gun storage in a basement

rfuerst911sc · Jan 25, 2014

Not sure this is the right spot for this question but here goes. Yesterday I purchased a 10 gun safe, fire rated for 30 minutes. My best option for placement of the safe is in the basement. I'm in Georgia so decent amount of humidity in the summer. We've never had anything get mold on it or rust in the four years we have owned the house to items stored in the basement. I have two options: Option one is to place the safe in the finished portion of the basement, this is a room that is aprox. 12 x 22. This room has three HVAC vents in the ceiling and the two walls that are on outside walls has foam board insulation in them. The second option is install the safe in the unfinished portion of the basement. I have an area where I plan to build a small workbench to work on the guns and the safe would be right next to it so very convenient to open the safe and clean/maintain the guns. The block walls in this portion of the basement are not insulated/studded but will be in the future. This portion of the basement is also open to where our cars are garaged. In either option I have access to the back of the wall where the safe will be bolted to the wall so I can make either option very strong. So what are your opinions on where to place the safe ? And any other storage suggestions like dessicant packs or ???

redlevel · Jan 25, 2014

Put the safe in the portion of the garage that is climate controlled. I make desiccant packs using silica cat litter and coffee filters. Same as the packs you buy, but much cheaper. If you have been in Georgia long, you know that you can just glance at a high-polish blued gun and flecks of rust will pop up on it in July and August.

gregintenn · Jan 25, 2014

I have 2 safes in my basement. Rust really hasn't been a problem, but I did have a bout with mildew. In addition to the goldenrod dehumidifier, I added a Remington rechargeable dehumidifier to each safe, and haven't seen any further problems. I don't think Georgia has anything on middle Tennessee for summertime humidity. At least I can't tell any difference.

islamoradamark · Jan 25, 2014

i put safe on a couple of 4x4s so air circulates around evenly sometimes floor can be colder than room temp could cause temp change. that could lead to different condition s in safe . cold air responding to warm air

Ivan the Butcher · Jan 25, 2014

Where ever you place the safe(I would lean towards putting it in the future gun room) you need to deal with moisture the golden rods a great but I would add a non-electric rechargeable one also. You can't have too much humidity control. Ivan

NYlakesider · Jan 25, 2014

My basement is divided in half. One half is a large 2 car unheated garage. Behind the mandatory fire wall & door is the other part of the downstairs. It contains my Fort Knox, reloading /gun area, and house items. Well pump controller/tank hot water tank and hot air furnace & basic storage!

The furnace keeps downstairs comfortable (2-3 degrees lower than upstairs) and the humidity down in the heat required months (about 7 months here) A large dehumidifier plumbed into a sump pit takes care of that area in the better weather and we do get some serious high humidity here at times. My safe does have a Golden Rod inside. Have had no problems with this set up and we are starting our 11 year here.

bluegrassarms · Jan 25, 2014

Regardless of where you put it I second getting a Golden Rod and I also recommend some of the desiccant that changes color or a humidity gauge or both so you can tell if you have a problem.

Shooter6br · Jan 25, 2014

I used Vasoline tp store my dads collection in the basement for 15 yrs. Never rusted. but Vasoline is messy

Geno44 · Jan 25, 2014

I can't imagine placing a safe in a garage unless I didn't have a basement and there was no room inside the house. Temperature and humidity swings there would be large. Also, theft of the whole unit would be easier in a garage. Back a pick-up to it and load it up. I'm also a believer in the Goldenrod.

H Richard · Jan 25, 2014

Keep a coat of Renaissance Wax on the guns regardless of the humidity. Be sure to remove every gun every couple months and inspect. If you keep the house comfortable, the gun s should be O.K. also.

tops · Jan 25, 2014

I have a goldenrod in my safe plus a 40 watt light bulb. The light bulb helps with the temp. and moisture plus my old eyes need the extra light. Never a rust problem in 25 yrs. Larry

rfuerst911sc · Jan 25, 2014

Just to be clear the basement/garage are under the house. The garage is not free standing. So the temp/humidity is relatively constant but obviously subject to large bursts of hot/cold air when the garage door is opened. But our basement is dry, no smell of any sort with a concrete floor. I'm leaning towards placing it in the future gun maint. area partially because I just put a new laminate floor in the finished area and really don't want to drill into the floor. In the future area I have access to a partition wall so I can easily tie in 4x4's on the floor into the sill plate and studs of the wall. So the safe will be raised off the concrete floor, screwed to the floor and the wall which will be reinforced for strength. This future space is not visible when the garage door is open so prying eyes would have to walk into the garage/basement and turn the corner to see what is there. It's not Ft. Knox but it will do. Thanks for the feedback.

Comrad · Jan 25, 2014

I would paint all the bare concrete with Drylok and run a dehumidifier. That's how I do it in my NJ basement and have no problems at all. The key is to get the dehumidifier to drain directly so you don't have to keep emptying the bucket. No mold no mildew, no rust just dry and comfortable.

Wee Hooker · Jan 25, 2014

Comrad said:
I would paint all the bare concrete with Drylok and run a dehumidifier. That's how I do it in my NJ basement and have no problems at all. The key is to get the dehumidifier to drain directly so you don't have to keep emptying the bucket. No mold no mildew, no rust just dry and comfortable.

Yea, what he said.

Kanewpadle · Jan 25, 2014

Fluctuation in temperature is your enemy. Use gun socks and all will be fine.

Everyone knows about the rain and humidity here in Seattle. My gun safe is in the garage. I don't have any problems.

Also, I have worked on safes that have been placed where the temperature fluctuates constantly. The rust issue isn't only with guns but the safe itself. I've had to repair or replace safe parts due to rust and oxidation.

Beemerguy53 · Jan 25, 2014

Here in northeastern Maryland, we have it all: high heat and humidity in the summer, snow and cold weather, with a freeze-thaw cycle, in the winter. (It's 22 here right now, the highest temperature we've seen in a week, and we have about 8 inches of snow on the ground.)

I have a very large safe in a totally unheated area, protected with two Goldenrods. One Goldenrod is in the bottom of the safe, secured to the front side, the second is midway in the safe, between two of the shelves.

I have an indoor-outdoor thermometer sitting on top of the safe, with the 'outdoor' transmitter inside the safe. On any given day, no matter how cold it gets, the temperature inside the safe is at least several degrees higher than the temperature outside. And that is how the Goldenrod works...the drier warmed air inside the safe expands and pushes out of the vents, which keeps the humid outside air from getting in. It's such a simple concept, and it works brilliantly.

(BTW, make sure you secure your new safe to the floor. There are some very disturbing videos online showing how easy it is to break into even a large, heavy safe once it is toppled over and lying down.)

tomtheturner · Jan 25, 2014

As has been mentioned, in a basement a good dehumidifier is a must. Preferably plumbed into a sump pit. In 35 years I have had almost no problems storing in my basement.

Best Wishes,
Tom

df06 · Jan 25, 2014

Two safes in my basement, with a goldenrod in each. Have had zero problems in more than 20 years.

GF · Jan 25, 2014

As others have said, put golden rods in the safe and a dehumidifier in the basement. The thing to consider is keeping temperature and humidity low and constant.

Below 70 for the temperature and below 50 percent humidity should do.

GF

revho · Jan 26, 2014

As mentioned before please anchor your safe into the floor.

gun storage in a basement

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