gun safe humidity

kman55 · April 9, 2012, 02:23 AM

Hey im new here and hope this is where it goes. I have a sentry 14 gun safe and have looked all over for a good answer. I sealed it up tight with weather stripping and have two of the eva dry 333 in it with a humidity monitor, the digital kind. My temp is constant around 73 and i cant get my humidity to drop below 51 even with two in it. My room humidity is 60%. I do keep everything oiled and break free clp coating. I just would prefer a 40% RH or so. Any ideas would help. I have a goldenrod, but its just for temp and dew point. More silica Gel possibly? Can you have too much, i mean besides cracking or drying out wood stalks. I just dont like my higher humidity. Thank you all Oh and one more 750 gram dessicant on the way.

FrosSsT · April 9, 2012, 01:47 PM

I wouldnt worry about 60% humidity. You cant have too much silica gel but If you have 2 ever dry dehumidifiers that should be plenty - its what I have and I've never had a problem (I dont even use a humidity monitor) After your done cleaning them, just take some remoil and spray them down and wipe with a microfiber towel. You sound paranoid about rust

kman55 · April 9, 2012, 02:18 PM

Haha okay, I would just like it lower. I guess you can say I am a bit worried. I don't want my guns which I put alot of time and money into to rust away. Haha

FrosSsT · April 9, 2012, 02:37 PM

I understand you want to protect your investments, but you really shouldnt worry. You already have more then what most people have as far as preventing humidity. 60% humidity is fine - most museums keep antique firearms at around 50% and a temp of around 72 degrees. a 10% change in humidity for wood and metal is not very much at all.

kman55 · April 9, 2012, 02:49 PM

Thank you buddy!

sserdlihc · April 9, 2012, 08:46 PM

I work at a furniture store and I take the silica packs from all of the Ashley case goods and throw them in my safe. That is all I have ever done. Never had the first problem.

kman55 · April 9, 2012, 08:54 PM

That's what I'm doing now, does anyone know much about the equilibrium of humidity. I'm wondering if that's why I can't get under 50%

sserdlihc · April 9, 2012, 09:05 PM

Dude, do you think this hard about making a PB and J?

I agree with FrosSst, you seem paranoid.

I've had my Browning safe for 10 years. NEVER the first sign of rust or stocks splitting and drying out. Again, all I use is silica packs.

kman55 · April 9, 2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sserdlihc

Dude, do you think this hard about making a PB and J?

I agree with FrosSst, you seem paranoid.

I've had my Browning safe for 10 years. NEVER the first sign of rust or stocks splitting and drying out. Again, all I use is silica packs.

Haha I mean you have crunchy and creamy! No I'm not that worried, just some previous rust on an sks that I got taken care of. Just figured I'd ask some people more experienced. I didn't know mine was in okay conditions

Savage99 · April 10, 2012, 08:35 AM

Keep some heat going in the safe. I use a small light bulb of 15W thats on all of the time. It keeps it dryer in the safe and also reduces the damp air from condensing on the warmer guns.

The Goldenrod is the first class way to do it.

http://www.goldenroddehumidifiers.com/introduction.htm

I also run a dehumidifier in that room.

kman55 · April 10, 2012, 04:50 PM

Thank you!

rebs · April 10, 2012, 05:12 PM

I have a golden rod and a silica pellet can in mine

I never heard of sealing it up with weather stripping.

kman55 · April 10, 2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebs

I have a golden rod and a silica pellet can in mine

I never heard of sealing it up with weather stripping.

Well alot of safes come sealed for fire protection. Your silica desiccant will work better if it's a closed environment, mine was cheaper and had a .5 inch gap of wiggle room when closed. That's why it's sealed now and it has helped.

sserdlihc · April 10, 2012, 08:12 PM

If the safe is subjected to extremes in temperatures then it could pose a problem(ie.a garage with no climate control). But if it is inside your house where it is climate controlled you should be good to go.

With the .5 inch gap you found I think you did good by adding the weather stripping. Atleast it couldn't hurt.

rebs · April 10, 2012, 08:38 PM

mine has an expanding seal that activates with heat in case of a fire.
The directions with the golden rod say to put it in the bottom of the safe and the warm air it creates will rise and exit out the top of the door and bring fresh air in the bottom of the door.

April 9, 2012, 02:23 AM	#1
kman55 Member Join Date: February 18, 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 22	gun safe humidity Hey im new here and hope this is where it goes. I have a sentry 14 gun safe and have looked all over for a good answer. I sealed it up tight with weather stripping and have two of the eva dry 333 in it with a humidity monitor, the digital kind. My temp is constant around 73 and i cant get my humidity to drop below 51 even with two in it. My room humidity is 60%. I do keep everything oiled and break free clp coating. I just would prefer a 40% RH or so. Any ideas would help. I have a goldenrod, but its just for temp and dew point. More silica Gel possibly? Can you have too much, i mean besides cracking or drying out wood stalks. I just dont like my higher humidity. Thank you all Oh and one more 750 gram dessicant on the way.

April 9, 2012, 08:46 PM	#6
sserdlihc Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2008 Location: S.C. Posts: 1,454	I work at a furniture store and I take the silica packs from all of the Ashley case goods and throw them in my safe. That is all I have ever done. Never had the first problem. __________________ Familiarity breeds contempt, while rarity wins admiration. Aupleius If someone doesn't like you, that's their problem! Milton Childress

April 9, 2012, 09:05 PM	#8
sserdlihc Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2008 Location: S.C. Posts: 1,454	Dude, do you think this hard about making a PB and J? I agree with FrosSst, you seem paranoid. I've had my Browning safe for 10 years. NEVER the first sign of rust or stocks splitting and drying out. Again, all I use is silica packs. __________________ Familiarity breeds contempt, while rarity wins admiration. Aupleius If someone doesn't like you, that's their problem! Milton Childress

April 10, 2012, 08:12 PM	#14
sserdlihc Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2008 Location: S.C. Posts: 1,454	If the safe is subjected to extremes in temperatures then it could pose a problem(ie.a garage with no climate control). But if it is inside your house where it is climate controlled you should be good to go. With the .5 inch gap you found I think you did good by adding the weather stripping. Atleast it couldn't hurt. __________________ Familiarity breeds contempt, while rarity wins admiration. Aupleius If someone doesn't like you, that's their problem! Milton Childress

April 9, 2012, 01:47 PM	#2
FrosSsT Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 595	I wouldnt worry about 60% humidity. You cant have too much silica gel but If you have 2 ever dry dehumidifiers that should be plenty - its what I have and I've never had a problem (I dont even use a humidity monitor) After your done cleaning them, just take some remoil and spray them down and wipe with a microfiber towel. You sound paranoid about rust

April 9, 2012, 02:18 PM	#3
kman55 Member Join Date: February 18, 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 22	Haha okay, I would just like it lower. I guess you can say I am a bit worried. I don't want my guns which I put alot of time and money into to rust away. Haha

April 9, 2012, 02:37 PM	#4
FrosSsT Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 595	I understand you want to protect your investments, but you really shouldnt worry. You already have more then what most people have as far as preventing humidity. 60% humidity is fine - most museums keep antique firearms at around 50% and a temp of around 72 degrees. a 10% change in humidity for wood and metal is not very much at all.

April 9, 2012, 02:49 PM	#5
kman55 Member Join Date: February 18, 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 22	Thank you buddy!

April 9, 2012, 08:54 PM	#7
kman55 Member Join Date: February 18, 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 22	That's what I'm doing now, does anyone know much about the equilibrium of humidity. I'm wondering if that's why I can't get under 50%

April 10, 2012, 08:35 AM	#10
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567	Keep some heat going in the safe. I use a small light bulb of 15W thats on all of the time. It keeps it dryer in the safe and also reduces the damp air from condensing on the warmer guns. The Goldenrod is the first class way to do it. http://www.goldenroddehumidifiers.com/introduction.htm I also run a dehumidifier in that room.

April 10, 2012, 04:50 PM	#11
kman55 Member Join Date: February 18, 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 22	Thank you!

April 10, 2012, 05:12 PM	#12
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I have a golden rod and a silica pellet can in mine I never heard of sealing it up with weather stripping.

April 10, 2012, 08:38 PM	#15
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	mine has an expanding seal that activates with heat in case of a fire. The directions with the golden rod say to put it in the bottom of the safe and the warm air it creates will rise and exit out the top of the door and bring fresh air in the bottom of the door.