Dessicant advice
 

If i hadn't lost all my firearms and ammo in a terrible boating accident I was going to put a dessicant in the ammo/gun boxes. If someone wanted to do that what kind would they use? I think something that showed a color change when it needed to be dried out would be nice. Where would you get them? Any help would be appreciated. iGrok.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

Sorry to hear about your loss bro, I had a very similar incident myself last week. It was a horrible loss:s10:.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

A brand name that I know of is Drierite desiccant. The color changing variety is known as indicating desiccant. Drierite is best used in perforated metal tubes so the indication can be seen and the desiccant easily baked dry when needed.
There are probably cheaper sources but the one I know immediately off the top of my head comes from a mycological supply house known as MycoSupply. The lady that runs Mycosupply is very honest and a wonderful person so I don't mind pimping her business although you can likely shop out better prices.
Desiccant
Perforated Tubes

Also, FYI, desiccant is spelled with two "c's" as opposed to two "s's". I tell you this to aid in your search.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

Unfortunately my dictionary went down with the ship also. iGrok

Re: Dessicant advice
 

I don't own any guns. Honest:sarc:. I do, however, own an ever-increasing number of metal & wood/plastic "sculptures." For use in a safe or locker, I highly recommend the GoldenRod. It warms the air inside the safe/locker, and keeps the humidity down to a reasonable level. No rust at all on any of my sculptures, even when stored here in the Ohio Valley.

For use in a sealed ammo can, desiccant would work very well. You'd just need to make sure it's active (has the water baked out) prior to use.

<this is my first post on GIM...Yippee!!:565:>

Re: Dessicant advice
 

Welcome to the ever so interesting and addicting world of GIM, CrufflerJJ! Glad to hear that you don't own any guns!:sarcasm: I love the way you talk about your sculptures! Great idea!

Re: Dessicant advice
 

Thanks - glad to be here! Although I'm not an artsy-craftsy sort of guy, I DO loooooove my sculptures.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

Go to a shoe store and get a pile of freebies.

Sorry, my friends call me frugal, but I'm just plain old cheap.


The goldenrods are great, I have one, because it came in a deal, but you can do the same thing with a 5w light bulb inside your gunsafe. It just creates a little heat that keeps condensation from forming.:smile:

Re: Dessicant advice
 

I guess a 5W bulb is better than nothing, but it would only put out 3-4W of heat. Goldenrods are 12, 18, 25W output (depending on length), so you might need more than one 5W bulb to do the trick. In one of my food stashing cabinets out in the garage, I rigged a 60W bulb & a thermostat to keep things above freezing (so the glass jars wouldn't freeze & burst). Incandescent light bulbs are OK, as long as you occasionally make sure the filament hasn't burned out.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

*Gasp*

You mean I'm not the only one whose gun collection got destroyed???

Re: Dessicant advice
 

I knew a welder that kept his rods in an old refridgerator w/ a 5 watt bulb. Sometimes they would get hot enough to make you think they were burning your fingers.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

"Night Light" bulbs are 4-5W, so that must have been a pretty strong "5 watt" bulb.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

I dunno, he said it was 5W, it was plugged into a regular 110, but didn't put out much light? It was on all the time, the door rarely opened, and it was well insulated, but perhaps you're right, maybe it was a stronger bulb.

At any rate, you could get one of those set up for 1/4 the price of a goldenrod, but you're still only saving 30 bucks.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

I sold all my guns at some local gun show. Did a private sell and took cash (sold for a loss as well). Some hunter looking guy, didn't get his name either.

Re: Dessicant advice
 

When I used to have some ammo I stored it in military ammo cans with the silica gel.

I would pour an ounce or two in the middle of a coffee maker filter and then fold it up and staple the edges.

Probably not really needed in a can with a good seal but I liked to be sure.