Safes, guns and rust

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Jim NE

Jim NE

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I bought a safe from Sentry that is rated for water and fire protection. It is rated for security, as well. It is a non-electronic combination lock safe, weighs about 125 pounds. I wanted it to store some pistols in, so it's a smaller unit that stands about 2 feet high, and won't take rifles. It should fit good in one of my closets.

I ordered it online, and it came in today. To my surprise, the owner's manual said that they do not recommend storing firearms in it. This was not mentioned on the website for this model, that I could see. They said it was for storing valuables, and I would think that would include guns.

I called Sentry and talked to customer service, and she said that the lining for fire protection does contain some moisture in it, and that moisture can eventually make steel objects rust. She said people do store guns in this model of safe, but they put them in an airtight container first, but that would be kind of a hassle. I'll do it, if I have to, though. What would be a good airtight container for a pistol? I assume dousing the gun with oil would be required first in case the seal is ever compromised.

So how do gun safes with fire and water protection get around the rust Issue? How can you have an air exchange to keep the contents dry without compromising the fire protection?

Sentry offers some non-fire protected safes without the moisture laden lining, but they only came in the electronic lock form, and I've heard that Sentry electronic locks are easily compromised or defeated.
 
Ziplock bag with an oiled handgun, there is also the rust preventative paper wrap both mentioned and good solutions. You could also place a small bag of descant in there and bake it out every few months during humid seasons. I would not overly worry about it or over think it. The manufacturer is just giving you a heads up that the fire retardant lining can give up some moisture.

Ron
 
ColtPythonElite said:
Oil the pistols and put each in a ziplock bag.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is your best option. If you can test it, it would be interesting to know if the humidity into the safe is higher than in your room. In this case you might consider putting some silica gel in a small flask into the safe.
 
The problem with placing desicant in the safe itself is that it will simply draw the moisture out of the " fireproofing". This will cause two issues- 1st it will just soak your desicant and not protect the firearms. 2nd it could end up compromising the fire protection.
On the other hand, Placing desicant inside your ziplock bag is a good idea.
 
milemaker13 said:
The problem with placing desicant in the safe itself is that it will simply draw the moisture out of the " fireproofing". This will cause two issues- 1st it will just soak your desicant and not protect the firearms. 2nd it could end up compromising the fire protection.
On the other hand, Placing desicant inside your ziplock bag is a good idea.
Click to expand...

Very good point. It sounds like the safe will work for me, understanding that no security system is completely fool proof.

Thanks for the replies, everyone.
 
I was told the fireproofing in my gun safe comes from layers of what is basically drywall. I think your type of safe is intended to let that moisture out (inside the safe) as the box heats up, thereby helping to protect the contents. It is probably a better system, as far as fire protection is concerned... Just not great for prolonged storage of unprotected steel .
 
Use desiccant packs and a Goldenrod. Same with any "real" safe. The packs will absorb ambient moisture while the rod warms and circulates the air, lowering relative humidity.
 
I'd probably just put a Goldenrod in there. My safe is in my basement, so the ambient environment is already slightly humid. With a goldenrod and using Eezox on my guns I haven't experience any rust so far (4 years).
 
milemaker13 said:
The problem with placing desicant in the safe itself is that it will simply draw the moisture out of the " fireproofing". This will cause two issues- 1st it will just soak your desicant and not protect the firearms. 2nd it could end up compromising the fire protection.
On the other hand, Placing desicant inside your ziplock bag is a good idea.
Click to expand...

I have a similar safe that I have used for over 30 years. I stored my handguns in it until we built our home with the walk in vault.

The safe maker probably recommends opening and leaving the door open occasionally to allow air exchange.

As commented the moisture comes from the fire proof material as the safe heats up. The moisture protects paper from burning inside it. This means you will need to get to the guns as quickly as possible after a fire to treat them with oil to avoid rusting. That may be hard to do if the safe is sitting in the basement covered in debris and soaking in water.

I store my guns in the original box if I have it. I either wrapped the gun with the vapor paper or used a zip lock baggie. The guns that I didn't intend to shoot anytime soon got a treatment of RIG grease.
 
BSA1 said:
I have a similar safe that I have used for over 30 years. I stored my handguns in it until we built our home with the walk in vault.

The safe maker probably recommends opening and leaving the door open occasionally to allow air exchange.

As commented the moisture comes from the fire proof material as the safe heats up. The moisture protects paper from burning inside it. This means you will need to get to the guns as quickly as possible after a fire to treat them with oil to avoid rusting. That may be hard to do if the safe is sitting in the basement covered in debris and soaking in water.

I store my guns in the original box if I have it. I either wrapped the gun with the vapor paper or used a zip lock baggie. The guns that I didn't intend to shoot anytime soon got a treatment of RIG grease.
Click to expand...

Thanks BSA1 and every one else.

RIG grease? What's that?
 
the cheap fire rated safes use wet saw dust or ground up paper as a way of keeping the inside of the safe cooler during a fire. it makes the inside of the safe very humid and will cause your guns to rust.

there is no practical answer to this problem other than to put your firearm inside of some other sealed container before storing it in such a safe. I think the idea of the VCI paper inside of a sealed bag will be your best bet. A ziplok bag is not the greatest choice though as it is not airtight, but much better than nothing.
 
Jim NE said:
RIG grease? What's that?
Click to expand...

RIG. Rust Inhibiting Grease. RCModel used to espouse the wonders of this stuff- made me a true believer. Everything that isn't shot regularly has a thin film of this coating it- inside and out- and I have zero concerns about rust. Also use it on reloading dies, casting moulds, and steel mags that aren't in regular use as well.

RIG - 1
Alabama humidity- 0
 
CLP said:
RIG. Rust Inhibiting Grease. RCModel used to espouse the wonders of this stuff- made me a true believer. Everything that isn't shot regularly has a thin film of this coating it- inside and out- and I have zero concerns about rust. Also use it on reloading dies, casting moulds, and steel mags that aren't in regular use as well.

RIG - 1
Alabama humidity- 0
Click to expand...


CLP, I plan on putting some of my nicer guns in this safe, like a vintage Hi Power in very nice shape, a Diamondback, a nice late model S&W 586, etc....of course all with blued finishes. Does the RIG have any negative effect on nice quality blued finishes? I mean, if kept on for the long term??
 
Check out Rig Rag. It is a sheepskin applicator.

I use a round piece of sheepskin to put on Eezoxx. The sheepskin works great.
 
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