The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Handguns "sweating" and oxidizing in safe. Dehumidier? Dessicant?

Rorge Retson · July 5, 2012, 03:06 AM

Being in Southern California (a desert, essentially), I did not expect this issue; but, here it is.

After cleaning all of my handguns last month, I recently checked on them in the safe and found that the areas where part meets part or where there is movement (i.e. slide, slide lock, safeties), there was "sweat" or something... maybe oil? But that would be weird, because I am careful to put on only a thin coat.

The only thing I can think of is that it is humidity. The outside of my new Marlin 795 .22LR semi-auto rifle's barrel seems to confirm this - I've only had it for a month, and yet it already shows signs of oxidation. I grabbed a cotton swatch and rubbed a very slight film of oil over it.

So, my question is this - presuming that the issue is, in fact, humidity, what is the best way to deal with it? Dessicant? If so, which kind, how much, etc. A dehumidifier? I checked them out and they all look so cheap.

What to do?

July 5, 2012, 03:06 AM	#1
Rorge Retson Junior Member Join Date: May 10, 2012 Posts: 4	Handguns "sweating" and oxidizing in safe. Dehumidier? Dessicant? Being in Southern California (a desert, essentially), I did not expect this issue; but, here it is. After cleaning all of my handguns last month, I recently checked on them in the safe and found that the areas where part meets part or where there is movement (i.e. slide, slide lock, safeties), there was "sweat" or something... maybe oil? But that would be weird, because I am careful to put on only a thin coat. The only thing I can think of is that it is humidity. The outside of my new Marlin 795 .22LR semi-auto rifle's barrel seems to confirm this - I've only had it for a month, and yet it already shows signs of oxidation. I grabbed a cotton swatch and rubbed a very slight film of oil over it. So, my question is this - presuming that the issue is, in fact, humidity, what is the best way to deal with it? Dessicant? If so, which kind, how much, etc. A dehumidifier? I checked them out and they all look so cheap. What to do?