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Chacoal

gunzforevergunzforever Member Posts: 619 ✭✭✭
edited January 2006 in Ask the Experts
Ok, dont you guys know how charcoal is suppost to soak up mostuire, so heres my question. If you put charcoal in a gun cabinent(not a safe) would it soak up the mostiure?

Thankyou and Godbless
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Comments

  • mowartmowart Member Posts: 1,392 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Charcoal is good at absorbing smells but I don't know about moisture. One simple way of absorbing moisture in an enclosed space would be to get some Calcium Chloride, like some use to melt snow & ice, fill half a jar with it, screw on the top with some holes in the lid. Put this in the space, top up, to absorb moisture. The more moisture absorbed, the more liquid will be in the jar. Careful about the liquid, it's corrosive to metal, don't spill any. It's what rusts out those NY cars.
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  • allechalleyallechalley Member Posts: 888 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Charcoal WILL absorb moisture, but in doing so, espec. in a closed environment , it can and is able to support spontanious combustion. I have never had it happen but have heard of it from time to time as the cause of basement, garage, ect. fires.
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The term is hygroscopic- meaning can remove water. Most dessicants have water driven off by heating it- like drying out a sponge- and it will then suck water out of the air until it gets saturated- at which time, you can bake it, and repeat. Charcoal WILL absorb moisture- but weight for weight, silica gel (those little packs marked "DO NOT EAT") does a better job. And unlike charcoal, it does not catch fire when you are baking it. Calcium chloride would work- so would sodium chloride- salt. And if I catch you putting either one in MY gun cabinet, I'm gonna get me a switch! Plain old drywall- gypsum- is another dessicant- hard to get water out once it gets in there. I would personally go for the silica gel- it is commercially available, not expensive, works well, does not burn your house down, and leaves your safe brighter and whiter. Can I have is marked DRIERITE- and has a color indicator to show when it is saturated and needs baking out. The greater the exposed surface area of the dessicant, the better it works. In other words, a pan with a thin layer, rather than a narrow neck bottle. PS- leave a gun in a fireproof DOCUMENT safe, and it will rust. The filler insulation inside the safe holds water- in a fire, it is turned to steam, which prevents documents from burning.
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ps- for a gun CABINET, why not add a lamp fixture, and stick a 25 watt bulb in there? Enuff warmth to drive off moisture. Enuff light to help see what's what.
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Brownell's sells packs & cans of silica gel.

    I believe that they also sell Goldenrods, small lamps that safely keep out moisture. But, a small light bulb carefully installed will serve the same purpose.

    However, gun cabinets are a poor choice for storing guns. The wood itself is a source of moisture, & moisture can readily enter through the door edges. Worst of all, they don't protect against theft &/or misuse. (Remember Columbine?) Responsible gun owners keep their guns in a safe or steel lockbox.

    Neal
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The down side to lightbulbs is that they have a much shorter life than a goldenrod.
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