Keeping moisture out of cabinet?

[PAV331]

My gun cabinet is installed in my loft (only place for it), I keep my guns in socks inside it and have loads of silica desiccant and a napier VP90(in date). The guns seem to be fine and I've had it up there a couple of years now but I recently put a humidity indicator in and it changed colour pretty quick indicating damp.

 

Can anyone recommend and relatively cheap method to remedy this problem?

[flynny]

Remedy what problem??? You've said your guns are fine? Seems the silica and VP90 are doing the job, don't worry if your guns are ok

 

Just don't use the humidity indicator,

 

Atb

 

Flynn

[HDAV]

Move cabinet....

[littlerob]

Cabinet heater kit can be bought for sub £30 pound was some advertise in the last basc magazine

[bruno22rf]

Buy some cheap polystyrene tiles and glue them to the inside walls of your cabinet with Evo Grip solvent free adhesive-this will stop condensation by maintaining a more even temperature.

[spandit]

Co-op sell disposable dehumidifiers for £1 - I leave one of those in the cabinet

[PAV331]

ok guys thanks for your input, will probably go down the polystyrene route.

[Vince Green]

Unless the cabinet is truely airtight a silica bag is going to be fighting a losing battle. I have mine in the loft and I just make extra care to ensure the guns are well oiled. This has worked for me for many years but I have considered alternatives.

Polystyrene wont keep anything warm if there is no warmth to keep in. I have considered a 5W heater and building a box around the cabinet.

[Dougy]

Get a sheet of celotex and surround your cabinet panels with it. You could also knock up a little box room in the loft with some timber framing and plaster board.

[Foxwit]

I have mine in the loft and installed an 11w rod heater made by lockdown. It raises the air temp just slightly and keeps the damp air out. All guns also in socks and vp90 and cabinet is lined.

[klatuveradanikto]

I use these "151 SMALL SPACE DEHUMIDIFIER BAGS" pop one in the bottom of the cabinet, works for me.Leave the bores oiled with a mop brush before storage.

[foxy bingo]

place a bowl of salt in your cabinet and it will attract the moisture

Edited December 8, 2014 by foxy bingo

[JohnfromUK]

The key to avoiding excess humidity is to have the air in the protected area a little warmer than the surroundings (the warmer air is , the more moisture it can hold without condensation). I think that insulating the outside of the cabinet - and a small (maybe 5 of 10 Watts) heater used inside would be a good plan. I would avoid polystyrene as its very inflammable, but there are plenty of modern foam boards used in the building industry that I assume pass fire prevention tests. There is a fine line - as too dry can damage the woodwork as can wide swings in temperature. I would also be worried (in my loft anyway) about excess heat (and temperature change) in the summer (and its effect on the gun's wood-metal fit). I wouldn't have salt anywhere near my guns!

[aris]

I use these "151 SMALL SPACE DEHUMIDIFIER BAGS" pop one in the bottom of the cabinet, works for me.Leave the bores oiled with a mop brush before storage.

 

How often do you have to replace them?

[spot.ontheroad]

I use these "151 SMALL SPACE DEHUMIDIFIER BAGS" pop one in the bottom of the cabinet, works for me.Leave the bores oiled with a mop brush before storage.

where do you get these from? Edited December 9, 2014 by spot.ontheroad

[spandit]

I use these:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/151-INTERIOR-DEHUMIDIFIER-HUMIDIFIER-REMOVER/dp/B000X1ERW8

 

but they're only £1 at Co-op. I replace them when the crystals have all dissolved

[BunnyBasher14]

I used to have the same issue, stuck some cavity wall insulation boards on the side of the cabinet. Then used a £15 reptile tank heater from pets at home inside. Dont have any issues anymore .

[billytheghillie]

you can get silica based cat litter. put it in a old sock and stick in cabinet.

[HDAV]

dont over do the dehumidifiers as they can dry the stocks out and make them brittle.

[aris]

Anyone know what the ideal humidity level is inside a cabinet?

[blasterjudd]

Interesting how did u locate the reptile pad was it on the base of the cabinet or did u put a divider in between the guns and the heated pad?

I've just bought one and am debating how to do it?

Cheers

 

I used to have the same issue, stuck some cavity wall insulation boards on the side of the cabinet. Then used a £15 reptile tank heater from pets at home inside. Dont have any issues anymore .

[Yellow Bear]

It all depends on the temperature - ie

 

with air at 20c and 60% rh which is about the worst the average house gets before you get condensation and therefore damp the temperature of the object has to drop below 12c so it is difficult to give an ideal humidity.

 

outside air when raining is as near 100% rh as you can get so assuming 5c as the temperature of that air when you warm it to say 15 c the humidity drops to about 50%

 

In simple terms if you can keep your cabinet internals above 13 to 15c you should not get condensation and the damp it causes.

 

Liquid water comes out of air at what is known as the dew point and it is this that generally cause corrosion.

[BunnyBasher14]

Interesting how did u locate the reptile pad was it on the base of the cabinet or did u put a divider in between the guns and the heated pad?

I've just bought one and am debating how to do it?

Cheers

 

 

Hi Mate, Fixed it onto the top on the cabinet so it "dangles" down and is not touching the metal of the cabinet. Thought putting it higher was better not near the wooden gun stocks. Not had any issues with moisture whatsoever since it was put in.