Goldenrod or mini rechargable dehumidifier

Which dehumidifier

  • Goldenrod

    Votes: 21 75.0%

  • mini rechargeable dehumidifier

    Votes: 7 25.0%
  • Total voters
    28
  • Poll closed .
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J

joepa150

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Jan 5, 2011
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I have decided not to buy any silica packets or anything that I have to recharge in the oven. I am going to buy either one of these. Have own a Liberty safe that is 6.3 cubic feet on the inside (12 cubic feet on the outside which doesn't matter).

Golden rod
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/11...humidifier-rod-with-detachable-plug-110v-gold

or

Stackon, Remington, Evadry type
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/59...-dehumidifier-400-gram-protects-30-cubic-feet

http://www.amazon.com/Eva-dry-EDV--...XFD2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1321578121&sr=8-5

If they are both about the same effectiveness, I would rather have the mini dehumidier since I will not have to run a wire into my safe (a cleaner look imo).

Also anyone know if Evadry is any better than the stackon or remington?

I see Midwayusa has two types of Goldenrods (both come in various lengths). One has a 10 ft cord that isn't listed as detachable (cheaper but not as many reviews) and one that has a detachable 6ft cord (has more reviews). Anyone know the difference?
 
The Golden rod has been in my safe for 24 years and is still working very well, and have never had any moisture or rust problems. Have never used anything else.
 
I'm a do-it-yourself type of guy. I've tried both systems using homemade components. For the desiccant system get the crystal type kitty litter. The price is unbeatable. For the electric, here are a few workables: The simplest is to get an Edison style light bulb of a wattage equal to the goldenrod that will do your safe (any question here is to go a bit higher wattage). The only problems here is that the light bulb will get hot enough to burn you or char some things so it should be in work light style cage and, the typical bulbs have a finite life. The solution to both of these problems is to use a low cost light dimmer that you can plug in to the receptacle and use a 100-150 watt bulb and dim the bulb (reduce the power) while measuring the power into the dimmer. You can buy a cheap watt miser style power meter being widely advertised to determine the watt use or ask around your friends for somebody that has an AC ammeter (for a cheap clamp-on style ammeter, wrap the wire around the jaw 10 times and divide the measurement by 10). Watt = Volts X Amps. Matching the wattage exactly is not necessary. A 150W bulb consuming 20 watts will barely glow if even glow at all and not get too hot. Buy a Bakelite lamp socket and a lamp cord and run the cord end through a small hole in your safe wall before hooking it up to the lamp socket and put the bulb at the bottom of your safe. Some safes have the plug and receptacle already built in. The bulb will last your lifetime at this low wattage if you don't break it trying to cram things in. I used this setup for over 10 years with the same bulb before I broke the bulb. I then went to a 500 watt ceramic resister. Ceramic resisters are very expensive but mine was free out of a piece of discarded equipment.
 
A Goldenrod, or the less expensive Gunsaver, installed in accordance to instructions, not only keeps rust asleep, but saves you the time and bother of recharging dessicant canisters.
 
Given an Either/Or scenario I would probably go with the heater option.

While it only increases the water vapor capacity of the air and does nothing to remove water vapor, by keeping the interior a couple of degrees warmer it helps protect the contents of the gunsafe from the water vapor in outside air when you open the door.

In my gunsafes I have both heaters (goldenrod-type) & rechargeable desiccant units (Eva-dry) ... and one small fan in each just to maintain some constant air movement (they also add a bit of heat).

Since I sealed the gunsafe doors with foam weatherstripping & deployed a dehumidifier in the basement (I turn it on whenever the RH in the basement gets to 57/58%), I have not needed to use the Eva-drys very often since the RH levels in the gunsafes rarely reach 50%.
 
26 years with my goldenrod. Zero issues. To install, I drilled a small hole in the back of the safe and I cut the plug end off an extension cord, ran it thru the hole and attached a replacement plug end. I used a small short length of rubber hose as a ferrule to protect the cord as it passed into the safe.
 
If you want to save a few bucks over a Golden Rod, check out Dri-Rod. I have one in my safe....What ever you choose, spend 5-10 bucks and buy a hygrometer to monitor the humidity in your safe.
 
I bought the Remington that's in the link. I found it at Gander Mtn. on sale for 17.99.

I've been using it for about 3 years with no issues, just plug it in about once every two weeks or whenever the beads turn pink, for about 8 hours, the beads will turn dark blue, and stick it back in the safe.

I usually plug it in before I go to work and put it back in the safe the following morning.
 
No choice for "none".

I have nothing in my safe for desicating and have never needed anything at all for about ten years.

Guns are in perfect shape.

Dan
 
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