Preventing rust in a safe.

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Gros21

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Well to my horror I spotted some rust on a rarely used rifle today. I’m generally pretty good when I take it out so I presume it’s from handing it moving guns in and out of the safe.

My safe is 100x55x150cm high or about 35cf steel 1/8” carpet lining. 320lb or so worth.

So not fire proof/insulated ect ect. In a carpeted room inside.

I’ generally run some damp rid in there. I’ve also just installed a 15w reptile heater element (low surface temp ect ect) it’s 6.5ft cord. Which will act like a golden rod style thing. After 4hrs safe isn’t anywarmer (to the touch)

But was wondering what else can be done, may try to ditch the damp rid for some Silcia gell.
 
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I live in humid Florida and I run a Golden Rod and three big boxes of desiccant. I have to "recharge" those boxes about every month
I also keep all my guns in silicone socks for this (as well as to prevent safe dings)

So far, so good
 
I live in coastal NC and silica gel works fine.

You can find 500 gram to 1000 gram bags on e-bay at good prices or you can buy it in cans from a number of sources. The cans are more durable and you don't have to worry about getting the recharge temp a bit too hot if your oven thermostat is off. 235-250 degrees for 4 hours works fine.

[ame="https://www.amazon.com/LOCKDOWN-Silica-Gel-750-Grams/dp/B07N46H899"]Amazon.com : LOCKDOWN Silica Gel, 750 Grams : Safe Accessories : Sports & Outdoors[/ame]

Lockdown 750-gram Silica Gel | Academy

I also recommend you get a hygrometer in either the standard or never needs batteries model. Keep the humidity between 40% and 60% and you'll be fine.

SnapSafe LCD Hygrometer | Academy

Lockdown Hygrometer | Academy

Reducing air exchange will increase the length of time between recharging. If you've just got a non fire rated security safe, duct tape over any extra holes in the walls and with any safe you can also use a thin rubber bead weather strip where the door seats against the safe. I have a safe in a bathroom closet with that treatment and despite the occasional high humidity it'll go six months between having to rehcharge the silica gel cans.
 
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My safe is in the basement and I have a dehumidifier that holds humidity at at about 50. I also have a Golden Rod in the safe. My furnace is also there and during the heat on time it keeps basement about 60 degrees.

Been that way since 2004 when I moved up here! and so far all is well! My other house where I had a safe from 1980 till I moved up here about the same circumstances!
 
I would start with a humidity gauge, inexpensive but gives a good insight to what you're dealing with and then configure your heat element accordingly.

Your rifle may have been exposed prior to storage or any number of things could account for this event as you have correctly presumed.

I have a few safes and all have a golden rods inside with a digital humidity gauge that is viewable at a glance when opening door. Humidity levels must not be so low that it is a detriment to wood etc.

I still do not consider this a guarantee of a never rust solution so I try to inspect or rub down those that are infrequently or never used. I pay particular attention to the ones inside pistol/rifle socks even with silicon treatment.

It can happen regardless of your efforts to prevent it but catching it in time as I hope you did, is the best you can hope for. Your locale, house environment and usage of safe all come into play here so a periodic inspection and sufficient dehumidifying efforts can minimize a lot of grief.

I use the Golden Rods, Silicon socks and gauges, have had success for over a couple decades but still do the occasional visual check & wipe down to be safe.
 
I have a golden rod but I don't trust it so I keep a 40 watt light in there also. Been working good since 1989. And no it is not the original light bulb. Larry
 
The constant rise and fall of the temperature is your house can cause condensation. If the temperatures are too extreme, sometimes a dehumidifier is not enough.

Put your guns in silicone treated gun socks. This will solve the problem.

I’ve worked on safes that were exposed to such conditions many times. The lock and bolt works were rusty and oxidized requiring cleaning, repair, or replacement. Oxidation is especially hard on electronic safe locks.
 
I'm very careful to keep all guns wiped down with oil. Learned to the hard way. Keep oil and rag in the safe. Anything that gets touched gets wiped down.
 
Dehumidifier, silica gel, and for things not regularly in use, a thin layer of your favorite protective oil. I use CLP on my milsurps which have not been shot in years.

CLP will dry to form a kind of sticky varnish over time, but it protects the metal brilliantly.
 
I use a Golden rod in my safe. I also have a dehumidifier in use from spring until fall season. I try to open the safe for a few hours every month.This system works for me. (I also have another safe that doesn’t have a golden rod. No rust knock on wood!
 
No one has mentioned what I use yet, so I'll throw it out there for you. I have a small magnetic hygrometer to keep track of humidity ( I just stick it on my shelf tracks )and a rechargeable Eva-Dry pack. I have the bigger one of the small packs they offer , more than my safe needs but the smaller one is close to capacity with my safe size. In the winter it has gotten down to 25% ( forced air heat so the house gets dry ) . In the summer it stays between 50-55% with our humidity ( anywhere from 70-95% most of the time ) . Anything I don't often shoot has a coat of ren wax on it, and the ones that do get shot get wiped down with an oiled rag when I put them away.

The Eva-Dry gets taken out and plugged in to recharge ( it just plugs into an outlet and heats itself to dry it out ) maybe 3 times a winter and once a month in the summer. It has crystals that are blue when dry and turn pink when they get saturated with moisture.

evadry.jpe

View attachment 392507

The hygrometer was maybe $10 and the Eva-Dry was $25 or so if I remember right.
 
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I’m in Australia if it helps.

A month ago I had an inspection of my safe were they check every gun in the safe’s to check serial numbers ect ect. I dare say this was the issue.

I’ve just installed a battery temp/humidity sensor I’ll see how it goes. I’ve also bought a Aqara smart temp humidity sensor.

I think I’ll ditch the damp rid and replace it with Silcia gell (free from work) I’ll just put it in a small delicates bag. 20kg buckets are easy to get ��

Also since day 1 ive run a extra foam seal approx 1/2” x 1/2” used for window seal ect ect

I only shoot every 2nd weekend so safe isn’t opened alot

Do those zerust modules work.
 
I live on a small island surrounded by saltwater.
I've never trusted 'Damp-Rid' for anything, because as it works, it just becomes a container of water in whatever space it's being used for. If it doesn't get changed out at proper intervals, you essentially just have a bowl of water sitting in your space.

My safes have one (1) each of a ~quart-sized silica bag and a rechargeable silica pack. Charge about 2-3 times a year.
Most handguns are in canvas pistol rugs in which the interiors have been hosed down with silicone spray and allowed to dry.
Most long guns wiped down with CLP.

Have never had any rust issues.
I would dump the whole Damp-Rid thing.
 
Old Corp said:
I live on a small island surrounded by saltwater.
I've never trusted 'Damp-Rid' for anything, because as it works, it just becomes a container of water in whatever space it's being used for. If it doesn't get changed out at proper intervals, you essentially just have a bowl of water sitting in your space.

My safes have one (1) each of a ~quart-sized silica bag and a rechargeable silica pack. Charge about 2-3 times a year.
Most handguns are in canvas pistol rugs in which the interiors have been hosed down with silicone spray and allowed to dry.
Most long guns wiped down with CLP.

Have never had any rust issues.
I would dump the whole Damp-Rid thing.
Click to expand...

I’ve been told that the water is also corrosive. So be careful where you dispose of it.
 
I use the golden rods in my safes and RIG grease on the guns that I don't shoot often. So far no problems and this is in an unheated garage so the temperature varies widely throughout the year. I've never been a fan of the gun socks. I don't like the idea of not being able to see rust if it would start developing.
 
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