Safe Desiccant Suggestions

[Champagne-N-Beer]

Hi All,

Saw on another post someone had water in their safe and now had the task of going through everything - which sucks and I would like to avoid - which is where you come in.

I have plenty of items stored in a cabinet and multiple safes, but being this is CA, never thought to use desiccant, until now.

For my metail objects I always wipe down with silicone before I put away, but am not thinking that is not enough.

Are we talking a pouch for each case, each ammo can, each whatever - or a pouch for each safe? Size matter? 10 pouches better than 5 (no such thing as overkill?).

Juat do not know anything about this stuff and figured better learn now than be sorry later.

Thanks!

[krwada]

A dry-rod is pretty much all you will need. What you want ... is to make sure no moisture condenses on any metal.

A dry-rod prevents this from happening.

[tmh1]

^^ This. Relatively cheap and don't need recharging like dessicants. Golden Rod, Lockdown, etc.

[357magnum]

I use rice and change it out a few times a year.

[Champagne-N-Beer]

Dry-rod huh. Cool - will check that out.

One for the whole cabinet? No need to worry about ammo cases in the cabinet (they are closed) or locked rifle/pistol cases in the cabinet either? Just one rod for everything?

[axhoaxho]

I use a mini dehumidifier like this one. They came in different sizes, and offered under many brands.

Just leave it inside the safe, no batteries nor cords to worry about. Once it is full of moisture, the color indicator will show. Just plug it in an AC outlet for a few hours to dry out the beads inside, then put it back inside the safe. Repeat as needed.

[Bansh88]

I throw a packet in my safe occasionally when one comes in a shoebox or packaging. Same with my ammo cabinet.
I've never had rust in 20 years of owning guns. We live in a desert.

[krwada]

Dry rod

Dry-rod huh. Cool - will check that out.

One for the whole cabinet? No need to worry about ammo cases in the cabinet (they are closed) or locked rifle/pistol cases in the cabinet either? Just one rod for everything?

They come in different sizes. One, (properly sized) is all you will need.

Me? I just went out and got the biggest one that would fit in my safe. I also got one of those battery operated temp + humidity sensors. This thing needs to register an ambient safe temperature a couple of degrees hotter than what is outside the safe. There will be no condensation of moisture on any metal if you do this.

The optimum RH, (relative humidity), for storage is between 40 and 55% or thereabouts. Higher is probably OK. Any drier, and you run the risk of over drying the wood on your firearms.

[Tank 57]

Have a Goldenrod.Used to live in a high humidity state.Never have had a problem here or there.(N.J.)

Storing in cases especially foam lined ones is a bad practice.

[SPROCKET]

I use a mini dehumidifier like this one. They came in different sizes, and offered under many brands.

Just leave it inside the safe, no batteries nor cords to worry about. Once it is full of moisture, the color indicator will show. Just plug it in an AC outlet for a few hours to dry out the beads inside, then put it back inside the safe. Repeat as needed.

+1 for this. Cheap and easy, especially if you don't have a handy electrical outlet for one of the rods.

A good storage sleeve like Bore Stores isn't a bad idea either.

[Spyguy]

I use a mini dehumidifier like this one. They came in different sizes, and offered under many brands.

Just leave it inside the safe, no batteries nor cords to worry about. Once it is full of moisture, the color indicator will show. Just plug it in an AC outlet for a few hours to dry out the beads inside, then put it back inside the safe. Repeat as needed.

There are two big problems with the type of desiccant dehumidifier pictured above:

1. The amount of desiccant they contain is trivial, probably no more than 50 grams. Way too little IMO.
2. They rely on an air humidity indicator to warn you when to recharge rather than allowing you to see how much moisture has been absorbed by the desiccant.

Let me explain the second point, because the distinction is a fine one. The way the Eva-Dry type devices work is that the desiccant inside begins to absorb moisture from the air, bringing the humidity level in the safe down. The indicator in the front will read blue, meaning the air is dry. Eventually, the (small amount) of desiccant inside the unit will become saturated and cannot absorb any more water. At this point, the air in the safe is no longer being dehumidified. So the humidity increases. The indicator on the front of the unit starts to change from blue to pink. But what does this color change mean? It means that there is increased water in the air inside your safe, water that is NOT being absorbed by the desiccant!

Now let me show you what I use and why:

Lockdown Silica Gel (750 Grams)


This item consists of a perforated metal can that contains 750 grams of desiccant. (That's 1.65 pounds!) The can is 4-1/4" in diameter by 5" tall -- the same size as a 1 qt paint can (not including the cap, which adds about another 1/2" in height). The top of the cap has a clear plastic window so you can see the color of the desiccant, although I have no problem seeing the color through the perforated metal side of the can.

Now let me explain why seeing the color of the desiccant is superior to reading the color change of a humidity indicator.

When the desiccant is dry, it is bright orange (as in the picture above). As it absorbs moisture from the air, it gradually changes to very dark green (saturated). You can see the intermediate stages as the beads absorb moisture because some of the desiccant beads will be partially orange and partially green. The beads closer to the perforated can walls will naturally absorb more water first and will change to green before the inner beads are saturated. So you get a very good indication of when to recharge the desiccant BEFORE it gets saturated and stops absorbing moisture.

The Lockdown desiccant can does come with a humidity indicator card with three 1/2" spots, one for 30%, 40%, and 50% humidity. The dots are blue and will change to bright pink as the humidity increases to the level indicated. My safe has never gone more than a pinkish-blue in the 30% dot, well below any level of concern. That is because the can is still absorbing moisture when I see that it's time to recharge.

Recharging is simple: simply remove the lid from the can (otherwise the clear plastic window will melt) and place it in a warm oven (225-250 deg only; do not overheat!) for several hours. To recharge faster, take a cookie sheet (I like to line it with foil) and pour the contents of the can onto the sheet. Then place the cookie sheet in the oven. It will take an hour or less to recharge. When the beads are orange again, remove from oven and allow to cool enough to handle. Then pour back into the can, replace the lid, and return it to your safe.

Don't worry about the Amazon reviews that say the can is flimsy. I'll admit, it's not thick metal and the perforations make it easy to flex. But so what? It's just going to sit in your safe. It's not like you're going to play football with it. And my can came completely full in a sealed package. But I bought directly from Amazon, not a third-party seller. Perhaps some unscrupulous sellers are stealing some of the desiccant from cans? I don't know. I'm just relaying my experience with this product, which has been great!

[krwada]

Football?

There are two big problems with the type of desiccant dehumidifier pictured above:

1. The amount of desiccant they contain is trivial, probably no more than 50 grams. Way too little IMO.
2. They rely on an air humidity indicator to warn you when to recharge rather than allowing you to see how much moisture has been absorbed by the desiccant.

Let me explain the second point, because the distinction is a fine one. The way the Eva-Dry type devices work is that the desiccant inside begins to absorb moisture from the air, bringing the humidity level in the safe down. The indicator in the front will read blue, meaning the air is dry. Eventually, the (small amount) of desiccant inside the unit will become saturated and cannot absorb any more water. At this point, the air in the safe is no longer being dehumidified. So the humidity increases. The indicator on the front of the unit starts to change from blue to pink. But what does this color change mean? It means that there is increased water in the air inside your safe, water that is NOT being absorbed by the desiccant!

Now let me show you what I use and why:

Lockdown Silica Gel (750 Grams)


This item consists of a perforated metal can that contains 750 grams of desiccant. (That's 1.65 pounds!) The can is 4-1/4" in diameter by 5" tall -- the same size as a 1 qt paint can (not including the cap, which adds about another 1/2" in height). The top of the cap has a clear plastic window so you can see the color of the desiccant, although I have no problem seeing the color through the perforated metal side of the can.

Now let me explain why seeing the color of the desiccant is superior to reading the color change of a humidity indicator.

When the desiccant is dry, it is bright orange (as in the picture above). As it absorbs moisture from the air, it gradually changes to very dark green (saturated). You can see the intermediate stages as the beads absorb moisture because some of the desiccant beads will be partially orange and partially green. The beads closer to the perforated can walls will naturally absorb more water first and will change to green before the inner beads are saturated. So you get a very good indication of when to recharge the desiccant BEFORE it gets saturated and stops absorbing moisture.

The Lockdown desiccant can does come with a humidity indicator card with three 1/2" spots, one for 30%, 40%, and 50% humidity. The dots are blue and will change to bright pink as the humidity increases to the level indicated. My safe has never gone more than a pinkish-blue in the 30% dot, well below any level of concern. That is because the can is still absorbing moisture when I see that it's time to recharge.

Recharging is simple: simply remove the lid from the can (otherwise the clear plastic window will melt) and place it in a warm oven (225-250 deg only; do not overheat!) for several hours. To recharge faster, take a cookie sheet (I like to line it with foil) and pour the contents of the can onto the sheet. Then place the cookie sheet in the oven. It will take an hour or less to recharge. When the beads are orange again, remove from oven and allow to cool enough to handle. Then pour back into the can, replace the lid, and return it to your safe.

Don't worry about the Amazon reviews that say the can is flimsy. I'll admit, it's not thick metal and the perforations make it easy to flex. But so what? It's just going to sit in your safe. It's not like you're going to play football with it. And my can came completely full in a sealed package. But I bought directly from Amazon, not a third-party seller. Perhaps some unscrupulous sellers are stealing some of the desiccant from cans? I don't know. I'm just relaying my experience with this product, which has been great!

What you mean... You do not play football with this stuff?

All kidding aside though... color indicating silica gel is really good stuff ... especially in industrial size canister like this.

[CurlyDave]

I prefer to slightly raise the temperature inside the safe rather than use a desiccant.

I made my own heater. I went to a pet shop and got a heating pad intended for reptile tanks, about 8" x 12" . A trip to the grocery store got me a heavy-gauge aluminum cookie sheet (not the air-insulated double type). I very carefully stuck the lizard heater on the cookie sheet, and had an assembly which very evenly distributes the heat. Plugged it in and put it in the safe. That was 15 years ago, and no trouble all that time. When I open the safe it is slightly warm to the touch. Never any condensation or moisture in the safe.

[bsg]

i run a GoldenRod.

[SB1964]

I use the rectangular Remmy plug in type dessicant. Kinda like the one above. I really like it! Cheap & effective. Plug it in once a week or so. No cords, no muss, no fuss. Bluing is bright & shiny, just checked everything. Damn, gotta say Spy makes a great point!!!