TheCpaNextDoor
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I’m seeing rust prevention bags that people are sealing guns in air tight. Anybody got a great 30 years storage kind of method? That works.
What is the modern alternative to cosmoline? Sealed bagging?
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Deus Machina
Member
Why not both?
Slather it in your choice of preservative grease and then seal it.
Exceedingly small chance for air to penetrate and the bag would prevent the grease from drying or oxidizing.
Slather it in your choice of preservative grease and then seal it.
Exceedingly small chance for air to penetrate and the bag would prevent the grease from drying or oxidizing.
P5 Guy
Member
dogtown tom
Member
You don't need to seal a VCI bag. The vapor works exactly the same whether left open or sealed.
VCI bags typically are most effective up to five years, when they should be replaced.
Cosmoline has safely stored firearms for decades, but is messy and may eventually dry up. It will entail a thorough cleaning when removed from storage.
VCI bags don't need to be sealed to be effective. Coating the firearm with cosmoline and then putting it in a VCI bag offers little that one or the other would do. I sure as heck wouldn't slater on a preservative grease on a gun with wood furniture or on any firearm with synthetic parts.
The benefit of VCI rust proof bags is they allow immediate access to a functioning firearm. With cosmoline you got a new hobby.
Vacuum sealing is a possibility. A customer of mine has a vacuum sealer at his ranch in South Texas. He keeps several firearms there and reseals them right before he leaves.
I don't know, if it ain't broke...don't fix it
You can still get yourself a 55 gallon drum of old school Cosmoline.
For long term storage, like the 30 years you mentioned, I think this is the only product that has a proven track record in real world applications
You can still get yourself a 55 gallon drum of old school Cosmoline.
For long term storage, like the 30 years you mentioned, I think this is the only product that has a proven track record in real world applications
Elkins45
Member
I have some blued steel broadhead blades from the early 80s that have remained rust free under a thin layer of Vaseline inside a plastic tool box. For what it’s worth...
I recently had to use both the vci bags and rig (a non hardening grease for preservation-https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1180385501/rig-universal-gun-grease) plus Breakfree CLP Collector for a number of firearms. FIL has a safe with the notorious Chinese drywall fireblocking that was causing rust to appear every couple of months, even on stainless despite cleaning and oiling. He bought the safe used (appeared brand new) from a guy at his church and it is out of warranty. I did not have enough time over the holidays to gut and replace the drywall in the safe and the crime rate has soared in the area so adopted this as an expedient until I get time to redo the interior of the RSC (aka safe) in a couple of months. As the safe is mounted in an interior closet, it is not easy to replace so redo is what it will take.
The rust was not caused by a moisture issue as plenty of fresh desiccant, a golden rod, etc. was present in the safe and has been for the year that he has owned it. The firearms rusted after about 2-3 months three times before. I left a capsule of Zerust in the interior and changed the desiccant just in case as well. All of the expensive rifles were removed to the other safe on the premises so the safe largely holds .22 rifles and a few modern tennifer coated pistols and some cheap pistols.
Breakfree Collector goes on first with the excess wiped off, then rig is applied, then a VCI bag is sealed with tape. (BTW, the bag instructions clearly say to seal the bag in some way and the cheaper ones do not have the zip closure.) If you are doing a lot of guns, avoid the gun labeled VCI bags--you can buy bulk for a lot cheaper. This is after cleaning and oiling key parts, running a patch with rig through the bore, and treating wood stocks with oil. It was a two day job as I did the cleaning, rig, and breakfree process with his other firearms while I was at it.
Cosmolene hardens and is a PITA for removal after a while but it also works. Brownells sells a variant of the original formula. RIG is definitely easier to apply and remove.
The rust was not caused by a moisture issue as plenty of fresh desiccant, a golden rod, etc. was present in the safe and has been for the year that he has owned it. The firearms rusted after about 2-3 months three times before. I left a capsule of Zerust in the interior and changed the desiccant just in case as well. All of the expensive rifles were removed to the other safe on the premises so the safe largely holds .22 rifles and a few modern tennifer coated pistols and some cheap pistols.
Breakfree Collector goes on first with the excess wiped off, then rig is applied, then a VCI bag is sealed with tape. (BTW, the bag instructions clearly say to seal the bag in some way and the cheaper ones do not have the zip closure.) If you are doing a lot of guns, avoid the gun labeled VCI bags--you can buy bulk for a lot cheaper. This is after cleaning and oiling key parts, running a patch with rig through the bore, and treating wood stocks with oil. It was a two day job as I did the cleaning, rig, and breakfree process with his other firearms while I was at it.
Cosmolene hardens and is a PITA for removal after a while but it also works. Brownells sells a variant of the original formula. RIG is definitely easier to apply and remove.
rodregier
Member
I would use the Brownells Triple Tough Premium Storage bags and VCI paper,
thermo seal the bags.
thermo seal the bags.
I've had similar experience. I once had to prepare a large collection for storage. Ease of application and removal were major criteria. If I only had a few I'd use RIG as well. I used Breakfree COLLECTOR and VCI bags from www.polygunbags.com. If you ask them, they will sell the bags in bulk at a discount.
Results were excellent. Some of the guns have been in storage for ten years without problems.
Cosmoline works great, but it's not 1940 anymore and I don't have the unlimited supply of cheap labor to remove it the military does.
Clean and store in VCI bags.
https://www.zerustproducts.com/products/firearms-ammo-weapons/vci-gun-storage-bags/
https://www.zerustproducts.com/products/firearms-ammo-weapons/vci-gun-storage-bags/
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