Safe in garage - goldenrod sufficient?

[rwc]

If one were to have a safe/rsc in an un-heated garage would a goldenrod be sufficient to maintain the proper environment?
Thanks.

 

[Sunray]

Bainbridge Island, WA, is wet and salty air most of the time, is it not? I'd be inclined to put the safe in the house.

 

[JD0608]

i agree with sunray, if it`s wet outside a lot you`ll have rust problems. i`d put safe inside..

 

[atomchaser]

I have my safe in the garage with no problems. Couple of extra things that I did: Put a piece of plywood between the safe and slab, I have all my guns in sack-ups or rugs, I keep a couple of the big dessicant cans in there as well.

 

[zebrajeb]

Several years ago, and older friend in Alabama showed me the results of keeping his two safes in an unheated enclosed porch area next to his house. Both safes had a Golden Rod in it. However, one of the Golden Rods got unplugged somehow and he didn't discover it for several months. He had so many guns he didn't open the one safe for about 6 months. Guns in the safe with the working Golden Rod were just fine - no rust, no problems and this safe had been opened regular too.

Guns in safe with the unplugged Golder were covered in a fine rust on may of the firearms! To me, shows the Golder Rod works in a damp climate with safe in unheated area. Now, I check my safe at least once a month to make sure the Golden Rod is plugged in and still working.

Just my experience.

John

 

[SUBMOAS]

Agree with atomchaser

Do what he says. Put a layer of insulation between the safe and the slab...
Get a Golden Rod.....

 

[steelhead]

Going on 7 years without a problem.

 

[Jspy]

I have had my safe in the garage for about 7 yrs now without a goldenrod or anything else. It sets up off of the floor and I haven't had any problems, but I could just be lucky.

 

[saltydog452]

Not exactly on-topic, but neither is it way off base...but, could maybe a 40 watt appliance light bulb be used w/o violating the integrity of the safe?

I may be moving soon and since most homes don't come with enough closet space to begin with, I can't see giving up two bedroom closets. Something has just gotta go in the garage.

Thanks,

salty.

 

[DogBonz]

Weather striping

Go to home depot or a hardware store and get some foam rubber weather striping. line the lip of the safe that the door seals aginst and that should keep the inside nice and dry (with the goldenrod).

Also, putting some wood under it is a good Idea.

 

[atomchaser]

A light bulb might work, but in the long term a goldenrod is better. I have the 24 inch goldenrod which is has an 18W filament, so it uses less power then a 40W. It's trival difference in terms of electricity, but eventually it will pay for itself. Also it distributes the heat over the entire length and you can actually touch it -- it's hot but not like a light bulb. My point is that you want to distribute the heat as uniformly over the volume of the safe. The whole theory with the goldenrod is that if you keep your contents, i.e. guns, a little hotter than the ambient air that is infiltrating your safe. The moisture in the incoming air won't condense on the guns and cause rust.

 

[frenchwrench]

Mines been in the garage for two years. First six months with just desicant.Took me a month to get the rust off the guns. Added Goldenrod,no problems since. Mine is off the floor with 1/4 inch thick strips of plastic. In Indiana it's always wet or humid.

 

[saltydog452]

Got it. Thank you.

salty.

 

[JohnBT]

"line the lip of the safe that the door seals aginst and that should keep the inside nice and dry (with the goldenrod)."

NO!!! Don't do it. You need air circulation from the outside - GoldenRod specifies this. A hole or two in the top of the safe would be best, but mine has worked just fine relying on the crack around the door. The GR needs to be horizontal on the floor of the safe - preferably in the back. What I did was to run a big one across the front and a smaller one front-to-back. I also pulled the shelves out about a 1/4" from the back wall to let the heated air circulate.

John

 

[stevelyn]

A VpCI emtter wouldn't hurt either.

http://www.rustbloc.com

 

[vintage68]

Uh, for the newbies, what's a Golden Rod?

 

[frenchwrench]

Golden Rod is an electronic heated dehumidifier which is a sealed rod from 12 to 18 inches long.Mounted horizontally at the bottom of your safe. It heats the air which causes circulation which helps remove humidity . The electric plug is run through a hole provided at the back of most safes for just this use.

 

[Grayrock]

I was just up at Cabela's and the safe guy there did not recommend the Golden Rod type heaters. He said the heat can discolor/ adversely affect gun stocks. Can anyone corroborate this?

 

[taliv]

maybe if you stuck it right on the gun stock

they don't put off that much heat. you can almost hold it comfortably in your hand.

otoh, my goldenrod died after about a year and a half. i would recommend a non-electric-based backup.

 

[a1abdj]

I was just up at Cabela's and the safe guy there did not recommend the Golden Rod type heaters.

Cabela's doesn't have safe guys, so I wouldn't believe much of what they had to say.

I have never heard of any damage caused by an electric dry rod. As a real safe guy, I do recommend them.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I'll also recommend the Golden Rod. I use one in my personal safe. I also tend to think of myself as a safe guy.

900F

 

[krs]

Safe in the garage makes it easy to dolly right out to a thief's truck.

 

[Grayrock]

Safe in the garage makes it easy to dolly right out to a thief's truck.

Yeah- but it also means I don't have to spend the night in the same room with it (if you know what I mean!)

 

[M2Pilot]

Stevelyn suggests a VpCI emitter too. Probably a good idea. I think you can get the same results by putting a camphor block or 2 in the safe. Some pharmacies stock them ( I do) & most any pharmacy could order some for you. Be advised though,hat if your pharmacist doesn't have them on hand,we have to order them in packs of 24 & it's such a low demand item you might have to buy all 24. If you have a dozen local gun owning friends it may be time for a local group buy.

 

[feedthehogs]

Put a piece of plywood between the safe and slab

I wouldn't use anything that absorbs moisture such as wood.

While the edges may feel dry, the middle of the wood may absorb moisture and keep it in contact with the safe bottom creating a rust bloom.