Keeping guns from rusting in your safe?

[Jeeper]

As someone who had never worried about this until I moved from Phoenix to Houston a little while back I need some advice.

What do you use in a humid enviroment?

I get into my safe almost daily and need ideas. Should I use desicant packs, a dehumidifier like golden rod or just protectant on the guns themselves?

 

[Mike Irwin]

A layered defense is probably best.

Protectant on the guns is never a bad idea any way you cut it.

Dessicant packs are good; I don't have any experience with a golden rod.

A dehumidifier in the area where the gunsafe is is probably the best idea of all.

 

[Schmit]

Jeepers

Like Mike said a layered defense works.

I've been using the following for approx 10 years in 5 different environments (Alaska, Coastal North Carolina, Pedmount of South Carolina, Hudson River Valley of Noo Yawk, and Mid-Florida).

1 - Normal light coat of oil.

2 - Oe Golden Rod... always plugged in.

3 - Two large Dessicant Cans (recharged (backing in oven) when needed)

Never had a spot of rust appear. And the best part is that once you get it set up the only upkeep is recharging the dessicant when needed.

 

[sm]

Desicant, goldenrods, and dehumidifier , As Mike said is probably best. Some friends do this along with a good wipe down--some do place in Sack-ups also.

Personally, I wipe down, use the Sack-ups, and make a mental note to check regularly.

 

[ruger357]

Dessicant packs in my safe plus I wipe the guns down with a lightly oiled rag.

 

[Bruz]

Oe Golden Rod... always plugged in

I thought plugging it in "recharged" the unit. I assumed there is a material in the rod that absorbs moisture, once it is saturated it is heated up which turns the moisture back into vapor which leaves the material so it can be replaced in the safe to absorb water vapors again. Please splain to me how they work!

 

[cobb]

Golden Rods are small heaters and warm the temperature in the safe to help dissipate moisture. If you would take the end cap off of one, you will see a fabric covered wire that heats up.

 

[Schmit]

Bruz,

Like Cobb said Golden Rods are small heaters used to keep the ambiant temp inside the safe slightly higher then the outside temp thereby cutting the humidity to a minimum.

What you are thinking of is Dissicant. This come in either cans or boxes (which holes). The dissicant absorves moisture/humidity... when the indicator turns a certain color the dissicant is saturated and the unit needs to be recharged. You do this by placing in an over and cooking it.

Utilizing both a Golden Rod and Dissicant you have double faceted protection against humitiy causing surface rust.

 

[CWL]

Golden rods are great. I've got one.

Only problem is that the use of a Golden Rod and it's necessary electrical cord, or any other item which breaks the seal between inside & outside of safe will probably void the fireproof warranty of the safe.

For me, it's worth it. Others may want to consider.

 

[dinosaur]

I use a Goldenrod. My safe (Liberty) has a small hole in the back wall and you can punch out the liner for the cord.

I talked to my ins. agent about fires and fireproof safes. He said not to worry about it since by the time the fire dep`t got here, my house would probably be a total loss.:banghead: At least I`m insured.

 

[P95Carry]

External treatment ...... a wipe down with a good CLP rag ...... all over. Bore given a pass with oil mop. Other good method is to wax the whole blued metal ... car wax will do ... anything to give a fairly durable film of protection. Adequate cleaning after shooting important too.

In safe ... even if no dehumidification .. what is really needed is avoidance of ''dead air'' ..... and so a small source of heat (40W bulb) and a means for air to enter and exit ... makes world of difference IMO.

 

[Pawcatch]

I use Damp-Rid.It's avalible at most HR stores.

 

[Coltdriver]

While in North Carolina I used two things.

Damp Rid which is a dissicant that comes in a tub about the size of a large margerine tub.

I opened the hole provided in my Liberty safe and strung an extension cord into the safe with a light bulb plugged in at the end. At any home depot etc you can get a light bulb that is covered in a rubberized material so that if you break it you just have a little rubber bag of glass. I put the bulb on a timer and it came on every day for about an hour.

It heated the safe up enough to keep it dry and the damp rid did the rest.

Never got a bit of rust from that combo.

 

[Freedom in theSkies]

I use dessicant in the safe and oil on the guns. That way the O2 can't get at them and there is little or no moisture....

 

[pax]

Get a Glock.



pax

Tamara's Laws of Internet Gun Forums
Law Number Twelve:

If: Someone asks for a recommendation on a gun, any gun (long gun, revolver, shotgun, whatever),

Then: within five posts, someone will recommend a Glock.

 

[Rusty]

What you need is a can of RIG. It stands for Rust Inhibiting Grease. You can get it from Brownells or other places. I live and have always lived in the humid South and if you RIG a gun and no one picks it up again, it will stay rust free for years. A thin coat is all it takes. My cousin moved back from Alaska once and had heavy rifles like 338's, etc he didn't need any more. They sat RIGed in a crate in a basement for years. No rust. Save your money on dessicant and rods. Get some RIG. It's all you need.

 

[P95Carry]

Agreed on the RIG . forgot that .. still have a small amount left.

However, still find that a piece of rag impregnated with CLP does leave a very persistent film.

 

[Beren]

Is it really wise to take advice on this topic from someone with the handle 'Rusty?'

Someone had to say it... Good tips on this thread, I appreciate it. My growing collection will appreciate it more!

 

[cobb]

"Get a Glock"

I've got a glock, and use it as a door stop.
I just couldn't bring myself to use a perfectly good 1911.

 

[alan]

Perhaps unwisely, I do not have a safe myself, however I have been given the following information.

Leave an ordinary light bulb buring in the safe.

 

[PKAY]

I have a Glock too. I just generally burp the lid and store hot dogs in it.

 

[gino]

Remember that not all gun oils give the same corrosion protection. I've got some guns that sit for years. I use Breakfree CLP (it has always done well in corrosion tests). I just slap on a BUNCH and reapply every few months.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Great. I bought a safe so I wouldn't have to keep the guns in the vapor-inhibiting bags anymore. Now you've all got me worried.

I've got a Liberty Lincoln series safe. Not fireproofed, but has a Goldenrod dehumidifier in it. Humidity in the room isn't ever too bad.

Should I oil the guns, put them back in their VI bags, or just rest assured that the dehumidifier does its job?

We've been in this house for over ten years, and the VI bags never let me down.

 

[bedlamite]

Dick, Next time I see you I'll bring a few packets of Dessicant that we get packaged with imported machinery. Combine that with the goldenrod and CLP and you'll never have a problem.

 

[MountainPeak]

Nothing is going to help. Please list your collection, and I will buy them at the reduced price you will sell them for several years from now. E-mail me, I am here for you now. Trust me!