Not rust but MOLD

turkeybuzzard · November 22, 2013, 08:25 PM

I have one of those Sam's club Winchester safes. It is fine for what i use it for. I have it filled as full as I can get it with long guns and my pistols are stored on the top shelf. I have some desiccant on the shelf where the barrels of the rifles rest in the middle. It is a full gallon and it has a color chart telling when it needs attention. I have never had to do anything to it. All the rifles I use are on the front two slots on each side. Today I noticed some mold on some of the stocks. I will admit, I haven't shot as much this year as in the past. I would say 7 out of 20 had mold, some worse than others and the ones that had a cheap sock or cover, 3, had none. Why mold but no rust? Do I need one of the electric rods?

kilimanjaro · November 22, 2013, 08:29 PM

You've got some moisture in there, or it's in the wood when placed in the safe.

Change your dessicant or dry it out, put some in upper and lower level of the safe, and yes, do get the rod setup.

Bigfatts · November 22, 2013, 09:18 PM

I have the same 'safe' and have never had a problem with mold. I just have a simple dessicant (Damprid I think) and it does the job fine. I live on a lake in FL so it can get pretty muggy but I've never had a problem.

**4V50 Gary** · November 22, 2013, 09:22 PM

The fire protection has moisture in it. Hence the mold. Get a dehumidifier/golden rod in your box. Before you do though, empty it and wipe down the interior with clorox to kill whatever spores there may be. Remember, because of the fire protection you might have to inspect the contents twice a year.

turkeybuzzard · November 23, 2013, 11:28 AM

Thanks everybody. I guess I will go with a goldenrod and wipe down with clorox.

**4V50 Gary** · November 23, 2013, 11:40 AM

BTW, get Rig Gun Grease and apply it to the metal. Renaissance Wax for your leather & wood.

Skans · November 23, 2013, 12:23 PM

Consider getting a dehumidifier for the room where you have the safe. It takes quite a bit of moisture to get mold to grow. I'm a HUGE fan of dehumidifiers - they really work. Oh, and a goldenrod for inside the safe.

22-rimfire · November 24, 2013, 02:53 PM

Remove guns and wipe both the guns and the interior of the safe down with a biocide. Be careful with Chlorox as it can burn you. Wear gloves.

I would pay attention to the room you are storing the safe in as well. The moisture levels may be related to the room and the lack of air movement inside your safe.

ttyler380 · November 25, 2013, 11:41 AM

I have extra wood grips and rubber that developed a white powdery mildew on them. They were polished with furniture polish, Behold or Pledge. My guns are fine. I suspect these polishes have some nutrient in them that feeds these critters. Humidity is near 40%, Temp 65 F

Stevie-Ray · November 27, 2013, 07:11 PM

I have the same safe and have never had an issue, though I use only a plug-in refresh dessicant pack. I did recently move though, so I must continue to check on this as possibly new house=new problems.

Quote:

BTW, get Rig Gun Grease and apply it to the metal. Renaissance Wax for your leather & wood.

Got the RIG and use it. Need the Renaissance Wax though, thanks Gary!

wayneinFL · November 28, 2013, 06:42 PM

Is bleach really a good idea around a bunch of metal? Does it affect bluing? I've spent time working around pools, and it seems any aluminum or steel in the vicinity gets eaten up eventually.

johnwilliamson062 · November 29, 2013, 10:25 PM

How do you install a goldenrod in a fireproof safe? If you open a hole you void the protection warranty, correct?
I think fireproff is a waste of time myself.

22-rimfire · November 30, 2013, 11:28 AM

Bleach is very caustic. VERY. I would NEVER use it on a gun or gun part. But the inside of the safe is different and the vapors dissapate. There is no big secret about mold. You provide or allow an enviroment for it to develop and it will on organic material. As the President says.... period!

November 22, 2013, 08:25 PM	#1
turkeybuzzard Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 78	Not rust but MOLD I have one of those Sam's club Winchester safes. It is fine for what i use it for. I have it filled as full as I can get it with long guns and my pistols are stored on the top shelf. I have some desiccant on the shelf where the barrels of the rifles rest in the middle. It is a full gallon and it has a color chart telling when it needs attention. I have never had to do anything to it. All the rifles I use are on the front two slots on each side. Today I noticed some mold on some of the stocks. I will admit, I haven't shot as much this year as in the past. I would say 7 out of 20 had mold, some worse than others and the ones that had a cheap sock or cover, 3, had none. Why mold but no rust? Do I need one of the electric rods?

November 22, 2013, 09:22 PM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	The fire protection has moisture in it. Hence the mold. Get a dehumidifier/golden rod in your box. Before you do though, empty it and wipe down the interior with clorox to kill whatever spores there may be. Remember, because of the fire protection you might have to inspect the contents twice a year. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 23, 2013, 11:40 AM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	BTW, get Rig Gun Grease and apply it to the metal. Renaissance Wax for your leather & wood. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 25, 2013, 11:41 AM	#9
ttyler380 Member Join Date: January 9, 2011 Posts: 17	Mold on stock I have extra wood grips and rubber that developed a white powdery mildew on them. They were polished with furniture polish, Behold or Pledge. My guns are fine. I suspect these polishes have some nutrient in them that feeds these critters. Humidity is near 40%, Temp 65 F

November 22, 2013, 08:29 PM	#2
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	You've got some moisture in there, or it's in the wood when placed in the safe. Change your dessicant or dry it out, put some in upper and lower level of the safe, and yes, do get the rod setup.

November 22, 2013, 09:18 PM	#3
Bigfatts Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2005 Location: Lutz Posts: 1,528	I have the same 'safe' and have never had a problem with mold. I just have a simple dessicant (Damprid I think) and it does the job fine. I live on a lake in FL so it can get pretty muggy but I've never had a problem.

November 23, 2013, 11:28 AM	#5
turkeybuzzard Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 78	Thanks everybody. I guess I will go with a goldenrod and wipe down with clorox.

November 23, 2013, 12:23 PM	#7
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Consider getting a dehumidifier for the room where you have the safe. It takes quite a bit of moisture to get mold to grow. I'm a HUGE fan of dehumidifiers - they really work. Oh, and a goldenrod for inside the safe.

November 24, 2013, 02:53 PM	#8
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	Remove guns and wipe both the guns and the interior of the safe down with a biocide. Be careful with Chlorox as it can burn you. Wear gloves. I would pay attention to the room you are storing the safe in as well. The moisture levels may be related to the room and the lack of air movement inside your safe.

November 28, 2013, 06:42 PM	#11
wayneinFL Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Posts: 1,944	Is bleach really a good idea around a bunch of metal? Does it affect bluing? I've spent time working around pools, and it seems any aluminum or steel in the vicinity gets eaten up eventually.

November 29, 2013, 10:25 PM	#12
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	How do you install a goldenrod in a fireproof safe? If you open a hole you void the protection warranty, correct? I think fireproff is a waste of time myself.

November 30, 2013, 11:28 AM	#13
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	Bleach is very caustic. VERY. I would NEVER use it on a gun or gun part. But the inside of the safe is different and the vapors dissapate. There is no big secret about mold. You provide or allow an enviroment for it to develop and it will on organic material. As the President says.... period!