Keeping a Safe Dry

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How do you folks that use a relatively airtight safe (one of those fire resistant ones) keep it dry on the inside? I'm considering the damp-rid type closet drying setup. It's based on calcium chloride, which will draw a decent amount of moisture out of the air.

I'd hate to have a gun get corroded from moisture, which I've heard can happen.

Thanks
 
check to see if the manufacturer of the safe has a dehumidifyer system. many times they do. if not i think liberty safe company makes a decent one.
 
If it is a fire rated document safe, you can not keep the moisture out. The moisture is how the safe is designed to protects its paper contents during a fire. The insulation in those safes is like a sponge.
 
a1abdj said:
If it is a fire rated document safe, you can not keep the moisture out. The moisture is how the safe is designed to protects its paper contents during a fire. The insulation in those safes is like a sponge.
Click to expand...

:what: Foiled again. Thought it was a great deal, as I got it for nothing at work. Just needed to pay $12 to Sentry to get the combination.

What sort of insulation gives off water forever? There's got to be a limit, right? FWIW, this one's an about ten year old Sentry (model 6250).
 
Get a Golden Rod and plug it in to keep down the moisture, check you guns every month.
 
They give off moisture forever because they absorb it from the air around it, similar to the silica used inside of safes for moisture control.

The moisture will never really go away. Somebody on another forum did an experiment on a Sentry document safe, and after a few hours had recorded an internal humidity level over 80%.

Any safe used to store firearms should use a dry insulation. This is why most gun safe companies use gypsum board.
 
Fella's;

Not sure to just what is being called a document safe here. If it's data storage, that's one thing, if it's just paper storage, that's another.

A data storage safe is required to hold the interior temperature to 125 degrees f, or less, during the test cycle. The data being referred to in this case are photographic material, magnetic tape, and CD discs. It would be unusual to find this type of safe with an interior large enough to accommodate long guns.

There are safes that do not have a moisture content in the insulation to provide the thermal protection required to meet the U.L. 1 hour fire test standards. These are not necessarily 'document' safes though. They can be had in any practical size to protect larger objects, such as guns.

There are many smaller home type RSC's that do use moisture impregnated insulation to protect the contents, however. You should be sure of what it is you've got & not just assume that because it's a 'document safe' there's no chance of moisture damage to your guns. The caveat being, that if you suck all the moisture out of the insulation, you lower the protective ability of that insulation.

900F
 
f4t9r said:
Get a Golden Rod and plug it in to keep down the moisture, check you guns every month.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with a Golden Rod Dryer, and a Google search didn't help much (except for referring to a board where someone was selling some ammo they had kept dry with one). Any particular source you can suggest for info on or purchase of one of these?

Thanks
 
2 buckets of Damp-Rid, drained and replenished regularly.

Even if your insulation is giving off water vapor, if you have enough dessicant to absorb the moisture faster than it's generated, the humidity inside the safe will be low. I've used this system in Florida and NC and had no rust problems.

BTW, Sentry fire safe insulation is designed to release water vapor during a fire. it does not do so continuously; it is a heat-driven chemical decomposition that helps keep the safe cooler during a fire.

A good dessicant, and keep your guns oiled, and you'll have no problems.
 
i have a cheapie sentry

and i have a 32oz box of silica inside. is that enough? where can I get more boxes? (i got this one from SG, but they don't sell them anymore) and what is the procedure for "renewing" the silica in the oven?
 
a1abdj said:
The moisture will never really go away. Somebody on another forum did an experiment on a Sentry document safe, and after a few hours had recorded an internal humidity level over 80%.
Click to expand...

Well, so far so good with this safe. Put a digital hygrometer (that doubles for checking humidity of my cigars) in the safe before work, and came home to find it holding at 50% RH. For now, I'll consider that good, and keep monitoring the humidity from time to time.

If I end up needing to pay for a safe, I can deal with that. I got lucky in terms of cost, as the guns came from my dad and cost me nothing. :)
 
www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1703&title=GOLDENROD+DEHUMIDIFIER

A light bulb in a coffee can on the floor will work, but bulbs burn out. The warm air rises up and circulates out. The guns stay warmer than the air outside the safe and moisture doesn't condense on them.

They're only way to go IMNSHO. Get the biggest one that'll fit on the floor. I put two in my basement safe - it only costs pennies to run them.

I've never heard of a GoldenRod breaking or burning out. My oldest one is only 12+ years old though.

How much does it cost to heat the dessicant in the oven every month? Why not go GR?

John
 
I've got a 35 cu ft Liberty and put a Goldenrod in it. No problems in the 3 years I've had it...no rust at all.

If you look on any of the large safe manufacturers websites under accessories you should see the Goldenrods.
 
Storefront > Hunting / Optics > Gun Storage > Gun Safes > You are here: Golden Rod®

Golden Rod® Item: IG-210423 Cabela's
Price: $29.99

Qty:
Golden Rod®
Constantly protects firearms in your gun safe against rusting, pitting and moisture damage. Unique design circulates warm, dry air assuring total protection. Installs in minutes, safe from fire danger, and costs pennies a day to operate. UL listed.
Length: 18".
 
Ah, the Golden Rod goes in the safe and is plugged in. I don't think that'll work for one of these air-tight document-type safes. No room for the plug to go through the door. OTOH, I don't seem to have a problem yet.

I'll keep monitoring the humididty, and will think about Damp-Rid or dessicant that you bake at intervals if I need. If that gets to be a hassle, time for a safe that's designed for guns.
 
A lot of these replies are based on the assumption that all safes are pretty much the same. This is not the case.

Keeping a safe which uses moist insulation dry would be like shooting a gun, but not getting it dirty. It's not possible.

Although Sentry makes a fine record safe, that's all it is. A fireproof Sentry safe offers far less security that most of your lightweight gun safes, and is built solely to house paperwork.

They've been involved in enough lawsuits, that they even specifically mention in the owners manual that firearms are not to be stored in their document safes.

Don't waste your money on silica, dry rods, or any other device designed to remove moisture as the safe is designed to be moist.

I've heard that ideal humidity level for firearms storage is around 30%, but don't quote me on that. Most of these safes have enough moisture on the inside of them that paperwork stored inside will start smelling like mildew.
 
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