HELP - Gun Safe Mildew

[jimmyj]

Hi:
My American Legion Post keeps the Post M1903 Rifles in a Winchester Gun Safe.
The Rifles rust and mildew while in the safe.
Is there a device for inside the safe to prevent this ?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[cougar14]

First, you must kill all the mold/mildew spores. Strip it down to its every removable component, clean all of them and the interior with a janitorial grade product. Then do the above. Keep everything wiped down with an oil rag. Once everything's all clean, and you've installed a heat source to cook out the moisture, get some industrial dessicant bags to maintain everything. Don't forget that those dessicant bags will require a periodic heating.

 

[M E Morrison]

First, you must kill all the mold/mildew spores. Strip it down to its every removable component, clean all of them and the interior with a janitorial grade product. Then do the above. Keep everything wiped down with an oil rag. Once everything's all clean, and you've installed a heat source to cook out the moisture, get some industrial dessicant bags to maintain everything. Don't forget that those dessicant bags will require a periodic heating.

+1, this plus a more frequent inspection.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Add gun socks to the list.

 

[les.b]

It's damp there (used to live in Florida). You need dessicant packs or a plug in drying rod.....

Everything that everyone else said, plus, instead of soft desiccant packs, I have been using the plastic desiccant container that has the little window where you can see the pellets. When the get pink, it means they have absorbed moisture, and you simply take it out and plug it into an electrical outlet over night and when the pellets are blue, they are dry again. Put it back in the safe and check regularly.

Also use the golden rod type of plug in heater which gently drives out moisture. Plus what the guys said above about spores and keeping the arms wiped down.

I have some of those electrical drying desiccant packs that have been working for me for 10 or 12 years. Just keep an eye on them. They have a built in hook to hang on a safe shelf.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Oldiron]

Jimmie, Haven't gone quite as far as suggested by some of the folks but after the second golden rod dryer didn't keep the mildew away, I got to doing some serious checking/feeling and there was a very slight wisp of warm air coming out of the top door crack. Checking the door with some paper I found the fire seals did not seal the inside air. Bought a roll of 1/8" x 1" self sticking foam weather seal and applied it to the top and sides of the door. Figured that maybe the warm air created a slight pull of moist air in at the bottom. I must have been on the right track since I have not had to clean any mildew off the guns for two years. Larry

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

In through to top with a 40 watt bulb. The air here is wet. All safes here have a 40 watt bulb and never a sign of any problem.

 

[S42N8]

To the above on doing a complete strip and cleaning with fungicides, clean the safe too; the spores are in there. Cleaning the weapons is a start, but reducing exposure to the mold/mildew source is important. I use dessicant, gun socks and a Goldenrod in my safe, and with cleaning the guns every six months, no issues. The gun safe-size (750 gram) dessicant can and Goldenrod are available in most stores that sell safes, or Amazon.

 

[Cpo1944]

Jimmy , You better keep those rifles clean so you won't be accused of partying at a Taliban bar-b-que.

 

[blues7]

Eva-Dry E-333

...I have been using the plastic desiccant container that has the little window where you can see the pellets. When the get pink, it means they have absorbed moisture, and you simply take it out and plug it into an electrical outlet over night and when the pellets are blue, they are dry again. Put it back in the safe and check regularly...

...I have some of those electrical drying desiccant packs that have been working for me for 10 or 12 years. Just keep an eye on them. They have a built in hook to hang on a safe shelf.

Best Regards, Les

I recently purchased this [ame="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=eva-dry+e-333&sprefix=eva-dry+e-333%2Cautomotive%2C221"]Amazon.com: eva-dry e-333[/ame] unit to use in an area of roughly 9 cubic feet.

It gets good reviews on a number of internet sites and was a bit more economical than some very similar models from Stack-On and other companies. It comes with a 5 year warranty from the company and you can register the unit online.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Jimmy,

That humidity must be really high this year in the Ocala area!

I agree on eliminating the existing mildew and mold first. I'd call some local experts to ask for their recommendations.

Here's what I use (the Amazon photos are just for information):

1) A Frigidaire Dehumidifier - This is outside my safe in the "Man Cave" - I can set the humidity percentage that I want (50% for me), it has a bucket underneath for manual draining or you can connect the drain line to a sump pump and let technology do the work for you [ame="https://www.amazon.com/Frigidaire-FFAD7033R1-Dehumidifier-Effortless-Humidity/dp/B00UWP07LK/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1469193538&sr=1-2&keywords=frigidaire+dehumidifier"]Amazon.com: Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 Energy Star Dehumidifier with Effortless Humidity Control, 70 pint: Home & Kitchen@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/B1SOLL2zxHS.@@AMEPARAM@@B1SOLL2zxHS[/ame]

2. An Eva-dry E-500 Rechargeable Dehumidifier in my safe - [ame="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_7_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=eva-dry+500&sprefix=Eva-dry%2Caps%2C165"]Amazon.com: eva-dry 500[/ame]) Once the crystals in the window turn pink plug it in to a wall outlet and it recharges (blue) in < 24 hours.

3. A "Golden Rod"

4. A Liberty Lincoln safe

 

[blues7]

@BSeabrooke...

I too have had a Frigidaire dehumidifier in the same room used for storage for several years (and before that Kenmore and other such units).

What I want to stress is that the digital hygrometer readings on these dehumidifiers are notoriously inaccurate and I urge you and any others using these dehumidifiers to purchase a separate hygrometer which you can mount a few feet away from the unit to monitor the relative humidity of the room.

They don't have to be expensive and can be had for $10 and up. A little research and reading of online reviews will be helpful with this.

I hope you'll find this info helpful as the RH in the room may be 10% or more off from what your dehumidifier is indicating. You can compensate for this by adjusting up or down as required.

 

[SweetMK]

Hi:
My American Legion Post keeps the Post M1903 Rifles in a Winchester Gun Safe.
The Rifles rust and mildew while in the safe.

Is the American Legion Post only air conditioned when used?

I would guess,, to save money, the American Legion Post does not air condition 7 days a week.

In my opinion, the guns will rust/mildew without 24/7 air conditioning.

Keeping the gun safe heated with a light bulb or heating rod might even PROMOTE mildew!!

 

[Marine Corps Air]

What blues7 said!

I also use one of these "bad boys" to monitor the humidity level:

[ame="https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-TM005X-M-Wireless-Hygrometer/dp/B004I08CEO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1469196554&sr=1-1&keywords=meade+tm005x-m"]Amazon.com: Meade Instruments TM005X-M Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermo Hygrometer: Electronics[/ame]

They are multi-channel and you can buy a remote unit to go with it. The remote (TS33C-M) is in my safe and sends the info to the unit above (Channel 1). The master unit above monitors the humidity level in the room.

Also, one of these sump pumps will allow you to have the condensate drain in to one of the top openings and the pump will take care of the rest for you:

[ame="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Giant-VCMA-15ULS-Condensate-horsepower/dp/B000AHT78O/ref=sr_1_cc_4?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1469196889&sr=1-4-catcorr&keywords=Little+Giant+sump+pumps"]Little Giant VCMA-15ULS 554405 VCMA Series Automatic Condensate Removal Pump (115 volts), 1/50 horsepower - Sump Pumps - Amazon.com[/ame]

You'll never have to empty that darned condensate bucket in the bottom of the unit again!!!!

 

[Arc Angel]

Me? I drilled two small holes through the bottom of each side of my gun safe. (It was a chore! Even with a carbide bit I had to press hard, and work like a bear; but I got it done.)

Then I inserted two electric cords, (sans plugs) one through each hole. Next I drilled into the asbestos lining at the bottom of each sidewall and inserted, 'plastic anchors'. I finished by using screws to install a Dri-Rod along the lower half of each sidewall.

The gun safe door is usually closed; the Dri-Rods are always turned on; and, now, there is no moisture inside the safe. Without access to moisture, and particularly to moist air, mold is unable to survive and will die.

 

[loknload]

As some others have posted, Dehumidfy the area, add a Golden Rod to the inside bottom of the safe, make sure there is a small vent hole in the top!
I have a Liberty gun safe and have a golden rod in it since the day it was purchased and have never had a problem!

 

[blues7]

Bill, I have one of those Little Giant Sump Pumps (connected to my HVAC) and they are great. I have mine routed to outdoors but I'm going to change it to the shop sink.

The only thing I ever had to do to it was replace the check valve which was allowing condensate to slip back into the tank after it had pumped. A five minute job and the company sent it to me at no charge.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Bill, I have one of those Little Giant Sump Pumps (connected to my HVAC) and they are great. I have mine routed to outdoors but I'm going to change it to the shop sink.

The only thing I ever had to do to it was replace the check valve which was allowing condensate to slip back into the tank after it had pumped. A five minute job and the company sent it to me at no charge.

On Target - Bull's Eye!!

The builder used two of these for the two A/C units in our basement. I was amazed that these small pumps (about the size of a shoe box) can lift water up to eight feet. Ours are both on the basement floor. The tubing is routed up to our ceiling and then ported to the outside. You can also run the water line to a sink drain (which is what you did) or other drain line. I have not run a line outside for the dehumidifier in my "Man Cave" as I'm too far away from a drain and running it outside could attract termites or Zika-carrying mosquitoes, so I just manually empty the tank.

I also called the company in Oklahoma and they were extremely helpful and answered all of my question.

For Jimmy - these would be great bilge pumps!

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

Gun Safe Mildew

Hi Jimmey:

The Paradise Post 79 In New Port Richey maintains their air condition units, in the hall, at 83 degrees when the hall is not in use during the summer. During the winter, obviously, the air not used. Our Garands and 1903's are locked in metal racks in the hall and the rifles are free from mildew. I have the honor guard members clean and wipe them down, after each service, with MPRO7 cleaner and lubricant. So far, they are in excellent shape. Hope this helps and if you have additional questions, please submit a PM. Thanks.

Nick

 

[les.b]

Well, I don't know about Jimmy, but I learned a lot on this thread. I thought I had pretty well figured everything out, but you guys have given me a lot to think about. I may adopt some of these measures for my little gun shop/reloading room as well as my gun safes. I keep a smaller safe at both of my camps as well as at home. I don't store guns there long haul, but say I'm at camp for a couple weeks, and have brought a number of guns with me, I like to keep the ones that i don't personally have with me there. These pose a different problem than my safes at home, because they set empty for long periods of time. One thing I used to do, if I had not been there for awhile is to open the safe up when I get there, and let an electric heater blow into it for an hour or so to drive out any moisture, and dry out the fabric covering the lining. Then put in the guns, and a freshly dried desiccant device.

Hmmmmm

Best Regards, Les