Annoying humidity issue in my safe

C

copeland

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
107   0   1
Didn't know where else to put this.

I have a large double door data safe that I purchased for my rifles. Unfortunately I'm finding minor surface rust on a couple bolts (not rifle parts, just external bits in my m305). The rifle actions are cleaned and oiled so no damage to internals or barrel.

I'm just wondering what good solution for what I'm presuming is a humidity issue. Maybe a pound or two of silica?

I have a couple silica packs from lee valkey in there, but I'm guessing the safe volume is too much to work with. Of note, the current small silica is coloured and has not turned yet, indicating that its not saturated either.

The interior is bare. I have yet to construct a wooden rack to stand the rifles properly.

Thoughts?
 
You can get some rechargeable de-humidifiers. I've bought them from eBay in the past, but I think Cabelas sells the Remington branded ones also.
 
I have heard that if you install a low-power heating element it will prevent condensation in the safe, water concentration in the air is largely a factor of temperature, i.e. the dew point. the air in your safe has the same moisture content as the air outside, but if it's a few degrees warmer the water concentration will be too low to condense leaving everything inside nice and dry. It's science.
 
Rascal said:
Install a low wattage light bulb on a timer
Click to expand...

This is the way to go, but the timer is optional. The old incandescent bulbs are still useful for things like this, and a 25W will be sufficient and cost almost nothing to operate.

It's unusual that you are reporting this problem in the Winter, but you don't state where you live. Most areas of Canada will have very low household humidity from Nov-Mar, with only the summer months being a problem. The target humidity level is 50% or lower.
 
Cabelas sell a variety of very effective sizes of Humidity bars with low power consumption, I run their largest and zero issues works great.
 
I've got 2 of these in my 36 gun safe, they work quite well. I just stagger when I swap them out to recharge so that I always have one in there.

http: //www.amazon.com/Stack-On-SPAD-100-Wireless-Rechargeable-Dehumidifier/dp/B001F0IH22
 
Humidity inside a safe which is inside your house isn't a good thing.

Is the safe sitting on a concrete floor? If so place a thick rubber mat between the concrete and safe, something like a truck bed liner. The safe could be generating condensation.

Also hose your guns down with G96.
 
I've got one of the small plug in dehumidifiers in mine. I forget who makes them, but it's just a 12" heated bar that sits in there and keeps it warm and dry in there.

I think it was about $20 online
 
I found adding a false bottom helped in my basement safes.

I cut some scrap plywood to fit the bottom of the safe, tacked/glued some 3/4 X 3/4 scrap on one side as a riser, lifted out the carpet on the bottom of the safe, dropped in the ply and put the carpet on top. it created a dead air pocket in the bottom and now the safe is much dryer inside. It is also ~1" shorter inside, which could be a problem if you have long long guns.

I have also found safes arrive damp from storage and if left with a 60W bulb inside and the door just ajar for a day or three it will dry out the liner (felt/carpet/whatever). If the dampness is in the liner, the other means of reducing humidity are all of little utility as the moisture just can't get out. Safes seem to be damp as shipped, probably because they are stored in damp warehouses or whatever.

I added a drying rod (golden rod from lee valley) and a remington rechargeable dehumidifier to no avail before adding the false bottom, after the false floor was added the humidity in the safe stayed below room levels reliably.

Do be careful with damptrap, damprid and similar dehumidifiers, they are very corrosive if spilled (the white stuff is mostly calcium chloride, similar to road salt).
 
Couple interesting points noted. Both safes are on concrete. One safe is on a rubber mat though.

1.)I should either lift the safe onto rubber insulator or put in false bottom. The safe is in carpeted as of now.

2.) drying it out as suggested due to how the safe was stored.

3.) adding some combination of the above products to balance the humidity.
 
Eezox,

we switched to this in high humid salt mist environments and corrosion all but disappeared. Its incredible for rust protection, regardless of how you dehumidify your safe. there is no better way to protect you rifles from rust....period.

Test2_43hoursWEB500_zps29d9c78e.jpg
 
remington sells a product that you place in your safe and is re-useable. Plus there is the thing that keeps the RV's dry that works by putting in these white little balls into a black cup. And one more thing is for your chamber that acts as a mosture stick for the inside of ones barrel but I frogot the manufacture.
 
If you have a dehumidifier running in the basement all the time that will help massively if not alleviate the problem completely. Also as mentioned get the safe off the ground, and well oil you're firearms.
Getting the other stuff is a bonus..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom