jetsfan-24
Member
hey guys what would b the ideal temp and humidity for guns and ammunition inside a safe or vault ?
gun safe humidity
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
According to the NRA:
50% humidity at 70 degrees is considered ideal "Arms Museum" storage conditions.
Any dryer then that, and you will have problems with wood stocks drying out and shrinking / checking.
Actually, if you don't have wide daily temperature swings in your house to cause condensation on the metal, whatever the humidity is, is probably just fine. (Unless you live on a sea-coast with salt-spray air.)
I have had a bunch of nice guns stored in cabinets without any humidity control here in Kansas for years without any rust problems at all.
In spring & fall, indoor humidity may reach 65-70% or more.
In winter, we run a furnace humidifier to raise the humidity in the house.
But my guns are wiped down with R.I.G. after every handling, and my home is heated and air conditioned mostly year around, at a constant temperature so condensation is just never going to happen.
In winter, when I bring a gun indoors, I just leave it out in open air with a ceiling fan running until it has reached room temperature, wipe it down with a Rig-Rag, and put it away.
I've never had a rusty gun in over 55 years of storing them this way!
rc
50% humidity at 70 degrees is considered ideal "Arms Museum" storage conditions.
Any dryer then that, and you will have problems with wood stocks drying out and shrinking / checking.
Actually, if you don't have wide daily temperature swings in your house to cause condensation on the metal, whatever the humidity is, is probably just fine. (Unless you live on a sea-coast with salt-spray air.)
I have had a bunch of nice guns stored in cabinets without any humidity control here in Kansas for years without any rust problems at all.
In spring & fall, indoor humidity may reach 65-70% or more.
In winter, we run a furnace humidifier to raise the humidity in the house.
But my guns are wiped down with R.I.G. after every handling, and my home is heated and air conditioned mostly year around, at a constant temperature so condensation is just never going to happen.
In winter, when I bring a gun indoors, I just leave it out in open air with a ceiling fan running until it has reached room temperature, wipe it down with a Rig-Rag, and put it away.
I've never had a rusty gun in over 55 years of storing them this way!
rc
Milkmaster
Member
RC has it right. Even in the humid south, a home that has central air and heat should not have moisture problems unless something is wrong. That's exactly why my gun safes are all inside the home and not in the garage etc. Good Luck!
Edit: That being said...in the south where I am my tools often sweat and are visibly wet inside the roll around tool cabinet on certain humid mornings. Those tools are in a shed where the humidity and temps are the same as outdoors etc.
Edit: That being said...in the south where I am my tools often sweat and are visibly wet inside the roll around tool cabinet on certain humid mornings. Those tools are in a shed where the humidity and temps are the same as outdoors etc.
Husker1911
Member
I keep a perforated container of silicon gel in my safe:
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...ure-absorbent-packs/silica-gel-prod56984.aspx
LOCKDOWN Silica absorbs moisture from the air inside a vault or storage area preventing condensation, mildew and rust from damaging valuable firearms. Crystals change color once fully saturated and can be easily recharged in the oven.
Absorbs moisture from the air
Easily recharged in oven
Durable vented can provides protection for up to 57 cubic feet
Breathable bag provides protection for up to 33 cubic feet
As the silica absorbs moisture, the kernels in the top sight-window will change color from purple to pink. That's the indicator to gently bake the moisture out and recharge the moisture-absorbing qualities of the can 'o silica.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...ure-absorbent-packs/silica-gel-prod56984.aspx
LOCKDOWN Silica absorbs moisture from the air inside a vault or storage area preventing condensation, mildew and rust from damaging valuable firearms. Crystals change color once fully saturated and can be easily recharged in the oven.
Absorbs moisture from the air
Easily recharged in oven
Durable vented can provides protection for up to 57 cubic feet
Breathable bag provides protection for up to 33 cubic feet
As the silica absorbs moisture, the kernels in the top sight-window will change color from purple to pink. That's the indicator to gently bake the moisture out and recharge the moisture-absorbing qualities of the can 'o silica.
a1abdj
Member
Don't forget that too dry can be just as bad as too moist. If you already have ideal or low humidity, you do not want to use a desiccant which will remove more moisture out of the air.
herrwalther
Member
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The inside of my safe stays around 65 degrees F and 45-50% humidity year round. I yet to have an issue with rust buildup. I found using dessicant by itself is very ineffective if you live in humid or tropical climates. I have enough dessicant in my safe (2100 grams in 3 containers) for a safe almost 3 times the size and still had rust issue. I then added a Golden Rod (knockoff but same concept) and haven't had an issue since.
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