Southern Climates & Reloading .....

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I'm in Southeast Fla, just north of Miami. I reload in my garage. I haven't had any issues with rust/corrosion on the tools. It does get warm in there in the middle of summer, but it's bearable. The garage is mostly underneath the second floor, and I added insulation to the door, so it stays a bit cooler. I use a floor fan when it's really warm, but other than that, I don't mind much.
And, yeah, the AC runs year long. Part of what it does is remove the moisture out of the air. Which is needed.
 
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jmr40 said:
I live in N GA. I have a room/office/ play room, etc. What ever you call it where I have my computer, loading gear, most of my hunting gear, and ammo storage. It is in the main part of the house and climate controlled.

We get all 4 seasons here. From December to March it can be cold. I burn a bunch of firewood that really prevents the central heat from coming on for most of the day. April to June you can keep the windows open and run neither AC or Heat for the most part. July-September the AC is on all of the time. Humidity can be brutal. October and most of November is usually OK with very little AC. I may, or may not start burning wood and using the heat in late November but almost always do by December.
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Sounds like North Carolina.
My A/C is set for 72 year around, 45% humidy.
I also load in a climate controlled room. My tools in the garage don't rust though. Same with my shed.
Humidity doesn't hurt anything, me touching it with sweaty hands does.
 
Here in Seattle, everything rust! Salty water mist air and the non stop rain. Florida here I come… SOON
 
Mark_Mark said:
Here in Seattle, everything rust! Salty water mist air and the non stop rain
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I share your pain. My area gets 80"-100" of rain annually and 100% humidity is the norm during rainy season and during drier summer, it's 40-60% humidity unless coastal fog rolls in. :p

But I love the 100'+ redwood trees and cool 60s summer climate especially when I used to shoot in 100F+ summer heat in central valley of CA.

So I have become fast friends with WD-40 Specialist rated for salt water (Tested to not rust up to a year) and all the tools get sprayed regularly with it.
 
I guess what is humid and what is dry is all perspective. I read the above entries including the one that said 50% was dry, and chuckled. I would be dying in the summer at 50%. I thought it was dry here until I went to Iraq. Now I know what dry is. Anyway, an afternoon humidity of 20 to 30 is pretty normal where I live. What I do know about Florida, Louisiana, and the like, is that if you are going to have bullet stability problems, those states are where it will happen. Can't get lower without going to Death Valley.
 
HowieG said:
I guess what is humid and what is dry is all perspective. I read the above entries including the one that said 50% was dry, and chuckled. I would be dying in the summer at 50%. I thought it was dry here until I went to Iraq. Now I know what dry is. Anyway, an afternoon humidity of 20 to 30 is pretty normal where I live. What I do know about Florida, Louisiana, and the like, is that if you are going to have bullet stability problems, those states are where it will happen. Can't get lower without going to Death Valley.
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I was about to say, nothing is dryer then Death Valley, been there once and it’s HOT and dry.. suck the life out of you. On a preservation note, those high desert are great for preservation, they found a 1873 Winchester that was sitting there for over 100 years. Still in a decent state for conservation
 
LiveLife said:
I share your pain. My area gets 80"-100" of rain annually and 100% humidity is the norm during rainy season and during drier summer, it's 40-60% humidity unless coastal fog rolls in. :p

But I love the 100'+ redwood trees and cool 60s summer climate especially when I used to shoot in 100F+ summer heat in central valley of CA.

So I have become fast friends with WD-40 Specialist rated for salt water (Tested to not rust up to a year) and all the tools get sprayed regularly with it.
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WD-40 protects up to 1 years… never wound have guest
 
Mark_Mark said:
WD-40 protects up to 1 years… never wound have guest
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Not the regular WD-40 but WD-40 Specialist.

And there are several types of WD-40 Specialist. You want the one that's tested for salt water (says right on the can) - WD-40 Specialist 6.5 oz. Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor

21 day outdoor rust test - https://dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

 
LiveLife said:
Not the regular WD-40 but WD-40 Specialist.

And there are several types of WD-40 Specialist. You want the one that's tested for salt water (says right on the can) - WD-40 Specialist 6.5 oz. Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor

21 day outdoor rust test - https://dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667
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Every lock I buy gets exactly that inside and out before it’s snapped in place outside. Gulf breezes tend to be salty. Not like the Atlantic or Pacific coasts but still just a mite. It gums up the works a little but that’s better than frozen solid with rust.
 
I am an aviation guy. What we use on planes is ACF 50. Works to prevent rust and aluminum corrosion. Comes in handy on cars and trucks.
 
Mark_Mark said:
I was about to say, nothing is dryer then Death Valley, been there once and it’s HOT and dry.. suck the life out of you. On a preservation note, those high desert are great for preservation, they found a 1873 Winchester that was sitting there for over 100 years. Still in a decent state for conservation
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Yeah, saw that. 132 years out in the Nevada desert. Love to know the story of why the owner had to leave his rifle.
 
Here in TX, I have a room in my house where I reload and keep components. When I was a kid I kept the stuff I’m my closet when not in use, presses were mounted to 4x4 blocks of wood that were quick to clamp into the bench vise on the steel work table in the garage.
 
Mark_Mark said:
WD-40 protects up to 1 years… never wound have guest
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After we bought our retirement properties at the coast in 2014/2015 where 60%-100% humidity is the norm, I found everything rusted - Chrome Vanadium and stainless steel tools in the pole barn and even stainless steel gun parts stored inside the house.

21 day outdoor rust test - https://dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667​

I had been using BreakFree CLP and motor oil for gun parts but after reading this extensive comparison of lubricants and other comparison tests where WD-40 Specialist kept coming out on top, I bought a can to try and now use it on all my tools and guns.

LiveLife said:
And there are several types of WD-40 Specialist. You want the one that's tested for salt water (says right on the can) - WD-40 Specialist 6.5 oz. Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor
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There are several different versions of "WD-40 Specialist" including the one made with silicone. You want the "Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor" version with manufacturer's product number 300035 - https://www.homedepot.com/p/WD-40-S...-Rust-Spray-300035/300719560#product-overview

"A long-lasting rust preventative that protects metal parts, blocking rust and corrosion for up to 1 year outdoors or 2 years indoors. WD-40 Specialist® Corrosion Inhibitor is an anti-rust spray ideal for preventative maintenance and uses in extreme environments such as high humidity. It provides non-drying protection that stays where you spray it. A must have for corrosion protection.
  • Protects against rust and corrosion 40x longer than competition*
  • Blocks rust and corrosion for up to 2-years when used indoors and for up to 1-year when used outdoors, the formula clings to metal and protects it from air and moisture
  • Recommended for preventative maintenance or for protection in corrosive environments, such as hot and highly humid or cold, and wintery atmospheres
  • Included straw creates a precision stream of lubricant for controlled application and fastens to the notched cap for secure storage
  • Non-drying lubricant does not run and says where you spray it, 50-state VOC compliant and NSF category A7
  • *Test Lab: Petro-Lubricant Laboratories Inc. (Lafayette, NJ); ASTM B117; Test date: 05/2020"
 
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I live in NC about 70 miles from the coast, average humidity about 71% year round. Usually around 50-60% late fall to early spring, and much much higher in the summer months.
I have AC in my detached building/reloading room to cut down on moisture, and it's set on 70* and runs pretty much from late march till November.
Before the AC there were many times I went into the shop around mid morning as the sun was warming stuff up and my tools and stuff would be covered in condensation.
 
Mark_Mark said:
Dreams of the old West, I bet it was a miserable existence
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I am old enough that my grand parents and great grand parents lived it. My grandmother certainly never told me any horror stories about it, but I would imagine that is a case of rose colored glasses and the old days always being better than modern times. Except for the walked-through-the-snow-uphill-both-ways-to-school sort of stories, of course. I imagine the bad stuff always fades over time. My older cousin actually had polio, for god's sake. Old enough to be slightly before the vaccine.
 
Jim Watson said:
Here in Alabama I have always reloaded in air conditioning.
Easy on tools, guns, components, me.
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I started in a shed with no A/C, no matter what I did, stuff rusted. The wife let me move inside when we moved to where we are now. No more issues, but I do let guns sit awhile after a range trip to acclimate to the different temp/humidity, and wipe them down with a Rig Rag before putting them in the safe.
 
HowieG said:
Mark_Mark said:
nothing is dryer then Death Valley, been there once and it’s HOT and dry.. suck the life out of you ... they found a 1873 Winchester that was sitting there for over 100 years.
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132 years out in the Nevada desert. Love to know the story of why the owner had to leave his rifle.
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I grew up in Los Angeles area (Arcadia) and friends and I would frequently drive up to Red Rock Canyon area (south of Death Valley) to ride dirt bikes and dune buggies. After I got married living in central valley of CA (Visalia), wife (who grew up riding dirt bikes and shooting guns) and I continued expanding our desert camping trips to Red Rock Canyon area with quads and 4x4s (while shooting after riding) along with trips to desert and coastal (Oceano/Pismo) sand dunes using paddle tires. (Good times)

Yes, Death Valley and surrounding areas can get very HOT and stay DRY so maintaining good hydration (Sipping water all day long is key) is essential to survival as dehydration and heat exhaustion/stroke can set in FAST.

Likely anyone who left their firearm out in the open had more pressing issues on hand like serious medical or life-or-death issues that prompted them to "get the heck out" without their guns. Perhaps gun owner succumbed to dehydration/heat injury and became delirious and didn't care about leaving the gun. Just like many Western movies where desert heat fries your brain and you start seeing mirages and landscape moving around IS REAL as even with mild dehydration and heat exhaustion I have experienced made me not think clearly (But if you ask my wife of 28 years, I don't think clearly even on a good day :p).
 
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LiveLife said:
I grew up in Los Angeles area (Arcadia) and friends and I would frequently drive up to Red Rock Canyon area (south of Death Valley) to ride dirt bikes and dune buggies. After I got married living in central valley of CA (Visalia), wife (who grew up riding dirt bikes and shooting guns) and I continued expanding our desert camping trips to Red Rock Canyon area with Quads and 4x4s (while shooting after riding) along with trips to desert and coastal (Oceano/Pismo) sand dunes using paddle tires. (Good times)

Yes, Death Valley and surrounding areas can get very HOT and stay DRY so maintaining good hydration (Sipping water all day long is key) is essential to survival as dehydration and heat exhaustion/stroke can set in FAST.

Likely anyone who left their firearm out in the open had more pressing issues on hand like serious medical or life-or-death issues that prompted them to "get the heck out" without their guns. Perhaps gun owner succumbed to dehydration/heat injury and became delirious and didn't care about leaving the gun. Just like many Western movies where desert heat fries your brain and you start seeing mirages and landscape moving around IS REAL as even with mild dehydration and heat exhaustion I have experienced made me not think clearly (But if you ask my wife of 28 years, I don't think clearly even on a good day :p).
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So that is what happened to me. Brain is fried. Well, that and alcohol. Thanks for the enlightenment.;) One of the memories that has stuck with me from Iraq are the hundreds of pallets of bottled water that were sitting everywhere on the FOBs.
 
Powders and primers are in my computer room with A/C. WD-40 on the metal reloading equipment keeps the rust away and I put silca gel or desiccant packs in the storage containers for the various parts that go with the reloading equipment.
 
geosigma said:
Hello All:

I'm an avid reloader and am approaching retirement. I live in "Sunny" Ohio and am contemplating moving after retirement to Florida (or points south).

With the humidity in the south - what do you all (y'all?) do with your reloading equipment / powders / items sensitive to rust & humidity?

Since I won't have a basement; not sure how this would work. Not running the A/C for 12 mo.

Tx-

George
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I guess I would be remiss if I don't say just move to Van Horn, Texas instead. Stuff don't rust in Van Horn.:)
 
HowieG said:
So that is what happened to me ... Brain is fried ... One of the memories that has stuck with me from Iraq are the hundreds of pallets of bottled water that were sitting everywhere on the FOBs.
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As an ex Army medic, I can tell you that you also experienced quite a bit from various experimental vaccines and anti toxin/nerve/chemical agents we high pressure injected into your arms (cocktail of several into each arm) along with stress of combat (PTSD) that can be lifelong in addition to having your brain fried from desert heat and concussion brain injury from explosions/blast shock waves not to mention hearing loss.

Do you have constant ringing in your ears and/or have hard time hearing? Contact your local veterans office and have your hearing checked. Once documented, there's a monthly check you will be receiving.

Scroll to bottom of link for step-by-step testing and compensation - https://www.operationmilitarykids.org/va-disability-for-hearing-loss-guide/

And thank you for your service.
 
LiveLife said:
As an ex Army medic, I can tell you that you also experienced quite a bit from various experimental vaccines and anti toxin/nerve/chemical agents we high pressure injected into your arms (cocktail of several into each arm) along with stress of combat (PTSD) that can be lifelong in addition to having your brain fried from desert heat and concussion brain injury from explosions/blast shock waves not to mention hearing loss.

Do you have constant ringing in your ears and/or have hard time hearing? Contact your local veterans office and have your hearing checked. Once documented, there's a monthly check you will be receiving.

Scroll to bottom of link for step-by-step testing and compensation - https://www.operationmilitarykids.org/va-disability-for-hearing-loss-guide/

And thank you for your service.
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I was well past my army combat wombat days by then (1974-81). I was 57 at the time. No experimental vaccines for me. Last one of those was swine flu back in 1975. I was over on an Air Force contract to try to teach Iraqi Air Force types about airplanes (yeah right). There was all of that god awful stuff in the air. I imagine that will get me eventually, if nothing else does. No up close and personal stuff with IEDs so no ear problems of that nature thankfully. Only ringing would be from Prayer Call from the dozen mosques surrounding the FOB. Lot's of incoming. Airplanes and people and buildings hit. I wasn't. Just another year and a quarter in life's big adventure.
 
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