What to put in gun safe for moisture? We show you six different ways to keep your closet moist in the simplest way. Check them out for details!
Moisture is always one of the leading causes of adverse effects on metal tools in general and guns in particular.
The impact of humidity on bullets is often very noticeable such as rust or cracking. These damages make the bullet’s trajectory affected or unable to fire.
Moisture proofing for bullets is extremely necessary. Despite having good gun protection, safe models still need many equipment and chemicals to help eliminate moisture inside.
So, what to put in gun safe for moisture? Here are some effective methods to help adjust the humidity for your gun safe.
- Gun Safe Dehumidifiers
- Silica Gel Desiccant Pack
- Light bulb
- Dry Rice
- Damp Rid and Mothball
The article will delve into each method. Join us to find out right here!
What Causes Moisture In A Safe?
Many different causes change in the humidity inside the safe and lead to damage to the ammunition. One of the most common causes is misplaced cabinets.
Suppose the cabinet is located in a humid and poorly ventilated place such as a garage, basement, or attic in the house. In that case, there is a very high chance that moisture will enter the cabinet every time you open it.
Besides, places with high-temperature differences will quickly generate steam. And if no control measures are taken, the moisture situation will also be prone to damage the bullets inside.
What Are The Negative Effects Of Moisture On Guns?
The most significant effect of steam condensing in the storage cabinet is to cause rust and corrosion in all its different forms.
These damages are not only cosmetic but also bring other potential problems.
From minor peeling to more severe dents or even cracks that render the gun completely useless can happen if you do not take timely action. Not only that, but rusty guns are also capable of causing danger to the gun user himself.
In addition, moisture can also reduce the ability of the bullet to ignite, so cockroaches make it difficult for the gun to fire.
What Is The Acceptable Gun Safe Humidity Level?
Eliminating water vapor from the air is almost impossible, especially during seasons of heavy rainfall or humid weather or in areas with high humidity.
The material that makes up the bullet also has a certain level of protection, so as long as the moisture does not exceed the available limit, you can be assured.
According to National Rifle Association standards, the safe humidity for storing guns and ammunition is about 30% to 50% when the air reaches 60-70 degrees. This number may differ slightly under actual conditions, but do not let the error level exceed 10%.
What To Put In Gun Safe For Moisture?
There are many different methods to adjust the humidity in the safe down to the right level. Here are some standard techniques that a lot of people have used and with good results.
Gun Safe Dehumidifiers
Using an automatic dehumidifier is the fastest and most convenient way to deal with excessive moisture in the safe. At the same time, these types of machines are also suitable options to prevent moisture in the first place.
Currently, there are two types of dehumidifiers on the market. The traditional one that uses powerful chemicals to absorb all the water vapor in the air.
The advantage of these machines is that you don’t need to worry about wiring and cheaper costs. In comparison, an electric dehumidifier will turn electricity into heat to eliminate steam or run a fan to remove moisture.
Therefore, the performance of these products will be much more effective than non-electric machines.
Besides the structure, there are also many types of machines with different capacities and sizes. Of course, a mini machine will not be able to absorb all the steam of a too-large safe.
And vice versa, it will be a waste if you use a dehumidifier that is too powerful in a small space. Therefore, depending on the size of the tank, we will need to choose products with appropriate performance.
You can refer to the video below for the best options:
Silica Gel Desiccant Pack
Silica Gel Desiccant Pack
Desiccant packs are a cheap method for you to prevent and treat residual moisture inside your safe. Silica packets can absorb a large amount of water vapor, but the use of the chemical will no longer be after a while.
At this point, you will have to bake in the oven at 250 degrees for two to three hours to remove the heat or buy a new pack.
Light bulb
Light bulb
Using heat from a light bulb is one of the oldest methods, but that doesn’t make it less effective.
The heat from the bulb is relatively high, thereby evaporating all the water vapor in the air. Just like when using electric dehumidifiers, you will need to prepare a line in advance to connect to an external power source.
Baking soda
Baking soda
Sodium Bicarbonate in Baking soda will absorb all the moisture in the air inside your gun safe. Using this chemical is a suitable treatment for emergency dehumidification in the absence of other methods.
Dry Rice
Dry Rice
In addition to being used as food, dry rice also possesses a unique ability that few people know is hygroscopic.
You can try placing a cup or two of dry rice inside the safe and replacing it every four months. Although the performance of this method is not stable, testing does not take too much effort and time.
Damp Rid and Mothball
Similar to Sodium Bicarbonate found in Baking soda, calcium chloride in Damp Rid is an effective hygroscopic substance. So you can put the Damp Rid in the safe to treat and prevent the steam from closing for too long.
Mothball is also an effective method to combat the ravages of moisture inside a safe. Yet, Mothball itself is not a substance that is friendly to both human hands and gun parts. So keep these chemical pellets as far away from body parts as possible.
Conclusion
The above are helpful methods to help you deal with the problem of too much moisture inside the gun cabinet. Hopefully, with the ways the article introduces, you can preserve the gun against the adverse effects of steam.
