Silaca Gell for safe

[HDoc]

Anyone use silica gel desiccants in their gun safes? Summer is starting and
I wonder if they work. I got tired of hiding firearms all over the house (several senior moments of panic) and bought a 3 CF safe for my handguns.
http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-1500D-Desiccant-Silica-1500-500-000/dp/B0018O035O/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1337173057&sr=1-2

Cheap, but are they effective?

[Tilos]

Yes they work...
Wire a small light into the safe and leave it on, the higher temp will remove any moisture in there.
JMO,
Tilos

[340pd]

I have had the same goldenrod in my safe for twenty years. You may have to drill a small hole in your safe to thread the stripped end of an extension cord through. Re attach the plug end and you have power inside your safe. Good for an accessory light as well.
A small hole will have no effect on the fire resistance.

[johnh]

Yup, the temperature difference trick works well. I had one of those golden rod heat things in my safe for years at our old house. It was a lot more humid there, and if I ever left it unplugged stuff would rust. At our current home the safe is in a much drier area apparently as I have not needed any sort of rust prevention other than keeping guns oiled.

[JohnR]

I save the silica gel packs from stuff I buy and throw them in my ammo box or range bag. No need to buy something they give you for free.

[Bawanna]

I've used the same goldenrod for well over 20 years also. Mine safe had a threaded hole in top, not sure what it was for but I ran the cord thru that.

I put several battery operated LED lights inside which helped immensely being able to see.

Never used power inside for anything else.

[jocko]

they say silicia gel works great in caskets to: Just sayin

[wyntrout]

IF you have no worry over EMP and an electronic lock that could be disabled, the introduction of a power line into the safe adds a route for EMP pulse to anything electronic inside. The desiccant packs are a better choice IF EMP is a worry.

Jus' sayin'....

Wynn:)

[downtownv]

I came across a neat product made by Remington
called a Mini dehumidifier model# 305 (under $20) you plug it in the wall to "Dry" The unit when color indicated throw it in your safe and it's lasted 5 months so far-
dry as the desert! about 5x7x2"

[TucsonMTB]

I came across a neat product made by Remington
called a Mini dehumidifier model# 305 (under $20) you plug it in the wall to "Dry" The unit when color indicated throw it in your safe and it's lasted 5 months so far-
dry as the desert! about 5x7x2"
Clever! Not a problem here in Tucson because we live in a desert, but clever nevertheless. http://home.mindspring.com/%7Ejustsomeguy/thumbsup.gif

Thanks for sharing!

[wyntrout]

I have a bunch of Mil-Spec "Desi Paks" that can be reactivated by placing the packs in an oven at 250°F for SIXTEEN HOURS! One of these days I should do that with the roughly 20 3.6" by 5", 40-gram sized packs that I have. I have some some perforated-metal-boxed ones, too. Those even have indicators that show level of water saturation.

The plug in the wall deal for "re-charging" is simpler for sure, but I have a bunch of these things and haven't seen them in a gun show for a long time.

Wynn:)

[BEARDOG]

I came across a neat product made by Remington
called a Mini dehumidifier model# 305 (under $20) you plug it in the wall to "Dry" The unit when color indicated throw it in your safe and it's lasted 5 months so far-
dry as the desert! about 5x7x2"

+1
I have the Remington #365 in my safe, as well as a Liberty dehumidifier rod.(goldenrod)
The Remington does work as stated, the crystals turn pink when saturated, and purple after being plugged in and dried out. It can be used again an again...excellent product.
http://www.amazon.com/Remington-Model-365-Mini-Dehumidifier/dp/B0028M3YU6

[kb2wji]

You guys are way more fancy than I am. The bottom of my safe is covered by a 1/2" layer of white rice. I've always seen people put rice in the salt shaker to keep it dehumidified. Just figured that more rice for a larger space would have the same result. Does it work? Hell if I know, but i've never had rust issues.

[wyntrout]

And, it's a backup food supply if it doesn't get moldy!

Wynn:D

[CJB]

Better than silica gel, is a product called "DesiPak" (or some close spelling). I use them in the weather station electronics on golf courses, and they WORK. They're basically fine dried clay inside a sealed GoreTex envelope. You can re-dry it in your oven (or better... in a wooden box with a 100 watt bulb at the bottom). CAUTION: They say they're ok to 150F degrees, but... I've had some melt when I set my oven there. Thats why I did the chicken egg incubator thing - built a box with a lid and put a 100 watt bulb in there to dry out the packs. That contraption worked great. To test the "dry out", I'd put them in an almost sealed plastic bag, when condensate was gone, I knew they were as dry as they were gonna get.

[TucsonMTB]

Better than silica gel, is a product called "DesiPak" (or some close spelling). I use them in the weather station electronics on golf courses, and they WORK. They're basically fine dried clay inside a sealed GoreTex envelope. You can re-dry it in your oven (or better... in a wooden box with a 100 watt bulb at the bottom). CAUTION: They say they're ok to 150F degrees, but... I've had some melt when I set my oven there. Thats why I did the chicken egg incubator thing - built a box with a lid and put a 100 watt bulb in there to dry out the packs. That contraption worked great. To test the "dry out", I'd put them in an almost sealed plastic bag, when condensate was gone, I knew they were as dry as they were gonna get.
I'm guessing this listing for DESI PAK® at Brwonell's (http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1152/Product/DESI-PAK-reg-) might be a good source, but it is expensive.

[wyntrout]

This was military surplus and some is 20+ years old... almost actual size:

Wynn:)

Gotta go get Wifey at the airport!

[CJB]

Thats a version of the stuff !!

The ones we get now are in white goretex ... cheep.

I think its like $40 for twenty packs that are about 6 ounces each dry, at least double that wet.

I've got some on my truck at the shop. Gimme a day and I'll get particulars.

BTW - see where its made? NM. When I talked to them, they told me they're using the clay from a dry bed river and from mine spoils.

[Planedude]

I use the mil-spec style desipaks (white goretex) with a little nylon rope sewn into each end.
They came in the crate with some new aircraft equipment and we were to dispose of them after unpacking. Reheat them and they dry out. I just wait till late May/June when its 105 degrees outside. When I'm at work, I just toss them up on the dash of the truck with the windows up. One day of that really works well.

[wyntrout]

The one I just took a picture of weighs only 40 grams... about 1.4 ounces and is about 3.6" tall by 5" wide. I toss a couple in each ammo box... more in the big 20mm cans.

Wynn:)