Finally bought a actual gun safe, has an AC outlet inside. I've bolted the safe to the concret floor in the lower level of my home. There has never been any water problems with my home.

Opinions wanted on the Silica gel can vs dehumidifier rod for my safe.

Thank you!

I have both in mine. They're both pretty cheap and I look at it as cheap insurance in case one doesn't work/fails for some reason.

quote:

Originally posted by cooger:
I have both in mine. They're both pretty cheap and I look at it as cheap insurance in case one doesn't work/fails for some reason.

Same here I use both..

Why not use both?

I have a golden rod in mine and also this rechargeable silica pack.

https://www.amazon.com/Eva-Dry...75-8bc7-93deae8f9840

Good idea to put a vapor barrier on the concrete, under the safe.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Good idea to put a vapor barrier on the concrete, under the safe.

I did put a sheet of heavy black polly under the safe, also lifted slightly with composit shims.

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Why not use both?

Two reasons.

The first is that the lack of humidity can also be bad. It can dry out wood stocks, leather straps, and optic seals. Humidity around 50% is ideal. If your humidity levels are already lower, then desiccant will make that worse.

The second is that a dry rod warms the air inside of the safe to prevent condensation. We all know that warm air rises, and gun safes are far from air tight. What this means is that when using a dry rod your safe is expelling warm out towards the top of the door, while drawing in cooler air at the bottom. Since you are moving fresh air, you are also moving the humidity that comes along with it.

You will notice that desiccant will need to be recharged or replaced much more frequently when also using a dry rod, as the dry rod is giving it much more work to do.

If you do not want to run power to your safe, and you're susceptible to moisture (most HVAC systems mitigate this in normal living areas), desiccant is an option. If you are willing to run power to your safe, a dry rod is the superior solution. It almost never needs any sort of maintenance, and will never cause any (lack of) humidity damage. It can only help, never hurt.

My safe is in an airconditioned house so the humidity is low to start with . I keep a canister of silica gel on the shelf . No rust , no issues .

I just run a dehumidifier rod and that does the trick for me. My safe is indoors, in the a/c. Humidity is bad in Florida but we run the a/c most of the time,except for those few days when it is cool to open the house.

I have a goldenrod at the bottom and rechargeable desiccants on the middle and top shelves to catch any rising moisture caused by the warming rod at the bottom

Golden Rod all the way. Once and done, especially since you have an available power outlet. I first had a rechargeable style moisture absorber and always forgot to recharge. I ended up drilling a hole in the side of the safe for the golden rod power cord.

Nothing for me. I just check everything over from time to time to make sure rust is not appearing.

Recharging silica gel cans is a PIA. I'd run the rod and some VCI and not have that hassle.

In my family, four safes in three states, four Golden Rods, and no rust. Only one safe is in an air-conditioned space.

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
Recharging silica gel cans is a PIA. I'd run the rod and some VCI and not have that hassle.

What is VCI?

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Originally posted by Eaganite:

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
Recharging silica gel cans is a PIA. I'd run the rod and some VCI and not have that hassle.

What is VCI?

Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor. Those cardboard chips that emit a vapor of anti-corrosion compounds. Since you're in MN, they sell them in the tool storage section of Menards.

My main safe is in a room that has a room dehumidifier in it. I’ve never had any issues.

+

Here in SE Michigan, I've not had a problem just using an electric rod similar to the golden rod, but less expensive.