[slayer]

Some of you may remember my threads about moving north here in MI. Well, it's still going on. One of the next things that I want to take up is the gun safe. Would it be ok to store it with the guns in it in an unheated pole barn? The new house is not built yet [next summer] and there's no room in the existing structure that will become a garage/man cave/ guest quarters.if I leave some dessicant in the safe to take care of moisture, would it be adequate? Does anyone out there leave their guns in an unheated area in the winter? thanks Bill

 

[Johnny]

You would need heat inside the safe. Where heat meets cold, moisture will form on the warm side, like moisture forming on the outside of a beer can. Your safe door could rust. I wouldn't do what you propose. You might be able to coat the guns with grease and get by.

 

[slayer]

if everything is cold, how does the condensation form? My tools don't rust out in the barn. Bill

 

[GrandpasArms]

Cold air is dry. The problems arise when a cold gun is moved to a warmer area where the air is moist.

 

[Stl Flyn]

It would be the rapid warm up scenario, that would cause problems. Because safes are pretty much air tight if fire safe, I would think that this would not happen, if you should get one of those rare 80 degree, and humid days in March, or any other time. Just oil them up good, and if they are in a safe, plug in a dehumidifier rod, and you should be good to go.

 

[billyboy07208]

They sell hefty bags shaped like a rifle,Ill oil mine down-put into cabinet with goldenrod and the remington air dryer.its the wide temperature swings that cause the condensation.

 

[dhwbailey]

I use a goldenrod in my unheated garage both here in Ontario Canada, and in Florida.

They give the safe enough warmth to prevent condensation, and that's the killer.

If a Browning won't rust in these conditions, nothing will.

 

[slayer]

Anybody use the dessicant bricks? They look like a bargain. Maybe two of them in the safe? Bill

 

[Pride Engineer]

I store mine in a safe in Minnesota in the garage. I used two Goldenrods to make sure at least one works. Have not had a problem in three winters. The guns of course form condensation the minute you bring them in so you have to let them dry before going back out in the cold safe.

I also have the bags of the moisture absorbing stuff but they need to be dryed out every so often so I went to the Goldenrods.

My safe is a high quality fire safe that seals pretty well. I set the safe on the shipping pallet it came on so it is up off the floor.

It's real nice to have the safe right where you load and unload the guns from the vehicle.

 

[Johnny]

Slayer, you would need heat in the safe to keep moisture out. That's why people use a goldenrod. If you never take the guns out then you may not have a problem if you coat them with grease. Maybe also use those special plastic bags available for guns .

Stl Flyn , safes are NOT air tight. That would not be a good thing. A goldenrod is placed at the bottom of a safe. It heats the air at the bottom of the safe. The hot air rises and exits out the top through the crack in the door, and that draws in fresh air through the bottom of the door. There is a constant movement of warm air through the safe to keep it dried out. If a safe was air tight and heated inside, then you would have a safe full of moist warm air. not good.

 

[Stl Flyn]

I realize they are not completely air tight. I was referring to a rapid transfer of air to the point the temperature difference would cause condensation. Also, the same reason why I suggested the Golden Rod, to at least raise the temperature inside the safe.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

My suggestion would be to figure out a way to put the safe into the house.

 

[slayer]

Johnny i think your right about the goldenrod,and Brian this is only for the rest of this winter and then it goes inside. Thanks all for your input. Bill

 

[Merlyn]

Many of you have seen the two 8' aluminum contractors drawers in the back of my pick-up with a camper shell. Nothing is air-tight. I carry these guns in the fall/winter/spring in the back at whatever temperature it is outside as the truck sits under a carport.

I wipe the guns down with a non-detergent oil in the fall and whenever they get handled much. I've done this for 10 years and never had a problem. Rapid warming and cooling causes condensation. Gradual does not.

If I bring the guns in, I wait till they are warm and I am finished with them and return them to the cold. Missouri cold and humidity doesn't seem to bother them as long as they are wiped down...........merlyn

 

[shannon391]

I have some "beaters" I keep in a storage locker in the pole barn year round.

They have not rusted, neither has my tools. (I would not risk my $$guns however}.

 

[Merlyn]

I forgot to mention, that the guns are in heavy cloth bags, or the cases they came in. Perazzis, Krieghoffs, Ljutics, Bowens, Alfermanns, along with other "beaters" that I carry -- security, being the more important factor. Avoid any case with foam lining as the foam attracts moisture (cheap wal-mart cases etc). Keep'em wherever you want, but the cold won't hurt them..merlyn

 

[tbobaa]

My guns are stored in a safe in a non heated garage with no problems.You do have to be careful when going from real cold to warm real fast as you can get some sweating just wipe them down and you are good to go.

 

[W.P.T.]

Wipe them down with Clenzoil, wood, metal, bores and all and they should be fine ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

[cubancigar2000]

I have kept my gun safe in an unheated garage for years, no probs, however I live in the northwest where the humidity is very low. Up there in Michigan may be a different case

 

[HSLDS]

Goldenrod in the safe... Then wrap the safe with moving blankets to keep the moisture off it.

Done it for years in my garage - never a problem with rust inside the safe or out.