Gun Safe seal / Dehumidifier questions

[JRHunt0610]

I have a Winchester 36 gun safe that is about 15 years old. The fire seal around the door no longer sticks and is falling apart. Looking for opinions for a replacement? Not seeing much on Amazon besides weather stripping.

Also looking for recommendations on dehumidifier rod/bags. I have always used bags but not sure they are the best thing to use and I probably don’t replace them as much as I should. Thanks in advance!

 

[JRHunt0610]

I think you want to look for heat-expanding Palusol.

Seals on Gun Safes: What Exactly is Palusol? - Hoogerhyde Safe & Lock

Most gun safes use Palusol brand intumescent seals to prevent fire and smoke damage. This explains what Palusol is and how it works.

hoogerhydesafe.com

PALUSOL® EF I INTUMESCENT FIRE AND COLD SMOKE SEALS

PALUSOL® EF is an intumescent fire seal made from PALUSOL, a hydrated sodium silicate material, encapsulated in a rigid thermoplastic profile in combination with a protection against cold smoke. Examples of applications for intumescent fire and cold smoke seals PALUSOL® EF: fire resistant or...

odice.com

Interesting read, thanks! I will check it out. I managed to glue my old one back up but it’s brittle and falling apart so I’m going to have to do something.

 

[Squanchy]

I use a Hornady xl desiccant canister in my safe and it works well. You pop it in the oven and dry out the crystals and put it back in the safe.

My safe is in a conditioned space so I do not have that much of an issue with humidity. I know quite a few people run golden rods in conjunction with the desiccant canisters as a backup.

 

[JRHunt0610]

I use a Hornady xl desiccant canister in my safe and it works well. You pop it in the oven and dry out the crystals and put it back in the safe.

My safe is in a conditioned space so I do not have that much of an issue with humidity. I know quite a few people run golden rods in conjunction with the desiccant canisters as a backup.

Thanks for the input. How often do you dry out the Hornady XL? My safe is bolted in the garage so I do try to make sure to keep bags in there. I heard the golden rods work well but just wanted to hear from folks that possibly used them before committing.

 

[GymB]

Golden rod is just a heater.

 

[Jeppo]

I use a golden rod and several large desiccant canisters. A few months ago, I wanted even more reduction in humidity. I unplugged the golden rod, added a tiny and inexpensive dehumidifier and put foam weatherstripping so the dehumidifier isn’t trying to dry out the entire zip code. That is keeping the humidity around 43%.

 

[HandyDave]

Thanks for the input. How often do you dry out the Hornady XL? My safe is bolted in the garage so I do try to make sure to keep bags in there. I heard the golden rods work well but just wanted to hear from folks that possibly used them before committing.

I use the Hornady canister as well. The desiccant beads change color mine go from orange to green. When the majority are green it's time to put can in the oven until the beads are orange again. I usually don't have to bake my can to recharge the beads but twice a year.

 

[Squanchy]

Thanks for the input. How often do you dry out the Hornady XL? My safe is bolted in the garage so I do try to make sure to keep bags in there. I heard the golden rods work well but just wanted to hear from folks that possibly used them before committing.

I've had it for 3 weeks and it has not needed to be dried out yet. But I also live in a less humid area.

When I was in Jacksonville NC (similar climate to moyok?) with a safe bolted down in the garage I think it was a 48 gun I couldn't do a friggin thing to keep it from being very high humidity inside. I even would have condensation form on the exterior of the safe from the temperature difference on really bad days with a high temperature swing.

 

[JRHunt0610]

I've had it for 3 weeks and it has not needed to be dried out yet. But I also live in a less humid area.

When I was in Jacksonville NC (similar climate to moyok?) with a safe bolted down in the garage I think it was a 48 gun I couldn't do a friggin thing to keep it from being very high humidity inside. I even would have condensation form on the exterior of the safe from the temperature difference on really bad days with a high temperature swing.

Yeah similar problem I am having but not so bad I have condensation. I think the answer ultimately is to find a spot to move the safe inside but I might be ruffling some feathers with my better half lol!

 

[Squanchy]

I used some of that really thick stick on rubber you put up against a wall when framing a cricket on a roof in between two sheets of 3/4" plywood under my safe in the garage. It actually helped some but the temperature swings in the fall / spring I couldn't avoid.

 

[HandyDave]

Yeah similar problem I am having but not so bad I have condensation. I think the answer ultimately is to find a spot to move the safe inside but I might be ruffling some feathers with my better half lol!

I got rid of first ol lady cause she refused to put bread tie back on bread. She was a spin and fold under type and she had to go 🤣 I definitely would get rid of one if she didn't want my guns in the house.

 

[Frack N Cylons]

Golden rod is just a heater.

...that sensibly heats the space which lowers the relative humidity.

A lower relative humidity slows corrosion.

So a golden rod can slow corrosion.

If the item is warmer, it also lessens the chance of moisture condensing on it if you take it outside on a humid July afternoon.

...but they do not remove any moisture from the air, as I'm sure you're aware.

 

[JRHunt0610]

I got rid of first ol lady cause she refused to put bread tie back on bread. She was a spin and fold under type and she had to go 🤣 I definitely would get rid of one if she didn't want my guns in the house.

I can completely relate, I like the salt and pepper out beside the stove where it gets used daily and is easily accessible yet she refuses and always puts it in the cabinet. haha To be fair she isn’t completely unreasonable I do have another safe in our bedroom but the larger one stays in the garage.

 

[GymB]

...that sensibly heats the space which lowers the relative humidity.

A lower relative humidity slows corrosion.

So a golden rod can slow corrosion.

If the item is warmer, it also lessens the chance of moisture condensing on it if you take it outside on a humid July afternoon.

...but they do not remove any moisture from the air, as I'm sure you're aware.

Exactly right, I just didn’t want to type it out😂