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< 16ga. Guns ~ Gun safe question from novice |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:24 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Oct 2005
Posts: 20
Location: SW Washington State
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I have a question for you gun experts....To protect my growing collection of 16 gauge guns I recently purchased a large gun safe with a good fire rating. I have to keep it in my unheated garage so I have a concern about moisture condensation. I hope that the extra wall thickness and fire insulation may prevent temperature change to some extent.....but what kind of condensation prevention do you folks recommend? Any other gun safe do's and dont's...it's my first one. |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:32 am
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Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 287
Location: missouri
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They sell desicant packs and cans for gun safes, good investment as it keeps moisture down to a minimum. I had several in my safe which I had stored with my guns in it for three years, the safe never was opened. Not one gun had any rust on it when I took the safe out of storage.
They also sell electric dryers for safes, to me that's kind of a hassle but they are said to work very well.
One thing you may want to do if you haven't already is elevate the safe on a couple of 1x3 pieces of wood, in a damp garage moisture could also seep in from the bottom. |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2006 2:00 pm
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Member
Joined: 01 Jan 2006
Posts: 610
Location: Parker,CO,US
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Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:21 pm
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Member
Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 3440
Location: Illinois
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I recommend both--you have a good investment in there-now's not the time to save a dime |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:33 pm
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Member
Joined: 09 Oct 2005
Posts: 20
Location: SW Washington State
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Thanks to all who replied...will get some condensation canisters in there!! |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:34 pm
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Member
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 1522
Location: NH
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I use the canisters along with the electric Golden Rod. Never had a problem. |
_________________ A bad day of hunting is better than a good day of work. |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:14 am
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Member
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Posts: 398
Location: S Fl
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I'll second the advice already given.
1. Get the safe off the floor.
2. Install a golden rod or similar device.
The military has known the value of a "hot locker" for many years.
Originally was a low power light bulb in a sheet steel locker. Worked great even in places like the Canal Zone.
Good luck
Pete |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:11 pm
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Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 582
Location: Great Lakes
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Golden Rod will keep your guns warm and dry. Won't burn out like a light bulb. About $35 from Brownells. |
_________________ A Springer Spaniel, a 6# double and a fair day to hunt. |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:34 pm
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Member
Joined: 09 Oct 2005
Posts: 20
Location: SW Washington State
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Any danger of drying out oiled stocks with the Golden Rod? |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:37 pm
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Member
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 1522
Location: NH
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Woodcanoeguy wrote: |
Any danger of drying out oiled stocks with the Golden Rod?
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No, it is just warm enough to keep the moisture out of the air. It doesn't warm up the safe that much. |
_________________ A bad day of hunting is better than a good day of work. |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:20 pm
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Member
Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 225
Location: San Rafael, CA
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The Brits,as a rule, don't use dessicants or Goldenrods as these can also dry out wood. Instead many of them use a product called VP90[ the domestic equivalent is Bullfrog] that instead creates a vapor barrier that prevents moisture from attaching to the metal. I live near San Francisco where it's foggy and rainy much of the time and since I started using it 10 years ago, I haven't had a bit of trouble with rust.It really works! |
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Posted:
Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:13 am
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Member
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 171
Location: sheffield.Tasmania Australia
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hi woodcanoeguy
temperature control is the main thing you have to look out for..where I live it is fairly temperate .I have a 2 door chubb safe that i lined with ship lap timber lining with 2 inches of fibre glass pink batts behind that ,I have never had a problem with rust .
Both of my brothers live in northern Queensland.where the humidity is extremely high in the tropics.One brother has 27 years army experience.Australia has had a military presence in malasia for many years.soldiers staitioned there had a electrical element in their lockers to stop their uniforms from attracting mildew.this works very well in his gun safe.
the other brother is an electriction he has a low wattage light bulb in his gun safe which runs 24/7. he lives in Cairns which is very very humid and very tropical and unless you have shares in an oil company it is very hard to keep up with an oiling routine on your guns.that little bulb saves a lot of hard work and heartache
good shooting
sbs470 |
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