Long term storage of blue/stainless guns on eggrcrates or foam rubber?

[nipster]

I am storing some handguns stacked in boxes separated by what is bedding foam rubber similar to older "eggcrate" foam.

After I did this, I got to thinking, is there possibility of something bad happening because long term of this? I dont want to unpack the guns months or years later to find the foam rubber affixxed to the guns and ruined the finish.

Anyone do this before?

The stuff I used is similar to this, I bought it at walmart.

 

[Gray Rider]

I have kept several blued handguns in a plastic case lined with egg-crate foam for several years and have noticed no ill effects on the bluing of these guns.

 

[Rule3]

I wouldn't. That foam falls apart/rots over time.
There is better, denser closed cell foam available if you really need to use a foam product. The tight closed cell foam is usually very white in color and is used in a lot of boat cushions and similar products.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

I use Bore Stores for all my guns, never a problem as that's what they are designed for. The foam material is designed more for impact protection (think shipping material, or transporting to the range, short term use).

 

[nipster]

Ok, thanks for the input. What about bubble wrap or covering the foam in some substance like old t-shirts.

Here is my scenario: I dont have a safe, and am storing my more valuable handguns in a safe deposit box, and I am trying to maximize capacity of the boxes. I can store close to 20 handguns in each my boxes the way I am doing it now versus only 12 by leaving them in gun rugs and packing them into the boxes. I chose foam to kind of insulate them so to speak, and the foam tends to hold them in place during transport (to/from my house). I actually had this foam lying around, but would buy what I need to if doing what I am doing is going to harm the guns. I wax all my guns with ren wax prior to storage, by the way.

Before anyone asks, there is no state law or bank policy against this at my bank.

Thanks for the help

 

[nipster]

I use Bore Stores for all my guns, never a problem as that's what they are designed for. The foam material is designed more for impact protection (think shipping material, or transporting to the range, short term use).

I never heard of those, however they look just like gun rugs, but more "form fitting" to the firearm.

 

[Rule3]

Ok, thanks for the input. What about bubble wrap or covering the foam in some substance like old t-shirts.



Thanks for the help

Bubble wrap maybe, NO to the cloth t- shirts that would just hold moisture.

Folks use Bore stores ( I do not) they are thinner than a gun case or rug, they may be just what you need.

Protective Gun Cases Silicon Treated - Bore Stores

 

[nipster]

Bubble wrap maybe, NO to the cloth t- shirts that would just hold moisture.

Folks use Bore stores ( I do not) they are thinner than a gun case or rug, they may be just what you need.

Protective Gun Cases Silicon Treated - Bore Stores

Thanks for the input, I am going to look further into that.

 

[MP1983]

i use wax paper & a quality gun oil (Hoppes)...some in egg-crate foam, others in pistol rugs...

 

[Prof_Fate]

I put a dirty ruger mk1 in a cheap eggcrate foam / plastic gun case for the past 20+ years. Never kept in a basement, just in a closet in my bedroom over the years.
No rust, no marks, no nothing.

A marlin 22LR rifle also spent the same time in a soft case standing in the corner, also dirty. Not a mark on it.

Have a 50's vintage air pistol and an early 80s air rifle, niether in a case and I know the pistol spent 15 years in a basement - no rust or anything on them either.

And we do get 80-90% humidity here in the summers, I don't live (never have) in an air conditioned house (where the a/c dehumidifies).

 

[ogilvyspecial]

All foam isn't created equal. A close friend owns a drum shop and one day a
guy brought in this vintage snare, a real nice one, with some exceptions.

The case that he had been keeping it in was foam lined and whatever was
in the foam stained all of the hardware where it was in contact with it.

It made us all sick just lookin' at it.......

 

[crofoot629]

I use Bore Stores for all my guns, never a problem as that's what they are designed for. The foam material is designed more for impact protection (think shipping material, or transporting to the range, short term use).

They are dirt cheap at Midway. Use what's made for the job.

Emory

 

[Fishslayer]

I never heard of those, however they look just like gun rugs, but more "form fitting" to the firearm.

Bore Stores are kind of midway between a sock and a rug.

I've seen some pretty serious damage done to bluing stored in egg crate foam. The foam holds the moisture & I'm sure there's also some outgassing going on. Some might do it but I won't. All my blued guns live in socks or Bore Stores.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Gun socks first. Then foam.

 

[Aussie Collector]

Rather that go out and buy something else the cheap option is to well oil you guns and put each one in a plastic bag. Then you can lay them in the foam for cushioning and scratch protection. Some gun oils can dissolve different foams so unless your 100% sure don’t do it. I had a rifle case in use for over 20 years changed oil and a few months later the foam was history.
Cheers

 

[CajunBass]

I just wipe mine off with either a silicone rag, or some gun oil, and store them in white cotton socks. Started doing that years ago when I needed something quick. They worked, so I never saw any reason to change.

In spite of the fact that people don't recomend it, I have stored guns in foam lined cases, fleece lined cases, holsters...both nylon and leather, the box they came in, and just propped up in a corner of the room. I've never had a problem with any of them.

 

[chief38]

1) clean gun thoroughly after removing grips
2) remove all solvents
3) coat with RIG Universal Grease - inside & out
4) wrap gun in waxed paper, then in aluminum foil
5) store grips separately
6) just about any storage container is acceptable as long as the above is done, but I use the original box.

I never had any issues with the above method - works flawlessly.

Chief38

 

[mike4sigs]

i have seem some ill effects that the ?? egg crate foam lined cases can do ! i had a blued 870 remington 20 ga that i bought off a guy at the local gun show and it had what he told me was oil marks from where the raised part of the gun case hit it. And it wiped right off with a oily rag that i borrowed from a vendor and when i got home took it out of the case the marks where back same exact place . i took it to a freind who is my go to on gun repair and he told me it was from the case ! he showed me the exact same thing on a model 19 that he had bought in one of those cases !
i no longer use foam lined cases for long term storage ! i use bore stores and sack ups !

I have never tried to link to othier post ( sorry) but we have discussed the Gun sock/sackup's on here before!
just for more info !

 

[ladyT]

My method is a monthly wipe down with oil then into a sock then into a gun case that resides within the safe. I must admit that I have no plan for the grips. Can someone provide guidence in this atea.

 

[nipster]

Ok, I think I am convinced that foam is a bad idea. Need to investigate some of these other options.

Thanks