moisture in Gun Safe

[Jozie & Me]

My dad's gun safe isn't opened that often. Over the weekend, I took a look in it to wipe the guns with oil. I noticed that some of the long guns were getting a light dusting of green mold on the stocks, both wood and synthetic. A couple, nearest the wall even had some very light surface rust spots.

I checked the golden rod, which is working fine, and I put two large desiccant packs in the safe to pull any moisture out of the air. My question is, why is this safe having moisture problems when the other safe 10 ft away is fine? I have never had a moisture problem in my safes.

Also, other than desiccant packs, what can be done to prevent this?

[USMCsilver]

I used to get mold and have a large, functioning golden rod. I actually bought another, but have not installed it yet.

I have negated the mold/mildew/light surface rust by using gun socks. Those things must be made outta some sorta magical unicorn skin.

[smitch320]

I used to get mold and have a large, functioning golden rod. I actually bought another, but have not installed it yet.

I have negated the mold/mildew/light surface rust by using gun socks. Those things must be made outta some sorta magical unicorn skin.

Gun socks are great.

[2thDoc]

is the thing warm? how big is the safe?

[Jozie & Me]

48x66

In an unheated space. Golden rod would be only heat source.

[Two Barrels]

The unheated space would be my guess as the culprit. Do you have a way to measure humidity in the space?

[Smilee]

desiccant packs are your friend. The safe without the issue probably doesn't seal up 100% and able to breathe as the seasons/temps change.

[huntinghagen#12]

I fight that battle in my safes during the summer. They are in my metal shop, no A/C or heat. I've tried a golden rod and that didn't help much, the desiccant packs did help some. I'll probably try gun socks this year.

[Kirk]

I bought one of these a few months ago to monitor temp in a walkin cooler: https://www.thermoworks.com/node/. I think I bought it on a black Friday sale or something and it was about 90 bucks. It connects to Wi-Fi and will send you alerts if the temperature gets out of range. It does not require a subscription. They have another model that will do the same thing with humidity. The first one worked so well that I bought one of the humidity monitors to put in my gun safe but unfortunately I can’t keep it connected to Wi-Fi from inside the safe since the hygrometer is inside the unit and not a remote probe. If the safe is close to an access point or router, it might work well and would at least send you an alert.

[WatereesWatson]

Ive battled this too and run a Petes Dryer in mine (like the boot dryer company, but they make one for safes). At first it worked, then I got the white/green mold on everything, including ARs with Aluminum forends. My Ruger M77 synthetic stock is forever stained seemingly, which makes me sad, but I digress. Then I added several of the oven rechargeable desiccant packs and a manual hygrometer and I check on it about once a week. Mine is bolted to the garage floor but in the summer its been very hard to regulate. I will say, I have one shotgun in a sock that has never had the issue. Maybe I just need to get a few more of them.

[Jozie & Me]

one thing I notice is that Dad's was bolted directly to the concrete floor. Mine on the other hand has a barrier between it and the floor. Could that cause a difference?

Thanks for all of the input. Good to know that I am not the only one having this issue.

Looks like I need to buy a pallet of gun socks.

I found this article that might be helpful to y'all. It says use white vinegar to clean the safe.

https://rainierballistics.com/gun-sa...e-5-easy-ways/

[WoodieSC]

one thing I notice is that Dad's was bolted directly to the concrete floor. Mine on the other hand has a barrier between it and the floor. Could that cause a difference?

Yes, it would be best to not have direct contact between the safe bottom and the concrete. This is especially true if it is an unconditioned environment and/or there isn’t a heavy (10 mil?) visqueen barrier underneath the concrete.

My basement is conditioned and stays about 65(+/-) degrees year round. I have a piece of plywood under the safe, which is bolted to the floor, and there is visqueen under the concrete so there is no moisture wicking. The safe is only mid-size, had an 18?” golden rod, and has a calibrated hydrometer that always reads about 70%. I’d like it lower (target 60-65), but in 25 years I’ve never had any rust or mold.

[mello_collins]

The concrete is acting as a heat sink and cooling the safe. Slide plywood or better yet some star/plastic board under it. Peets dryer works better than a goldenrod for me. Also kitty litter in plastic tubs like what screws from lowes come in. Bake the kitty litter at 250 for an hour. After it cools some put in the plastic buckets and place in safe. I have several in mine and rebake it 3 to 4 times a year when the wife is away. My humility stays in low 50’s. I also added some seals to the door.

[JOHNSON]

The concrete is acting as a heat sink and cooling the safe. Slide plywood or better yet some star/plastic board under it. Peets dryer works better than a goldenrod for me. Also kitty litter in plastic tubs like what screws from lowes come in. Bake the kitty litter at 250 for an hour. After it cools some put in the plastic buckets and place in safe. I have several in mine and rebake it 3 to 4 times a year when the wife is away. My humility stays in low 50’s. I also added some seals to the door.

What he said about the concrete.


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[2thDoc]

i have a big ass dehumidifier in my shed where my safe is. Maggie Glover approved.

damn thing works so well, things dry rot in there...

[2thDoc]

What he said about the cement.


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FIFY

[Rubberhead*]

My first guess would be condensation from temperature cycling. If the safe is against an outside wall, it would make it even worse.

[WatereesWatson]

Thanks for the tips on the concrete floor. Ive often wondered if that was my problem but just didnt know. I also didnt build the house so I have no idea if it has an adequate moisture barrier beneath the concrete...I would venture a guess that it does not.

[Tha Dick]

I put (2) of the largest golden rods in my safe that stays in the out building. I have yet to see any mold or rust.

[willyworm]

I've got a 32 gun Liberty and use the Remington desiccant that has a color indicator that tells me when it's wet. Then it just plugs in to the electrical outlet to dry it out then replace in the safe. Never had any issues.

But, in all fairness, my safe does reside in climate controlled space.

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