it would dip down into the high 50s or low 60s percentage wise.
This whole area is pretty much swamp (DC was a reclaimed bottom land swamp), and we get coastal humidity and Gulf of Mexico humidity.
It's not at all uncommon to have a very hot and humid day with a thunderstorm where there's rain coming down, bright, strong sun, and water vapor cooking off the ground to produce a ground mist, all happening at the same time.
The Brits said it was sub-tropical 200 years ago, but that's splitting hairs. I went to high school in Rockville fwiw.
Richmond is at least as humid and my basement has leaks through the 14-inch-thick solid brick walls when it rains really hard. It was built in 1916 in what is now the Museum District. My house does not have central AC. A large safe is in the unfinished basement next to the water heater and boiler for the radiator system and the guns are fine after many years.
I use 2 Golden Rods and wipe my guns down lightly with a Rig Rag. You can't even see the grease or really even feel it unless you're looking for it. Once a year I throw some vapor chips (or those Remington vapor emitting plastic bore thingies - whatever is on sale) in the safe too.
One GR is across the front of the floor by the bottom of the door and one is at right angles running front to back under the shelves. I pulled the shelves away from the back wall a 1/4 of an inch or so for better air circulation.
I have some in-the-white steel scraps in the safe playing mine canary. No rust or discoloration at all.
It gets really humid in the basement when I run the washing machine, but then the gas dryer pumps some of it outside.
John
edited to add: I initially tried the 2 Golden Rods AND a large tub of flower drying crystals AND a large box of the crystals that are sold for gun safes. I never got the crystals to last as long as a week, so I gave them away.
Richmond is at least as humid and my basement has leaks through the 14-inch-thick solid brick walls when it rains really hard. It was built in 1916 in what is now the Museum District. My house does not have central AC. A large safe is in the unfinished basement next to the water heater and boiler for the radiator system and the guns are fine after many years.
I use 2 Golden Rods and wipe my guns down lightly with a Rig Rag. You can't even see the grease or really even feel it unless you're looking for it. Once a year I throw some vapor chips (or those Remington vapor emitting plastic bore thingies - whatever is on sale) in the safe too.
One GR is across the front of the floor by the bottom of the door and one is at right angles running front to back under the shelves. I pulled the shelves away from the back wall a 1/4 of an inch or so for better air circulation.
I have some in-the-white steel scraps in the safe playing mine canary. No rust or discoloration at all.
It gets really humid in the basement when I run the washing machine, but then the gas dryer pumps some of it outside.
John
edited to add: I initially tried the 2 Golden Rods AND a large tub of flower drying crystals AND a large box of the crystals that are sold for gun safes. I never got the crystals to last as long as a week, so I gave them away.
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Mike Irwin
Staff
"The Brits said it was sub-tropical 200 years ago"
And the French, and the Prussians...
Not just 200 years ago. It was still considered to be a tropical posting in diplomatic services as late as the 1930s.
I've not invested in a Golden Rod yet, and as long as things continue to be fine as they are I don't think that I will.
And the French, and the Prussians...
Not just 200 years ago. It was still considered to be a tropical posting in diplomatic services as late as the 1930s.
I've not invested in a Golden Rod yet, and as long as things continue to be fine as they are I don't think that I will.
James R. Burke
New member
I have a damp basement. Just keep them wiped off with Rem Oil, and make sure there are no finger markes on them. Never had a problem.
I have used the DampRid, but stopped as I believe it actually draws in the moisture from outside air through the door/safe seam. I just use the rechargeable silica gel with a Goldenrod and have a humidity monitor with memory so it will list the min/max of temp and humidity. The latest silica that I bought can be recharged with a standard oven or a microwave (much quicker), but watch that the one you buy can be used in a microwave, not all of them can be.
My safe is in the basement and I have had no problems with rust thus far despite moderate dampness. Unfortunately, I have no way of installing an Goldenrod or heated lightsource without drilling into it somehow, so I get by using the following precautions.
1. I keep all my guns and mags wiped down with Breakfree/CLP, even the stainless. Figured it couldn't hurt.
2. I used a vapor shield with this Bullfrog product (VCP). It's very cheap and you can use it up to a year before needing to replace it.
3. I have four of these Remington mini Dehumidiers sitting on various shelves in the safe. They are convenient and are much more easy to recharge than standard desiccant packs. Note: these are the same units that mikejonetkd posted, only branded by Remington.
1. I keep all my guns and mags wiped down with Breakfree/CLP, even the stainless. Figured it couldn't hurt.
2. I used a vapor shield with this Bullfrog product (VCP). It's very cheap and you can use it up to a year before needing to replace it.
3. I have four of these Remington mini Dehumidiers sitting on various shelves in the safe. They are convenient and are much more easy to recharge than standard desiccant packs. Note: these are the same units that mikejonetkd posted, only branded by Remington.
I posted about VCI materials before and think they may be a cost effective useful addition to the layers of protection in a humid situation. Basically, it is the same type of thing as the Bull Frog material posted about by Brian48. but there are versions that last 1,2 up to 5 years actually. what I posted about was a product called Zerust I found at Lowe's (they also make the Kobalt tool chest anti-corrosion liner) but there are other companies that make similar product. From my limited research it is effective and pretty inexpensive.
For us non techie types, what % of humidity would have to be constant to start rust. We are in PA and yes it is humid. I run the a/c when it is hot do not like a/c rather have the breeze but this summer has been hot so the a/c is on.
I have a dehumidfier in the same room as the safe and my electronic meter reads 45-50% most of the time in the room.
The safe is not opened much and so far I do not see any rust.
Just curious how high is too high
I have a dehumidfier in the same room as the safe and my electronic meter reads 45-50% most of the time in the room.
The safe is not opened much and so far I do not see any rust.
Just curious how high is too high