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View Full Version : Last step, whats a good but realistic temp and humidity to aim for in a safe in the basement.



dirtmcgirt76239
10-29-2018, 07:36 PM
I have a semi finished, decent basement, heated vents open door open etc. I watch tv down there often its not dank dungeon etc.

What kind of temp and humidity should I aim for?

I have both wood stock and poly stock military stuff like aks, sks, fal. Nothign super fancy wood, but I would like to preserve the originality and I hear if you get it too low humidity, take it out, and say take it out hunting and it gets humid too quick they can split?

Is that a michigan thing I need to worry about ?

luckless
10-30-2018, 08:15 AM
I'd make sure the safe temperature stays a few degrees higher than the room. I know a LGS that kept all kinds of old guns in the basement with no problem, until the ATF inspector took it upon herself to turn on a space heater while she was down there and left it on when she was done, without saying anything to the store owner. The condensation on the cold guns was a huge problem......for the store owner. It was no problem, whatsoever, to the ATF or its inspector.

mittenman
10-30-2018, 01:31 PM
My guns are on the main floor but I shoot for around 50% humidity in the safe, as long as humidity isn’t extremely high I don’t think about it a whole lot. I looked into ideal humidity levels a while back and from what I remember 50% was a good compromise between not drying out wood stocks and leather slings, sheaths ect while holding moisture to a fairly low level. To the extent that I control the humidity in the safes I do it with Goldenrod dehumidifiers chosen for the size of the area and humidity level in the given room. If you’re safe is in a more humid area I’d just go up a size for the humidifier and error on the side of being a little to dry.

cmr19xx
10-30-2018, 03:05 PM
I have nothing to base what the ideal humidity would be, but my safe is in my basement and the humidity is anywhere from 35% (winter) to 45% (summer) and I've never had any issues with anything in my safe (20+ years) and I've got a wide variety of wood and metal finishes and new and old guns. I don't have anything to control humidity in my safe so I would assume the humidity level in my safe is the same as the ambient humidity level in the room. I do run a dehumidifier in the summer to try to keep it around 40%.

dirtmcgirt76239
10-31-2018, 11:10 PM
I have been steady 42 and 43 percent for a few days with a golden rod on.

Musta Demoni
11-02-2018, 09:02 PM
My basement is semi-finished. It's cool down there, obviously, but also not dank. I don't do anything to control anything. Got all kinds of guns. Zero issues.

DEVIL DOG
11-02-2018, 10:45 PM
Extreme swings in temp & humidity are your enemy.

dirtmcgirt76239
11-03-2018, 09:34 PM
My basement is semi-finished. It's cool down there, obviously, but also not dank. I don't do anything to control anything. Got all kinds of guns. Zero issues.
Same here. I got a Chinese sks, and blues marlin propose in 1992 as a kid, still have em, no rush pretty much always in a basement.

I just have more nicer things and a golden rod and plug in desicent from stack on and remington, and a hydrometer can only help.

I would be bummed out to open the safe and see 3 really ruined nasty rusty old blued Marlins from the 60-80s.

dirtmcgirt76239
11-14-2018, 07:40 PM
been holding steady at 42 or 43 percent humidity.

Kinda suspicious of the rechargeable desicants. I have two of them, in one safe, and they turn color fast. I charge them back up, cook the moisture out, and then seems like a week and its changed color again.

I1I1I11II
11-14-2018, 07:56 PM
40% is about the magic number for just about anything...

dirtmcgirt76239
11-15-2018, 03:11 PM
40% is about the magic number for just about anything...

Good to hear ill seach on that and see if that number shows up in any articles.

I have been at a low of 38 and a high of 43.

I1I1I11II
11-15-2018, 07:00 PM
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://workshopcompanion.com/Demos/Sawdust_Sessions/Rust_Removal_Classroom/Rust_Removal_Classroom_files/Shop_Notes_Rust_Prevention.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiV06HqzNfeAhVO1IMKHUIJB4AQFjACegQIDhAI&usg=AOvVaw1I-8nCkP20_hJw-IZnOnFr

This is a good article on steel and rusting.

dirtmcgirt76239
11-17-2018, 04:56 PM
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://workshopcompanion.com/Demos/Sawdust_Sessions/Rust_Removal_Classroom/Rust_Removal_Classroom_files/Shop_Notes_Rust_Prevention.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiV06HqzNfeAhVO1IMKHUIJB4AQFjACegQIDhAI&usg=AOvVaw1I-8nCkP20_hJw-IZnOnFr

This is a good article on steel and rusting.

Ok thanks. Ill read that and save it.

Hate rust!