Storing in a safe

This is very likely to be a question previously discussed and/or needs to be moved somewhere else (please feel free if that is the case or just let me know where to look to find the thread since the aging eyes may have overlooked it).

I am interested to know opinions and/or practical experience with storing items (could be anything from guns to coins to important papers) in a safe. Specifically, I am wondering about humidity.

I don't have one of the fancy jobs with dehumidifier and just for giggles I purchased some of those Dri-box things, but seems like they turn pink before I make it back to the safe (ok, slight exaggeration, but they don't seem to last very long). Seriously - I don't walk THAT slowly back to the safe.

Input appreciated. I've read up some on the subject, but also interested in local, practical experience. Humorous responses are OK, too; I'll pick out what I "can" (ammo storage reference) just to be on the "safe" side. [LOL]

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Originally Posted by sometimesright

Specifically, I am wondering about humidity.

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Humididty? In Colorado? [Coffee]

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Originally Posted by ray1970

Humididty? In Colorado? [Coffee]

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I was going to ask the same thing. I have a bunch of desiccant around here that I never use because it is not needed.

Do you perhaps have a humidifier in the house?

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Originally Posted by jerrymrc

I was going to ask the same thing. I have a bunch of desiccant around here that I never use because it is not needed.

Do you perhaps have a humidifier in the house?

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for some like me, this actually is the case.
Little Byte needs a humidifier at night.


I have one of those that plugs in when its pink, after like an hour its blue again.

bought it at Gander.... think it was $15

better than cleaning rust from your favorite rifle.


And yes, sometimes it can get humid in CO all by itself

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Originally Posted by Byte Stryke

for some like me, this actually is the case.
Little Byte needs a humidifier at night.


I have one of those that plugs in when its pink, after like an hour its blue again.

bought it at Gander.... think it was $15

better than cleaning rust from your favorite rifle.


And yes, sometimes it can get humid in CO all by itself

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I do know there are times the humidity jumps. I once shot the PSL at buffalo Creek and that night it rained pretty good up there. The next morning there was orange "fuzz" on the FH. (corrosive ammo).

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Originally Posted by jerrymrc

I was going to ask the same thing. I have a bunch of desiccant around here that I never use because it is not needed.

Do you perhaps have a humidifier in the house?

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Nope - it just seems odd that those little blue balls (I know I just opened myself for that) turn pink so quickly. I don't have a humidity meter here to check, I just thought it was a little odd so I wondered if it was anything about which I need to be concerned. Thanks for the input.

Are your bathrooms and clothes dryer properly vented ? These could cause humidity build up. Or a central air unit not draining condensation due to a clogged drip pan drain, or even the drip pan under your fridge filling for one reason or another. Even a slow leak under the dishwasher or under a bathtub.
Check all these possible sources.

SSB.

Mine does that as well, my safe is in the basement. I prob plug my dehudmifier in once every 3 months. I wouldn't be too concerned.

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Originally Posted by SideShow Bob

Are your bathrooms and clothes dryer properly vented ? These could cause humidity build up. Or a central air unit not draining condensation due to a clogged drip pan drain, or even the drip pan under your fridge filling for one reason or another. Even a slow leak under the dishwasher or under a bathtub.
Check all these possible sources.

SSB.

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Vents are all Ok. Nothing unusual I can tell from the central air unit outdoors and I was under the crawl space the other day changing the filter on the furnace and didn't see anything unusual. No evidence of any leaks around fridge or dishwasher (unless they are very well hidden). Maybe I'm just paranoid (only because everyone is out to get me) and it really isn't an issue. The house is comfy (although it seemed to me it was not as humid when I lived out on the Western Slope). I was just wondering about the stuff I keep in the safe. I guess I can just keep taking the dri-boxes to the microwave every couple of days if I start losing sleep over it. Thanks for the input.

Is there a vapor barrier over the dirt floor of the crawl space ?
And if it is the older type of crawl space home you could be getting moisture intrusion from the crawl space vents.
You may need to crawl around down there and look at the bottom side of the floors to look for leaks around any drain or water line and check for signs of moist or wet dirt down there, it should all be dry.
Also in that type of AC unit they cut corners and run the drain tube straight into the dirt.

Affirmative on the vapor barrier down there. I poked around the other day when I was down there, but not to any great extent. Nothing looked amiss. I can put that on tomorrow's list. It may keep me off the computer for awhile and having no more Ka-boom's like at the range today (but that's in another area of the forum). [BooHoo] Thanks.

Air circulation.

My gun room is in my finished basement. My house is about 12 years old. Twice I brought guns home and had them rust within a week. Keeping them oiled helps alot. I bought a humidity guage and the humidity seem to vary from 40% - 65%.

I'd agree with the circulation suggestion. I also think wide temperature changes can cause condensation then rust.

I solved the problem by buying a water resistant safe and putting in four of those little plug in boxes. They last about 2 weeks before they turn pink. I have had 0 problems with rust in the last year.