firearm storage question

[Ohioan]

Up until now, I have stored my ammo and firearms in a spare bedroom. My wife is pregnant with our first. That room is going to become his room. I have a Cabela's signature 35 on order. Unfortunaly, it is going into an unheated garage. I plan on using a electronic dehumidifing rod. Will that be enough? Should look into the gun socks for long guns? What should I do about the ammo? Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks.

 

[SidecarFlip]

My suggestion is to put the box in the house somewhere. Reason being, you live in Ohio and you'll have a wide variation in ambient temperatures and humidity levels, both detrimental to metals and both promote corrosion.

You might get by with a container of dessicant (silica gel crystals) but the best option is in the house somewhere.

I keep my weapons in the garage/shop but it's heated and air conditioned.

I'm not a fan of gun socks or any type of constrained enclosure that will retain moisture.

If you have no choice, oil them good and pray.

 

[jdonovan]

I plan on using a electronic dehumidifing rod.

That rod's just a heater. The idea is the air in the safe is a bit warmer than the air outside the safe, so inside is a few % less humidity.

I would add a desiccant too. But they need to be re-charged every few months depending on how humid it is where you live.

As the other poster said it would be best to have it in a climate controlled area.

 

[Timberbeast7]

I had my safe in a garage for a while. All the guns were cleaned well in put in silicone impregnated gun socks (they do not retain or attract moisture like a foam gun case). I also had a silicone desiccant and I put a 40 watt light bulb towards the bottom of the safe and left it on to maintain a steady temperature and humidity (this is was in Idaho so outside temps varied quite a bit). All my ammo is in ammo cans in the house but would be just fine in the garage too.

 

[Hammertime]

I have had no problems with a combination of a heating rod and and desiccant. Just check the desiccant often and keep it fresh. Ammo stored in sealed ammo cans with small desiccant packs seems to work well too.

 

[Ohioan]

If I had the option I would put the safe in the house. I guess we have too much stuff. I don't have another option. I am paranoid about my stuff. Right now I generally field strip everything at least once every two months to check and give them a wipe down. Don't have too many so this is not to arduous.
Timber, how often did you end up recharging you descendant?

 

[Timberbeast7]

It needs it every few months. You literally just bake it in the oven for a few hours to "recharge" it.

 

[Cartman]

I live in San Diego so humidity isn't really a problem. Still, I once left a shotgun barrel on a spare bed for a few months and the wife unit covered it with a blanket. It developed some surface rust in a spot or two. I've never had a problem in my safes, however, with a Golden Rod. But, again, I'm in San Diego. If I lived in a humid area I would probably consider doubling up with a Golden Rod and a desiccant. One thing I've become a fan of since the surface rust incident is Eezox. That stuff is fantastic and now give all my guns a rubdown with it.

 

[wfjames22]

One thing I've become a fan of since the surface rust incident is Eezox. That stuff is fantastic and now give all my guns a rubdown with it.

True that...

 

[The Mechanic]

Just a word to the wise. It is not recommended to put your safe in the garage as it is MUCH easier to steal the whole safe. It also opens you up to prying eyes every time you open the garage door.

 

[Ohioan]

Mechanic, I have a plan for that. Obviously I will not disclose that to the internet.

 

[Former0302]

True that...

+1 on the Eezox

 

[High Binder]

Why not just leave the safe in the kid's room? If somebody breaks in that's where you're going anyway so you might as well have your safe there too. It's not like your 0-5yr old is going to mind sharing a room with a safe anyway.

 

[jagged77]

We (we being UK shooters) have to by law store firearms in police approved safes. The safes have to be located in the main structure of the building (not generally a garage), out of sight (say from a casual visitor) and securely bolted to an external wall with expanding bolts. This is what we have to live with but to be fair the guidelines are there to prevent unauthorised access and are pretty manageable. If I came back to the US I'd do the same I reckon just for piece of mind.

 

[Ohioan]

Binder, kid stuff takes up a lot of space.....or so I am told . We are a modest family. The house is really not all that large. We need all the space we can for Jr. Also, I don't want him growing up with a "no touch" box in his room. He and any further children will be encouraged to learn everything I know; guns and otherwise. The safe is overkill size wise. I didn't want to run out of space.