Corrosion concern: wood dowels rifle rod storage?
- Thread starter wiscoaster
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wiscoaster
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I looked into the arrow shafts option ($$$$$$) and decided to go with: wood dowels, glued end knobs, heat treated, BLO coated, paste wax coated. I figure this is going to be the best combination (or compromise) of cost, time, effort and benefit. Thanks to everyone for the information, options, and education!! 
I also decided to move the whole works into, and convert for security, yet another closet, which makes even more expansion possible:
View attachment 1073802
I also decided to move the whole works into, and convert for security, yet another closet, which makes even more expansion possible:
View attachment 1073802
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herrwalther
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Only change I would have made would be to add a dedicated wood sealer in addition to the BLO and wax. But when it comes to wood work and firearms, I tend to be redundantly redundant.
.45Coltguy
Member
wiscoaster, I've been using a wooden dowel in my son's CZ 452 .22 for YEARS so it will stand up in my safe. Wiped it[dowel] with Hoppe's gun oil a few times, No problems in the bore at all.
You should be fine with your original plan.
You should be fine with your original plan.
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BigBlue 94
Member
Way late to the party, but MSCdirect has HDPE and UHMW rods in all sorts of diameters. But it can warp... I ordered a 3 ft piece of 1" UHMW rod and it showed up looking like a bow without an arrow. Good thing i didnt need long pieces. The problem with some plastics is they off-gas and that could cause other detrimental effects. Im not a plastic expert so i cant say which ones do this.
A local metal supplier could sell you 1/4" aluminum for probably a third the price of arrow shafts. 3031 aluminum would be ideal as it is super soft.
If using dowels, i would opt for maple. Birch would also suffice. Take a piece of 1" PVC pipe, and cap one end off. Fill 2/3s full with BLO. Dip the rods and let them soak over night. Hang to dry for a nice long while. Letting them soak will allow the oil to penetrate very deep, possibly all the way through. If all the pores are full of cured oil, there is nowhere for moisture to gather. Obviously this is not a fast project... Mahogany is one of the best woods to soak like this due to the grain structure it has. Maple would soak up the least oil.
A local metal supplier could sell you 1/4" aluminum for probably a third the price of arrow shafts. 3031 aluminum would be ideal as it is super soft.
If using dowels, i would opt for maple. Birch would also suffice. Take a piece of 1" PVC pipe, and cap one end off. Fill 2/3s full with BLO. Dip the rods and let them soak over night. Hang to dry for a nice long while. Letting them soak will allow the oil to penetrate very deep, possibly all the way through. If all the pores are full of cured oil, there is nowhere for moisture to gather. Obviously this is not a fast project... Mahogany is one of the best woods to soak like this due to the grain structure it has. Maple would soak up the least oil.
Yep, for the very reason you stated. I'll add small wood dowel strength would be another.
OTOH, you can get fiberglass rods that should do the job for you. Not as cheap as wood (which you could seal with urethane floor coating), but good strength, a variety of lengths and diameters, glueable.
Delrin is tough yet very machinable. I've made all kinds of stuff with it to include straightener pads for steel roll forming mills to straighten out the final parts as they come of the mill. You can also thread Delrin too. I would use coarse threads only, which goes for any type of plastic or acrylic.
Buzznrose
Member
Okay, this is a perceived problem that I really don’t think is a problem.
OP thought the plastic rifle rods were too flimsy, but did he actually use them?
I’ve used rifle rods in my safe for years. They work great for my rifles.
I will say if you have a short rifle and a tall shelf, I have placed wood boards on the safe floor (as needed) to raise the rifle so the muzzle is closer to the shelf, but that’s only for a few lever and youth size rifles.
I suggest trying them for a while prior to trying to improve on a product that generally gets great reviews…
https://www.google.com/search?q=rif...2ahUKEwi9nKLtjbb5AhVRl2oFHQAYC74Q5Y0GegQIEhAF
OP thought the plastic rifle rods were too flimsy, but did he actually use them?
I’ve used rifle rods in my safe for years. They work great for my rifles.
I will say if you have a short rifle and a tall shelf, I have placed wood boards on the safe floor (as needed) to raise the rifle so the muzzle is closer to the shelf, but that’s only for a few lever and youth size rifles.
I suggest trying them for a while prior to trying to improve on a product that generally gets great reviews…
https://www.google.com/search?q=rif...2ahUKEwi9nKLtjbb5AhVRl2oFHQAYC74Q5Y0GegQIEhAF
wiscoaster
Member
Yes.
The main objection is the velcro attachment method. And secondarily, not too flimsy, but rather too flexible.
The wood dowels were heat-dried, BLO-sealed and then waxed. They work perfectly. And I have no more concerns. Strength is a non-issue. Similarly sealed wooden rifle stocks are in contact with gun metal for a hundred years without causing corrosion.
Buzznrose
Member
Okay. Was not trying to tell you what to do.
Just saying the plastic rods work great for my safe.
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