Dehumidifier

[hso]

Goldenrod and similar "dehumidifiers" are resistance heaters to keep the enclosure and contents above the temp moisture might condense on your items.



A real safe dehumidifier has to pull moisture out of the space and trap or remove it. I've used silica gel bags for years, but you have to rotate them through your oven on a schedule for several hours to drive the moisture out of the silica. I switched to the plug in Eva-Dry because I can pull one out of the safe and plug it in overnight right there and replace it in the morning. With two like I have (well, 3 in my case) you can just rotate them on a schedule and the silica will keep up with the moisture in the safe.



Newer technology to moisture and temperature management is anti-corrosion products like WD40 Specialist an anti corrosion spray you apply to your guns/knives or anti-corrosion vapor emitter products like Zrust that you leave in the safe for months. Not oil, but specially formulated product. I keep a zerust capsule in the safe and I spay my guns "living" in the safe before they go in.

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If you're fortunate to have a room for storage you can run a standard dehumidifier and snake a drain out. We put one up on a wall mount and ran the tube through the wall to drain. With the hole sealed the dehumidifier runs continuously draining out of the room.

A lot of "tried and true" products have worked for us for decades, but not in all environments. Some of these new products fill those gaps.

 

[bassjam]

I used Eva-dry for years but you NEED to get on a schedule because they fill up fast. I found too often I wasn't opening my safe often enough to recharge it, rendering it basically useless. I switched to a golden rod several years ago. With most of my guns I never had much of an issue with corrosion anyway, but I notice with the golden rod that my 870 express stays more rust free than it used to. My safe is in my basement office, one hydrometer on the wall is reading 52% and the other above my monitors is reading 54%.

 

[hso]

you NEED to get on a schedule

Yep. You have to be on a schedule with desiccants and you need to have enough to rotate through that schedule.

I keep my safe in an HVAC constant temp & humidity controlled space, spray everything in it with the WD Specialist, keep Zrust capsules in it, and desiccant. .

 

[The Night Rider]

I have a Sportsman's Warehouse version of a Goldenrod and an Evadry and I keep a barometer in my safe.

The humidity level in my safe rarely gets above 25%

 

[W.E.G.]

It has been non-stop raining in Virginia and North Carolina recently.

I found rust on some reloading dies I recently acquired, but have yet to use.




Everything gets a CLP enema!



I got drowned during an Excellence in Competition (leg match) at Camp Butner last week.
The only thing I was "EXCELLENT" at was getting me and all my gear 100% soaked.

I bought a new dehumidifier on the way home.
Figured it would be a bad idea to let the expensive shooting jacket, and everything else mildew.
I pretty much got everything stacked by the dehumidifier, and box fan. I think I did a good job drying out the important stuff.

Then I found my EARPLUGS that I'd left in the garage in a little Sierra Bullets cardboard box.
I don't even want to know what is that RED STUFF growing on them.

 

[balin]

I have used a goldenrod, couple Eva-drys and a hygrometer in each of my gun safes I have in my garage. And in almost 20 years I have had no issues with corrosion.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

X2 in using a hygrometer. It takes the guess work humidity control.

 

[GBExpat]

I have used a goldenrod, couple Eva-drys and a hygrometer in each of my gun safes I have in my garage. And in almost 20 years I have had no issues with corrosion.

Parallels my experience except that mine are in the basement. I also added a small 24/7 "desk" fan to each safe to maintain some air movement ... with a side benefit of a little extra heat to help minimize the possibility of condensation.

BTW, my 70pint Dehumidifier "lives" in the basement and I start cycling it nightly ... just about NOW (last night was 1st time this season) when I see that the RH down there is advancing past 55%.

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

OP, How did you get your goldenrod to mount vertically?

I have those also + old tube socks filled with silica cat litter that can be recharged in the oven.