Dehumidifiers

[Bullwolf]

Dehumidifiers love em, or hate em?

I know many here use something like a goldenrod in their safes. Basically an electrically heated rod.



http://www.best-dehumidifier-choice....umidifier.html

http://www.amazon.com/Goldenrod-7257...rds=golden+rod

I remember one thrifty individual who wired his safe to run a few naked electric light bulbs 24/7 in lieu of using a goldenrod. Said it was cheaper and it let him see inside, and to heck with any potential breakage or fire hazard. I have always wondered if he ever managed to break one of the bare bulbs. I'm sure that I would have eventually.

Many are fond of using Silica Gel packs, and while you can recharge Silica Gel in the oven, it takes a lot of time, hassle, and electricity. It also becomes a somewhat reoccurring project. I found these really neat Stack-On plug in rechargeable Silica Gel units at the Tractor Supply store. They have a color coded marker in the front that tells you if it needs recharging or not - Pink for wet, and Blue for dry.



http://www.amazon.com/SPAD-100-Wirel...s+dehumidifier

They seem quite interesting.

I've also used these handy disposable moisture eliminators to collect moisture in the shower bathroom closet, as well as in my RV.



Find em cheap (a buck) at the dollar store. They fill up with water in the bottom over a few weeks or months, and then you just toss them. They seem to work really well in the RV anyways.

http://www.dollartree.com/The-Home-S...6485/index.pro

I've also seen a product called Damp-Rid available at home improvement stores, but I've never personally tried it.



Also in the long list of things I have not tried yet, are VCI or Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors. I've seen both capsules, tabs and VCI paper. Ive seen them placed in tool boxes to prevent corrosion, and from time to time stuff will come to you wrapped up in VCI paper.



Zerust is a somewhat known popular commercial brand of VCI, that I have seen at Brownells at least.

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to....aspx?psize=96

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...eywords=zerust


I have also had occasion to dry a few things out in a bowl or bag full of rice.

Most of the time in the desert, it's dry as all get out, but I do spend time in some humid areas as well.

Other than barriers like a nice coat of wax, such as Johnson Paste Wax or museum wax... Or else using an oil or grease, (RIG has yet to let me down) what do you all do to prevent corrosion in a wet or humid environment?



- Bullwolf

[freebullet]

I use gel. Simple effective no juice. If my area were not climate controlled I'd use an actual dehumidifier as they are part of my business and I have many to choose from.

[MaryB]

I just run a small fan in a hidden spot that blows room air in to keep it moving. But my gun cabinet is not fireproof.

[nicholst55]

Go big or go home, is what I say. I persuaded the command to install a larger, since discontinued, model in all the arms rooms in my area in Korea, and had this one installed in my arms oom here in Arizona: Dri Eaz 1200.

[country gent]

We made a drier for welding rod storage out of a dorm size refriderator years ago a 25 watt light bulb and rods stay dry and useable. One thing to keep in mind with desicants is once they get full they release moisture also. Some can be rejuvinated by heating in an oven at a certain temp and time.

[Beagle333]

I got a 13W curly light bulb in the safe, and a 50-pint Frigidaire floor unit in the room. Safe stays about 78° year-round with that bulb.

[dragon813gt]

I have two of the PEET M10 dehumidifies in my safe.
http://www.amazon.com/Peet-Dryer-M10.../dp/B00486U71E

One wasn't able to keep the humidity down. It's a better design than a goldenrod. No worries about burning you or anything around it. Takes up no useable space as they fit in the corners perfectly.

My safe is in an unconditioned area. They've been able to keep the humidity at 50% when it's 90+% outside over weeks. And when it was single digits at night the temp never dropped below 25. I thought about adding the third one I have to see if would keep the temp above freezing but never got around to it. Didn't notice an increase in my electric bill as well.

[crazy mark]

They make shatter proof incandescent bulbs. Cost a little more but are worth it. They have a coating that keeps the broken glass contained.

[Nueces]

For 30 years, I've used the 750 gram silica gel boxes from Brownells. I put stick on weather strips around the safe door to reduce air exchange with the room. Spare gel packs are kept in an ammo can. When the moisture indicator turns blue (or the box gets heavy with moisture), to indicate the need for recharging, I swap out the spare gel and then have a few weeks to find a convenient time to heat the wet gel pack in the oven for 3 hours at 245F. After heating, it goes into the ammo can. The packs seem to last forever.

My safe is in an air conditioned room. Were it in the garage, the packs would have to be cycled more frequently. This system has worked perfectly.

[mold maker]

Over the years, I've bought 5 dehumidifiers. None seem to last over 1-3 years. Is that normal? I didn't buy el-cheap-o either.
They were in unconditioned space.

[Beagle333]

Over the years, I've bought 5 dehumidifiers. None seem to last over 1-3 years. Is that normal? I didn't buy el-cheap-o either.
They were in unconditioned space.

Unfortunately, that's the norm that I find too. And it's sorta odd to me that a refrigerator or deep freezer will run 30+ years and unless I'm mistaken, they are doing the same thing?

[dragon813gt]

Unfortunately, that's the norm that I find too. And it's sorta odd to me that a refrigerator or deep freezer will run 30+ years and unless I'm mistaken, they are doing the same thing?

Dehumidifiers run for a lot more cycles w/ longer run times. It's still the same refrigerant cycle but the equipment just wears itself out. Even large scale mechanical dehumidification equipment has a shorter expected lifespan.

[Beagle333]

ahhhh. Thanks.

[freebullet]

Go big or go home, is what I say. I persuaded the command to install a larger, since discontinued, model in all the arms rooms in my area in Korea, and had this one installed in my arms oom here in Arizona: Dri Eaz 1200.

Yer guns ain't gunna rust with that around. I'm very familiar with those. I have several and use them to create drying chambers in homes and businesses. It's the smallest dehu I keep on hand. It does a fine job and will remove 15 gallons of water per day under saturation conditions. They can be had used very reasonably priced.

[Blacksmith]

Mount the light bulb inside a tin can with holes punched in it the can serves as a safety cage. Or just use a drop light same result.