Best non-electric safe dehumidifier?

[jmr986]

Had a few extra bucks this month and decided it's time to get a gun safe (would have rather got another gun). Got a good deal, although I was limited to size in order to get it down the basement steps.

It looks like Eva-dry and Stack On are the top pics. Any feedback/recommendations.

As an aside. I put one of my old granular packs in my guitar case and it leaked all over the front and bottom of my 60 year old guitar. Hoping it will dry out. Put it in a sock figuring that would be safe ... wrong. Thanks. Joe

 

[Ranger17]

I have a couple of those rechargeable units i use in a couple safes. Those brands, Remington, etc to me seem to work about the same (probably same manufacturer) so i just grab them at the best price.

 

[Faulkner]

I also have a couple of rechargeable Remington units. Work great for me.

 

[Rastoff]

The Mojave Desert.

 

[richardw]

Ok, folks are going to think I am nut but I vote for rice. I have used it over the years and it works great.

Ever notice how a cup of dry rice can absorb a cup of water when cooked? That is because rice is a natural desiccant that cAn readily absorp its own volume in water. The trick is to use it correctly. I will explain that in a moment. But first the CAUTION. If you use rice you have to check it to see if it is getting a wet feel. If it is it means that it is about to go into a stage where decomposition will begin. The good thing about rice is you can go to Asian market of food wholesaler and buy twenty-five and fifty pound bags for a quarter of the price of packaged rice in a super market. So inexpensive because you do not need much and so easy to change often.

The trick is to keep it in thin layers about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Buy some produce sacks like those sold online by Earthwise. They are a fine breathable mesh with a draw string opening. Lay the bad on a cheap baking tray and add the rice. Tie the drawstring and flatten out the sack. Put a few in the locker at different heightS if possible, but if not put it on the bottom. Moist air drops. And the rice shafts to feel damp dump it. Wash out the bag(s) and air dry them. The bags are cheap so having is not costly.

Be sure to seal up the bulk rice in an airtight bag or container of it will begin to absorb moisture. I have stored electronics, firearms, knives, and other items prone to moisture damage this way for years. It works. One last thing. Watch humidity levels on the weather. When the humidity is high you will have to check the rice more often.

 

[soFlaNative]

Rice works. In south Florida.
Small amounts I scotch tape in toilet paper.
More goes into a piece of wife's old hose.
Buy 1lb. of Uncle Ben or Mahatma or ...

 

[hittman77]

I also have a couple of rechargeable Remington units. Work great for me.

^ ^ This ^ ^

 

[Leatherman-Cowboy]

Baking soda---work's perfect.

Thank you,

 

[rkwood]

I went through this same search a few months ago and here are the products that worked for me:

SnapSafe Large Canister Dehumidifier Desiccant
(Available from Midway USA, $12.74 ea)

SnapSafe Large Canister Dehumidifier Desiccant - MPN: 75902

The cannister has a clear window and when the crystals turn from blue to pink, you recharge the unit by placing it in the oven for two hours. Very easy.

I would strongly suggest that you also purchase one of these hygrometers for a mere $1.79 (including shipping!):

New Mini Digital LCD Indoor Temperature Humidity Meter Thermometer Hygrometer | eBay

This setup along with some silicone-impregnated gun socks and a battery operated Bright 9 LED Push Light ($5.99 shipped) did the trick:

Push Night Light Bright 9-LED Light Battery Operated Blk(Batteries Not Included) | eBay


The goal is "50/50" (A consistent 50% relative humidity and a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Realistically, you want to hit 40%-50% humidity and around 50-70 degree temps, with minor seasonal variation...

 

[tlawler]

I use damp-rid. Bags of the refill are $3.99 at Home Depot and last about 4 months here in steamy Florida.

 

[URIT]

"Cat litter works fine if you change it out when it turns white", said the lady who sold me on a Fort Knox gun safe with a GoldenRod safe dehumidifier. I live in humid coastal North Carolina and was not going to put my guns at risk so I opted for the rod.

 

[Tom S.]

I have two safes, a Browning and a Fort Knox. The Fort Knox has a dehumidifier rod and the Browning has a rechargeable descant box. Both have humidity gauges and both read the same, so I would hypothesize that either one works. The odd thing is the rechargeable unit is over 10 years old and has never reached the stage of needing recharging. Living in a state that promotes itself as the "Water wonderland" I find it a bit interesting that humidity doesn't seem to be an issue.

Another method of controlling humidity that can kill two birds with one stone is to put lights in the safe. LED's are nice, but incandescent lights, even small ones like the 4 watt night light bulbs give off enough heat to perform the same task as a dehumidifier rod, but have the advantage of providing light as well. Stay away from florescent lighting as it emits ultra violet light that can have long term effects on some materials such as paper and plastics.

 

[Skeet 028]

Rice works ok..but it needs to be changed fairly often in higher Humidity areas. I changed it once a month back on the Eastern Shore of Md...tween the Chesapeake bay and Atlantic ocean..Humid?? Yep..kinda. On another note rice also works well in vibratory tumblers..for a while and then breaks apart. But it is even cheaper than Petco reptile bedding(it's at 31 bucks for 25 lbs now)

 

[radar1972]

I use damp-rid. Bags of the refill are $3.99 at Home Depot and last about 4 months here in steamy Florida.

Same here. Damp-Rid.

 

[jmr986]

Thanks everyone all excellent suggestions.

 

[djohns6]

I order the bulk jars of dessicant from WalMart online . Take an old vitamin bottle or other plastic container , drill some holes in the top , add dessicant , place on shelf . When it turns pink , dry it in the oven or replace with fresh .

 

[Rastoff]

Here's a thought, do we understand what all this humidity control is doing? Electric and passive humidity devices work in completely different ways.

Desiccant, rice or some other moisture absorbing is exactly that, they absorb a certain amount of moisture in the air. This is good because it reduces the potential amount of moisture. Reducing moisture in the air reduces the possibility of it condensing on the cooler metal surface of the guns.

Electric humidity control like a Golden Rod or light bulb control temperature, not humidity. What they do is keep the temp inside the safe up to a level where the surface of the gun isn't cool enough to allow water to condense on the surface of the guns. Sure, the increased temperature will help displace some of the humidity, but it's more about temperature control.


Both work OK, but nothing is fool proof. Wiping down your gun with a rag with some WD-40 on it, prior to putting them in the safe, is a good idea.

 

[StakeOut]

I use damp-rid. Bags of the refill are $3.99 at Home Depot and last about 4 months here in steamy Florida.

I have 2 of them in the safe and a few more in the walk in closets I dump any water that has collected out every couple of weeks.

Two packs are about $4.50 at Walmart.

 

[VaTom]

Get a small humidity monitor device to read humidity in the safe. They can be found on line for less than $15. I also bought a stack on rechargeable dehumidifier unit for my safe. It lowered the humidity from around 53% to 46%. I don't think you want to go too low as wood stocks can dry out. I think museums reccomend 45-55 % .

 

[StephenWhoDat]

Wiping down your gun with a rag with some WD-40 on it, prior to putting them in the safe, is a good idea.

My entire life I've been hearing people say you should NEVER use WD-40 on your firearms.