Liberty Safe Rusting on Bottom. HELP!!

[Glockfan77]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I need your HELP in solving a rust problem. I have a large Lberty Safe and it seems to be starting to rust on the bottom. Of course, I do live in Warm and moist South Carolina, where the humidity can easily top 100% this time of year. My safe is in my room sitting on the carpet. I have a crawl space type constructed house, so it is not directly on concrete. However, before I had it in an enclosed garage and it did sit on a concrete floor with two 2*6's under it. What can I do guys to help combat this problem. Also, do any of you recommend a dehumidification agent, ie, golden rod, dessicants,etc..?
I would appreciate aany help folks.

So long from Sunny and Warm S.C.

 

[rcmodel]

Only suggestion I have is get it up off the carpet on something so you have air circulation under most of it.

A carpet can hold a lot of moisture in a high humidity environment.
And it would never dry out with a safe setting directly on it.

A large plastic mat (carpet runner or 1/4" clear acrylic sheet plastic) under the safe would also work to keep moisture in the carpet at bay.

I hear the Golden Rods work real well for interior protection.

rc

 

[Glockfan77]

Thanks rc. I will try this soon.

 

[Blown6L]

I'd recommend emptying it and refinishing/sealing/painting the rusted areas. Once started it won't stop unless you do.

 

[Glockfan77]

Blown6L: It is not really bad yet and I have had it for about 10-11 years. Have you ever heard of one rusting completely through?

 

[Joel Lehman]

I have used the golden rod for over 39 years in hot, humid central Texas. Nothing has ever rusted in my gun safe.

 

[adirondack]

Try cathodic protection. This normally works best when the anode (safe) is completely submerged (E.g. in earth or water) but you can give it a try to see if it works for you. You can try a sacrificial anode approach by attaching a metal to the safe that is more willing to give up free electrons such as magnesium, zinc or aluminum or you can impress a current by connecting a battery (+) to the safe and (-) to a ground reference close by the safe.

 

[esheato]

Gun Safe Base/Platform Question thread with answers from the resident safe guru.

 

[docsleepy]

what adirondack said will work. Bolt a piece of zinc to the safe (go to boating store and ask for zinc sacrificial anode). Rusting will not REVERSE but it will STOP and the zinc will slowly oxidize. Every outboard motor in the nation has one. Be sure that when you bolt it, the screw goes into the METAL of the safe and all will be good. Regular steel screw is probably the best to use.

 

[rcmodel]

If your carpet is wet enough to need a sacrificial anode to prevent rusting, you have bigger things to worry about then a rusty safe.

Like moldy carpets and flesh eating bacteria growing in your walls.

rc

 

[Maverick223]

If your carpet is wet enough to need a sacrificial anode to prevent rusting, you have bigger things to worry about then a rusty safe.

Very true, but the Forensic Engineer in me likes the solution...in my experience cathodic protection works quite well.

 

[HighExpert]

If you need to repair the rust and stop any further rust, clean the paint off the bottom and use a product call Restore made by Rustoleum. It will convert any remaining rust to a plastic type material and seal the metal. I have used this product on my Deer Stands and boat trailer for years and it works.

 

[Lee Roder]

Related question (sorry if I should have posted a new thread - MODS MAKE A NEW THREAD IF NEEDED) but

I'm in ARIZONA (where it is DRY DRY DRY). Humidity < 10% OMG.

I just finished installing a new safe on my foundation's slab. No bangs or cracks apparent on drilling. I sealed/painted the area first so there is some "moisture barrier" but do any of you in dry areas really have any "rust" experience as to safes mounted on concrete? I didn't put anything underneath it (I've seen plexiglass and plywood suggested), since I didn't want to provide any pry points, but ... ???

TIA

 

[Maverick223]

Lee Roder, as you can see from my location, I have very little experience with "dry", however you could put a thin sheet of rubber beneath the entire footprint of the safe (best for it to hang out slightly to prevent a prying attack, or at least make it more difficult). This would both provide a good moisture barrier with minimal clearance beneath the safe and would also absorb force if someone tried to rock the safe (transferring slightly less force to the anchors). Honestly, the coating that you applied to the concrete should be sufficient in your area, but if you want additional protection the above course of action should provide it.

 

[Guns and more]

Do you have a dog?
Has he contributed to the moisture?

Get it off the carpet, clean the rust, paint with rust resistant paint.
Maybe set it on blocks in the corners.

But let's think from a scientific angle. Moisture forms because the safe gets colder than the surrounding air. Thus condensation forms.
How do we stop that? Get the safe away from A/C vents, use a Goldenrod inside, place Dri sorb (or whatever you call it) near the safe.
And..........rice. Yep, absorbs moisture. Maybe some under the safe. Get some warm air under it. Maybe even a 25 watt lightbulb inside on a timer. It doesn't take much.

But mostly, stop the rust or it will keep going. That means getting all the rust off.