Silica for Gun safe???

[joepa150]

I finally bought a gun safe. It is a Centurion by Liberty. Not the greatest but for the price, it can't be beat.

I was wondering about keeping the moisture out of the safe so my guns will not rust.

What is a good way to do this without breaking the bank?


In the hunting section at Walmart, they sell Silica packets for $5 that are marketed to put in your gun safes. Would these be as effective as the more expensive fancy canister filled silica you see online?

There is a cutout in the back of my safe so I can run a cord through. Are those electric dehumidifer rod thingys worth it?

 

[beatledog7]

The thingys work well. Silica works well also. The key is to acquire a decent humidity gauge so you'll know what's really going on inside your safe.

 

[rcmodel]

The key is to acquire a decent humidity gauge

+1

But even better?

Spend your money on some R.I.G. grease & a RIG-RAG and wipe them down every time you handle them.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31842/Product/RIG-reg-UNIVERSAL-GUN-GREASE
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0/k=rig-rag/t=P/ksubmit=y/Products/All/search=rig-rag

Unless you live in a Salt marsh in a shanty with a leaky roof, your guns won't ever rust, regardless of the humid you have or don't have.

rc

 

[joepa150]

rcmodel,

This could be an option. I usually wipe down my firearms every time I handle them or once a month with some sort of gun oil or CLP.
I have some gun grease that I use on some of my rails but I never wiped down the entire gun with grease.

Will I have to clean or wipe the gun off before firing them if I cover with RIG Grease?

Is this grease really heavy and thick?

 

[rcmodel]

I'm not talking about slathering on grease gun auto chassis grease in big gooey globs.

I am talking about using R.I.G (Rust Inhibitor Grease) and a RIG-RAG to apply it with.
It is made specifically for firearms rust prevention. High dollar Gun collectors use it.

I learned about it 50 years ago from the guy whose S&W collection was used for many of the Photo's in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson book. I have used it since then, and I have never ever had a gun rust in long term storage.
No, I don't use Goldon Rods, or Silica packs either.

The RIG-RAG will put on a thin film on everything that is not at all objectionable when you go to use the gun the next time.

IMO: "Some sort of gun oil or CLP" is better then nothing for storage rust protection, but not much better.

rc

 

[98f150]

What should the humidity level be inside the safe

I also have a new safe that I keep in the garage and I would like to know what a good safe level of humidity inside the safe should be?

 

[rcmodel]

50% at 70 degrees is "museum quality" storage conditions.

Less humidity will shrink wood.
More humidity will support rust & oxidation.

rc

 

[heeler]

I just checked my humidity level in my Amsec BF66x36 and it was 57%.
We have a cold front approaching so the conditions are quite balmy right now here in gulf coast Texas.
I use two Eva-Dry 500 rechargeable dehumidifyers that in all honesty need to be recharged every 2-3 weeks.
After reading this thread and checking on the humididity level in the safe I also realized it was time to take them out and plug them in and recharge them.

 

[Shooter973]

I have a couple of large silica bags in my safe...I got them for free from a local motorcycle/snow mobile shop....they get them out of the shipping boxes and usually just throw them away.
They have worked well for me, but I live in a pretty dry area....Utah