Gun Safe in Garage

[mia1aab]

Hello. Not sure if this is the right forum for this question. If not, please tell me where.

I recently moved to Texas and don’t have room in my house gun safe so it’s in the garage. I haven’t put any of my guns in the safe because I’m concerned they will rust. My hygrometer says humidity is between 50-55% most days and temperature is between 85-90. This is with a large golden rod inside the safe. I recently bought some activated charcoal bags which are supposed to absorb moisture.

Has anyone had success with that? What else is everyone doing that has their safe in the garage to prevent damaging their guns?

Thanks

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Isn't 50-55% good?

Don't want it too dry.

 

[Mohawk600]

I wouldn't put a gun safe in a garage personally. For security reasons.

 

[mia1aab]

Isn't 50-55% good?

Don't want it too dry.

I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking for advice. In Atlanta the safe was in the basement where it was 70 degrees and 45-50 humidity and I never worried.

 

[TexasRedneck]

I have a number of guns in my garage "overflow" safe, never an issue. As noted, you don't want the air TOO dry - bad on wood stocks.

 

[mia1aab]

I have a number of guns in my garage "overflow" safe, never an issue. As noted, you don't want the air TOO dry - bad on wood stocks.

How do you regulate humidity and should I raise the safe off the ground with hockey pucks? I’ve heard it’s not good for it to be flat on the concrete.

 

[TexasRedneck]

I put a layer of 30 lb felt under the safe. Have a golden rod in the safe and let it rock on - no rust to date.

 

[SARGE67]

I've wanted a safe in the garage because it may be too heavy for hardwood flooring on pier and beam indoors. Mainly for handguns, ammo and valuables, no rifles. If indoors and too small someone could simply carry it out. Others say then bolt it to the floor. Nobody will say how much weight I can put on the floor...

 

[ZX9RCAM]

It's definitely not a bad idea to bolt it to the floor.

 

[baboon]

I personally would put in the garage, but I have always had dedicated room in my houses.The current is my trophy room and it was probably a 3.5 car garage that became a pretty nice room.

 

[Mills]

Make sure it is bolted down !

 

[Shady]

Meh just buy a 1970's era real gun safe you don't need bolts they are so heavy they Bend a 800lb dolly lol ask me how I know

It was bolted into my non climate controlled garage for 10+ years in central TX. No golden rod nothing. It was against an exterior wall on one side it was not opened very often and I had no rust issues

 

[TipBledsoe]

If you’re still worried about moisture just toss in there all them little silica packets that come in many product packaging.

 

[MountainGirl]

I've wanted a safe in the garage because it may be too heavy for hardwood flooring on pier and beam indoors. ... Nobody will say how much weight I can put on the floor...

We didn't consider that, and should have. Major fail.
The repairs - added piers and sistered beams - last year was a chunk; still waiting for the floors to hopefully level back out some, but there's new signs now of problem not resolved.

With the average 80% humidity here in the thicket, not sure outside would be an option.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Nobody will say how much weight I can put on the floor...

Find yourself a structural engineer. I'm facing something of a similar situation - possible relocation to Boerne, along with 4 1800 lb safes, plus the garage safe. DEFINITELY considering building a concrete addition w/a vault door - my gal's place is on pier and beam - not even going to consider trying to reinforce the floors to hold those beasts.

 

[Enigma57]

I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking for advice. In Atlanta the safe was in the basement where it was 70 degrees and 45-50 humidity and I never worried.

Here's what's recommended on my Hygrometer.

 

[striker55]

I've wanted a safe in the garage because it may be too heavy for hardwood flooring on pier and beam indoors. Mainly for handguns, ammo and valuables, no rifles. If indoors and too small someone could simply carry it out. Others say then bolt it to the floor. Nobody will say how much weight I can put on the floor...

When we had bamboo flooring added the installer recommended not putting our safe on the floor so it's in the garage.

 

[Mills]

Several years ago in my neck of the woods, a gun-safe was stolen from a house .

The thefts used a backhoe and scooped the vault out through the roof, then loaded into a dump truck.

 

[DaBull]

Several years ago in my neck of the woods, a gun-safe was stolen from a house .

The thefts used a backhoe and scooped the vault out through the roof, then loaded into a dump truck.

I assume the safe was really big and filled with especially valuable firearms, and therefore worth the effort. Were they able to track them down based on the backhoe/dump truck?

 

[MountainGirl]

Yeah... Those roof-less houses aren't very secure.