Stainless.
- Thread starter manbearpig
- Start date
Good point, and one that most people don't get until they have a problem.
Dessicant needs to be changed or dried regularly or the moisture level builds to the point where it reaches saturation and from then on it actually causes the humidity level in the surrounding environment to rise. Does more harm than good at that point.
I tried dessicant packs and didn't find them very useful. I dry my guns out well after using, keep them fairly well lubed, and air out the safe regularly - and haven't had any problems in 20 years with 20 - 40 guns in storage at any given time.
Which is why I use the Remington dessicant packs that have a built-in moisture indicator.
When it goes from blue to pink, cook it in the oven per instructions to dry it out - ready to use again.
Which is why I use the Remington dessicant packs that have a built-in moisture indicator.
When it goes from blue to pink, cook it in the oven per instructions to dry it out - ready to use again.
I've been buying that silica gel in bulk cans fron the same place Remington buys it for 20 plus years. I use it for air drying in gas gravitometers.
The point is regardless of the colour, it needs to be changed when it gets saturated or it turns into a moisture trap and will do more damage than having no dessicant at all.
GameStalker30-06
CGN Regular
- Location
- Newfoundland
I never seem to have any problems, and here in Newfoundland, we have some heavy rust-loving weather. All I do is wipe em down with Rem oil, and place them in my safe. Of course, if they are rained on, I will break them down and do a more detailed cleaning, but other than that, just wipe and place. Hopefully it keeps working..
No, the point is that the colour tells the user when it needs to be reactivated (not changed). Otherwise the user is guessing, meaning either waiting too long (bad) or wasting time and energy pulling it out and baking in the oven too often.
You could buy your own moisture indicator:
and make your own bags too, but who wants to buy moisture indicators in q100 (which is how I see them packaged in industrial supply shops)?
The Browning desiccant system has a moisture indicator built-in to the bottom (not visible in the picture):
And it has greater capacity than the Remington system previously referenced.
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I live in the lower mainland of BC, which is not the dryest place, and store my guns in a basement safe. I am of the opinion that more damage is done by too much gun cleaning / lubing than too little. I have no problems with rust.
High humidity environment, minimal firearm maintenance, no rust. How come?
Reason #1 (The most important reason. You can stop reading after here): My safe is 19" wide and it has an 18" Goldenrod ( http://www.goldenroddehumidifiers.com/introduction.htm )across the bottom of the safe. Actually the budget version called the Gunsaver ( http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=20454/Product/GUNSAVER_by_GoldenRod ). It is supposed to work for a 200 cubic foot space. My safe is much smaller than that. It uses 12 watts and is always on. I was bored and did the math on the cost to run it and it came out to significantly less than a buck a month. I considered dessicants and actually bought a big bag of Remington dessicant, but I just know I would forget to watch it and it would be worse than not using it at all. The Goldenrod is totally set and forget.
Reason #2: I buy guns that are rust resistant.
eg chrome bored ARs (HK MR223), stainless / synthetic bolt guns (Remington XCR compact tactical), low maintenance service pistols (Glock 17). OK someone gave me a blued Ruger Mark 2 pistol, but free is a very good price so i was willing to make an exception
Reason #3: When I do lubricate a gun, I use Eezox ( http://www.eezox.com/ ). This product comes out on top or very near the top of any objective corrosion tests that I have seen ( eg http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html ). I ordered a bunch from the manufacturer in the US and it will be a *very* long time until I need to resupply at the rate I use it.
I make sure the guns are at room temp and relatively dry before putting them in the safe, then it's on to the rest of my life.
I also live in BC's lower mainland and have never had an issue with rust when storing my firearms in a safe/closet but I actually take my guns out into the bush where they are constantly exposed to the worst weather conditions that BC has.
Jet boating up the Skeena and its tributaries left me with having to clean my blued rifles daily now that I have switched to stainless steel I do not have to worry/deal with rust anymore.
Jet boating up the Skeena and its tributaries left me with having to clean my blued rifles daily now that I have switched to stainless steel I do not have to worry/deal with rust anymore.
No, the point is that the colour tells the user when it needs to be reactivated (not changed).
You could buy your own moisture indicator:
and make your own bags too, but who wants to buy moisture indicators in q100 (which is how I see them packaged in industrial supply shops)?
Sorry, but no. The silica gel i'm talking about changes colour itself and does't need a separate indicator like the one in your picture. When i said the dessicant needs to be dried, that means the same as what you call "reactivated". All you're doing is using heat to remove the moisture.
I don't like dessicants because it needs additional maintenance itself, and it is not a replacement for proper gun maintenance. For instance, dessicant will not stop rust if you don't dry off a damp gun before you put it back in the safe.
Some people seem to have more problems with rust. I keep a $3 humidity gauge in my safe. The only worry I have is if the RH goes below 25% the wood on some of my older rifles may get too dry and increase the possibility of cracking.
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