Humidity and wooden stocks

[cpbird91]

This is my first summer as a firearms owner and being in southern Ontario, I wondered if anyone could share their tips on controlling humidity in their gun cabinet. My place doesn't have A/C and I'm concerned that the military rifles I've got will be affected by the humidity. Is this even a valid concern?

Thanks

 

[purple]

Excessive humidity as a possible cause of rust is a bigger concern. I've found that when you move from a humid to a dry area wooden stocks tend to contract a bit which requires that the guard screws be checked and tightened as necessary.

 

[antiqueguy]

I can attest to the humidity being out of control down here(I happen to be very close to 2 great lakes and a river) if I don't plan on shooting the gun much I cover the metal in grease and seal it with a food saver. as for stocks I sat there one morning and I swear I watched a stock expand im more worried about rust and once a week I will oil every gun

 

[Cdn303]

Go buy a dehumidifier and keep it in the room that your cabinet is in. Set it and dump the tank every day, or even twice a day.

 

[infideleggwelder]

i regularly clean mine, every month or so, more if they get used. i leave them oily, no problems yet. wipe them dry before i use them. i live near Kingston, on the St lawrence. and pull 1 gallon of water out of the air a week with my dehumidifier. little BLO on the wood and i`m good ;-p

 

[sunray]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. My stuff lived in a TO basement for years with no problems.
You can put a low wattage light bulb into your cabinet. A 25 watt light will keep the cabinet just warm enough to stop condensation. That being the trouble maker, not usually the humidity.
Dehumidifiers are fine, but you have to pay attention to dumping 'em. Light bulbs don't need dumping.

 

[antiqueguy]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. My stuff lived in a TO basement for years with no problems.
You can put a low wattage light bulb into your cabinet. A 25 watt light will keep the cabinet just warm enough to stop condensation. That being the trouble maker, not usually the humidity.
Dehumidifiers are fine, but you have to pay attention to dumping 'em. Light bulbs don't need dumping.

a light bulb will create more humidity in fact that is what is used in the rust bluing process a container of water and a light bulb in a cabinet

 

[QM 8687]

Both are true, believe it or not.
However lights and air movement will remove moisture in correct scene. Better than mold, rot, oxidation.

 

[strategoi]

Go buy a dehumidifier and keep it in the room that your cabinet is in. Set it and dump the tank every day, or even twice a day.

yep.

 

[sunray]

Don't be daft. A light bulb does not create more humidity. And there's far more to rust bluing than just water and a light.