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Drying a closet out

jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
edited January 2007 in Ask the Experts
Hi all,

The recent dessicant topic got me to thinking. I keep a sizeable number of guns in an attic closet. The attic is unheated. It gets cold in the winter and hot in the summer, and is quite humid.

Until recently, my efforts at dehumidification were limited to two large tubs of damp rid. However, I must have spilled some crystals when last filling, as they caused oily moisture to form on a few buttstocks touching the floor, leading to some rust.

Not wanting to repeat this performance, I would like to replace the damp rid with something safer for the guns and more effective as well.

I have a golden rod in my basement gun cabinet. It has not performed anywhere near like what I would hope it to; the basement does not leak but yet there is enough moisture in the cabinet for slings to grow mold. So I don't think that it would be a good choice for the much larger closet, which measures 5X3X4. A nook, more than a closet I guess.

I don't want to install a light bulb as the closet has a hidden entrance. Light shining out would ruin the secret nature of the closet. It is, I think, too small a space for a dehumidifier with a bucket, plus hearing that running behind the wall would be similar to the light- it would advertise the location. I need something silent, but powerful.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jon
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Comments

  • nards444nards444 Member Posts: 3,994 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    First try and carpet insulate the room. You also could try and run a heat duck to the room. the only thing I think of is a dehumidifier. To me I would put my guns somewhere else and stop being so paranoid about having them hidden
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  • Old FoolOld Fool Member Posts: 1,502 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Go to

    http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=7390&title=THERMO-ELECTRIC+AIR+DRYER

    and keep them safe.
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  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boy, talk about all the bad things!
    Get one of the free standing oil type radiator heaters if you can. Silent and will not start a fire.

    Ventilate with a small fan.

    Use a 4 ft. flouresent black light.

    Buy a coffin locker and keep it under the bed.

    You really need to find a better space or hide them in plain sight. How about your water heater enclosure?
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    The thermo-electric job from brownells looks like just the thing.

    A better storage space would be nice, but it is in my folk's house. My apartment is just too small; I have a dozen guns in my apartmentand no room for more. My mom especially won't permit the guns to be out, and my dad is paranoid about hiding things. So until I have my own house, my collection will stay there, with the more valuable guns in the cabinet and locked.
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  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use a dehumidifier. It is a refrigeration type unit that condenses the moisture in a can that you empty now and then. You can install a hose drain that will empty the moisture overboard if you like. Cost of unit last time I bought one was around $100. Pulls about 100 watts of electric when it is running. Turns itself on and off with its own humidistat. To be effective you have to do something to minimize moisture in the closet such as lining the walls with foil or plastic. Otherwise the unit may try to run constantly trying to dehumidify all outdoors.
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  • drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Are these guns you shoot regularly? If not I would hose them all down with CLP collectors grade (little thicker than normal CLP) and put them in silicone impregnated gun socks.
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  • nards444nards444 Member Posts: 3,994 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    trying running one of those little electric space heaters. Set it for like 60 it might keep out the moisture. You could also board up the room with cedar board
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  • baaddawgbaaddawg Member Posts: 114 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I could write you a book about oxidation and corrosion. Yes they are different. My basic point is, you should not store anything made of leather in your "dry area". Leather and other such materials contain acids which react to corrode metal, and water, which contains oxygen which leads to oxidation. The water is what leads to the mold. That is surely not the solution to your problem, but it will definitely help. Good luck. WOOF
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  • rsnyder55rsnyder55 Member Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In Okinawa, we used to mount a low wattage light bulb low in the closet to keep our clothes from mildewing.

    As far as storage, I modified the platform/pedestal under my bed to store my guns.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    I shoot them often, yes. We aren't talking 4 or 5 guns here, more like 40 or 50. Or they wouldn't be in the closet.
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