Gun Safe Dehumidifiers

KnotRight · April 9, 2013, 04:14 PM

What are you using for dehumidifiers in your gun safe. I know that the electric ones are the best but I am not sure if I have a hole through the safe to run the wire. Also, I do not have an electrical plug in the closet.

While at Bass Pro they had a dehumidifier that is rechargable and it says the charge should last maybe 7 weeks. While at a gun store today they said that you could but silicon in maybe 5 gallon bucks at Home Depot.

With the summer time coming and humidity in the 90s, it is time to do something.

Also, if you get you handguns in rugs, what do you treat the inside of the rugs with?

rebs · April 9, 2013, 04:35 PM

I use both kinds, I have a Golden Rod and a canister type that needs rejuvenating about every 6 months. They both work well.

Live45 · April 9, 2013, 05:19 PM

I have a small handgun safe under my bed. It is by no means airtight and it is not a firesafe. We live in Central Florida and we pretty much have the air conditioning on all year. What if anything should I use?

stephen426 · April 9, 2013, 06:29 PM

I am in Miami and I have the Golden Rod combined with rechargable silica gel based dessicants. The Golden Rod supposedly works by forcing the moisture out by heating the air inside the safe. Despite that, the rechargable dehumidifiers seem to suck up enough moisture to completely change the color within a few days. They claim that it protects for 30 - 60 days without needing to be recharged, but the color indicator turns way before that. I use two of them in my safe and I charge them one at a time.

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=180353

I have used the hanging Damp Rid Hanging Moisture Absorbers before, but I am worried that one of them will leak. It worked for a while before becoming totall saturated.

What worries me the most is why the Golden Rod doesn't do a better job. I sure that just opening the safe lets in all of the moisture and all of that moisture needs to be sucked up/pushed out.

Rifleman1776 · April 10, 2013, 08:34 AM

I use a disposable dessicant from the local Dollar Store. They last 3 to 6 months depending on conditions. I buy several at a time. They don't activate until you unwrap them. And, they cost only $1.00 each.

BigD_in_FL · April 10, 2013, 08:17 PM

Here in central and humid Florida, I use a golden rod (had to drill a hole), and THREE of the large dessicant boxes inside. Once a month, they either get plugged or or placed in the oven as appropriate

Ed4032 · April 10, 2013, 08:41 PM

"Rifleman1776 said
I use a disposable dessicant from the local Dollar Store. They last 3 to 6 months depending on conditions. I buy several at a time. They don't activate until you unwrap them. And, they cost only $1.00 each."

This is what I do also. Works well.

Buzzard Bait · April 10, 2013, 10:11 PM

I'm using a 25 watt light bulb

psyfly · April 11, 2013, 01:37 PM

I've been using a 7-watt night light (safe has an electrical pass-through, so no opening) for the last couple of years and have had no noticeable condensation and have had no rust. Safe is in the unheated garage.

In cool/cold weather, the safe always feels warm inside when I open it.

Will

WallaceB · April 11, 2013, 02:28 PM

Have been using one made by remington that you take out and plug in to dry out. It works well, but have to check every two weeks

Hardcase · April 11, 2013, 02:47 PM

I also use one of those desiccant boxes that you plug in to reactivate, but it's very dry here in southwest Idaho, so humidity in the safe really isn't a problem.

April 9, 2013, 04:14 PM	#1
KnotRight Member Join Date: February 6, 2013 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 98	Gun Safe Dehumidifiers What are you using for dehumidifiers in your gun safe. I know that the electric ones are the best but I am not sure if I have a hole through the safe to run the wire. Also, I do not have an electrical plug in the closet. While at Bass Pro they had a dehumidifier that is rechargable and it says the charge should last maybe 7 weeks. While at a gun store today they said that you could but silicon in maybe 5 gallon bucks at Home Depot. With the summer time coming and humidity in the 90s, it is time to do something. Also, if you get you handguns in rugs, what do you treat the inside of the rugs with?

April 9, 2013, 06:29 PM	#4
stephen426 Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Posts: 3,840	I am in Miami and I have the Golden Rod combined with rechargable silica gel based dessicants. The Golden Rod supposedly works by forcing the moisture out by heating the air inside the safe. Despite that, the rechargable dehumidifiers seem to suck up enough moisture to completely change the color within a few days. They claim that it protects for 30 - 60 days without needing to be recharged, but the color indicator turns way before that. I use two of them in my safe and I charge them one at a time. http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=180353 I have used the hanging Damp Rid Hanging Moisture Absorbers before, but I am worried that one of them will leak. It worked for a while before becoming totall saturated. What worries me the most is why the Golden Rod doesn't do a better job. I sure that just opening the safe lets in all of the moisture and all of that moisture needs to be sucked up/pushed out. __________________ The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!

April 10, 2013, 08:41 PM	#7
Ed4032 Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 306	"Rifleman1776 said I use a disposable dessicant from the local Dollar Store. They last 3 to 6 months depending on conditions. I buy several at a time. They don't activate until you unwrap them. And, they cost only $1.00 each." This is what I do also. Works well. __________________ Gun control is like stopping drunk driving by making it harder for sober people to drive.

April 10, 2013, 10:11 PM	#8
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	light bulb I'm using a 25 watt light bulb

April 11, 2013, 01:37 PM	#9
psyfly Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 932	I've been using a 7-watt night light (safe has an electrical pass-through, so no opening) for the last couple of years and have had no noticeable condensation and have had no rust. Safe is in the unheated garage. In cool/cold weather, the safe always feels warm inside when I open it. Will __________________ Show me the data

April 9, 2013, 04:35 PM	#2
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I use both kinds, I have a Golden Rod and a canister type that needs rejuvenating about every 6 months. They both work well.

April 9, 2013, 05:19 PM	#3
Live45 Member Join Date: January 23, 2013 Location: Central Florida Posts: 46	I have a small handgun safe under my bed. It is by no means airtight and it is not a firesafe. We live in Central Florida and we pretty much have the air conditioning on all year. What if anything should I use?

April 10, 2013, 08:34 AM	#5
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	I use a disposable dessicant from the local Dollar Store. They last 3 to 6 months depending on conditions. I buy several at a time. They don't activate until you unwrap them. And, they cost only $1.00 each.

April 10, 2013, 08:17 PM	#6
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	Here in central and humid Florida, I use a golden rod (had to drill a hole), and THREE of the large dessicant boxes inside. Once a month, they either get plugged or or placed in the oven as appropriate

April 11, 2013, 02:28 PM	#10
WallaceB Member Join Date: June 24, 2011 Posts: 25	Have been using one made by remington that you take out and plug in to dry out. It works well, but have to check every two weeks

April 11, 2013, 02:47 PM	#11
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	I also use one of those desiccant boxes that you plug in to reactivate, but it's very dry here in southwest Idaho, so humidity in the safe really isn't a problem. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae