r/canadaguns • u/TheBulletBuddy • 12d ago
Misc Storage info relating to rust.
Curious what others are doing to make sure our paper weights aren't rusting. So far I've just been leaving a slightly heavier than normal coating of gun oil, and then wiping/reapplying every few months. Cant say the place its stored is overly humid.
Curious what others are doing or if that pretty much sums up most people's "routine" for long term storage.
Would rather not find out that I should of done something different when its too late haha.
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u/SkSMaN7 12d ago
Like yourself, keep thin layer of oil. Also I use a couple of those plug in heating rods inside my safe to keep humidity low. It usually stays around 45%
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u/TheBulletBuddy 12d ago
Perfect, thanks
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u/hafetysazard 12d ago
If you have wood stocked firearms, a thin layer means no more than a gentle sheen visible compared to bone dry. Gun oils will flow and wick like crazy, so if you put barely too much it will soak into the stock, discolour it, and weaken it.
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u/TheBulletBuddy 12d ago
No wood stocks but really appreciate the info. Will keep that in mind for future purchases
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u/LordRaizer 12d ago
Been debating getting one of these ngl
But I need to figure out how to feed a cable into my safe
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u/Educational-Buy-6173 12d ago
Oil and silicon packs, my safe floor is full of those packs lol I just take them from work whenever we get some in box from a shipment lol
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u/_MlCE_ 12d ago
Dollarama Damp Traps
Lasts 3-6 months inside a locker
Add a dehumidifier to the room (rainy summer days can get 60-100% humidity)
Winter is not too bad since the cold sucks moisture out of the air.
Also try to oil down your gun once or twice a year. If you shoot corrosive, you need to take extra steps.
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u/hafetysazard 12d ago
The liquid they collect can be really bad news for your guns if it ever spilled, so be careful or switch to something with less potential to cause an awful mess.
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u/M3NUTN 12d ago edited 12d ago
I use those reusable silica gel packs you can get on Amazon for fairly cheap, and oil the guns once in a while. Haven't had a problem yet and I live right on the lake
Edit: to add, make sure the humidity isn't 0% if you have guns with wood furniture or the wood may dry out and crack
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u/TheBulletBuddy 12d ago
Ok cool so all im missing is some silica packs in there. Sounds good
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u/PteSoupSandwich The 10/22 Dude 12d ago
Use Concrobium Moisture Grabbers
The medium size ones come in a box of three; just one of those packs removes excess dampness and humidity from indoor areas up to 350 cubic ft
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u/hafetysazard 12d ago
The reusable ones are pretty cool. You basically heat them up in the oven when they’re fully saturated, and it the drives the moisture out of them. Best and quickest results if you dump them out on a clean baking sheet.
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u/CAFirearmSociety 12d ago
Save yourself the headache and get a dehumidifier, hose for draining, and set to 40%. Never worry again.
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u/TheBulletBuddy 12d ago
That probably would work great but a bit much for 1 rifle haha
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u/CAFirearmSociety 12d ago
1 so far 😉
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u/TheBulletBuddy 12d ago
I hope i dont have more paper weights to worry about storing 🤣 my other rifles are used weekly so we're good there! We're at 4 so far haha. Just gotta add a shotgun soon
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u/Leader-Bike 12d ago
I haven't had a spot of rust since using this. I spray em all once a year and keep a container of Damp Rid in the cabinet.
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u/TheBulletBuddy 12d ago
I've got a little bottle of balistol aerosol oil from a TNA freebie but that stuff smells so bad that im hesitant to use it lol
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u/GreenMan165 12d ago
I also don't care for the smell of Ballistol, it really turns my nose, but it is skin safe which is a plus, and why I ended up switching to it.
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u/hafetysazard 12d ago
Just be careful with that Damp Rid; you wouldn’t want the liquid it collects to spill. It would be disastrous for your guns if it got on em.
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u/613mitch 12d ago
For those that dont get taken out a lot, theyre oiled normally and stored in VCI bags in the safe.
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u/PteSoupSandwich The 10/22 Dude 12d ago
Spray entire firearm with Ballistol
Wait 15mins and wipe off excess
Throw a Concrobium Moisture Grabber into cabinet
Done
Firearms that haven't been out of the cabinet in over a year have zero rust
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u/TheBulletBuddy 12d ago
Even apply the balistol to a cerakoted aluminum receiver/hamdguard? Figured they'd would be safe to leave as is. Couldn't find anything solid about balistol + paint reactions
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u/PteSoupSandwich The 10/22 Dude 12d ago
Cerakote will prevent rust by itself, but you can totally wipe it down with Ballistol; its safe on virtually everything
I even use it to wipe down wood stocks
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u/PsychologyTrick7306 12d ago
But nice big reusable silicon packs from Amazon. You can reuse them once you put them in the microwave.
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u/Content_Sky_2676 12d ago
Volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) emitter/diffuser that is oversized for the safe dimensions hung from the safe ceiling and replaced yearly.
Desiccant packs are ok but really need sealed environments to work properly (which is why you mostly see them used commercialy in sealed bags and gasket sealed enclosures), some dessicants can actually swell and burst, and if they end up in contact with metal can cause rust because holding water is what they do.
A dehumidifier is the best, but loud and expensive. A in-safe heater like a golden rod or really small incandescent bulb (~20 watts) will work as well. As long as it can bring the safe internal temperature above outside room temperature it'll keep the relative humidity low enough that you won't get rust. The golden rod units can usually tuck in behind the lip of the door in the dead space there and you run the wire through one of the bolt holes, or drill one yourself.
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u/hafetysazard 12d ago edited 12d ago
Safe with a good seal, rechargeable silica gel canister, silicone socks (which also help with safe dings), very light, but thorough coverage of gun oil before they get put away. Brought out regularly to inspect, at least a few times a year for the ones that don’t get shot very often.
If my safe was close to an outlet I would consider a golden rod, which is just a very small heater that does a great job of keeping moisture away. If you don’t mind the smell of vicks, you can put a piece of camphor in there. It will sublimate into a gas and will deposit itself on every surface, but also happens to create a superb barrier against corrosion.
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u/Unlikely_sniper 12d ago
Humidity control is the biggie. My gun room has a dehumidifier in it & unlike the rest of the house, it is independently climate controlled. When I was still using safes full time I had a golden rod in one and a rechargeable silica chummy in the other
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u/VictoryVCI 8d ago
You’re probably in pretty good shape already.
The main thing I’d add is that humidity control and direct corrosion protection aren’t really the same thing. Silica, a dehumidifier or a safe heater helps control the environment, but oil or VCI protects the metal itself.For something that’s going to sit a long time, I’d be more comfortable using both approaches than relying on just one. And I’d avoid long-term storage directly in foam-lined cases. I learned that one the hard way after leaving one of mine in foam way longer than I should have.
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