Gun Safe?

[RollTideRam]

Does anyone keep a gun safe in the garage? My wife won't let me bring one inside. I could probably hide one in the garage behind some stuff (junk). What do you use to compensate for humidity? JC

[kennyd]

I use a GunVault, but in my bedroom-not the garage. You can get small heaters that take care of the humidity for larger safes.

[sandman2234]

I got a door from the safety deposit room in an old bank, and put plywood/2x4's as the form, only 4' high, added welded frame of rebar, and presto you have the makings of a nice storm shelter/ gun room. Add another layer to the 4' and it is tall enough to have double bunks hanging from the walls. 8x15 feet in size which made it large enough for several people and just outside the door is a p/u which could charge the 12v lighting system batteries if the power went out.
No humidity problems, as it is pretty much controled temp by the large garage surrounding it and the 5" thick walls. A dehumidifyer runs on a regular scheduled timer, just in case. Ammo stored there hasn't given me any trouble either.
David from jax

[khamill2000]

I got a door from the safety deposit room in an old bank, and put plywood/2x4's as the form, only 4' high, added welded frame of rebar, and presto you have the makings of a nice storm shelter/ gun room. Add another layer to the 4' and it is tall enough to have double bunks hanging from the walls. 8x15 feet in size which made it large enough for several people and just outside the door is a p/u which could charge the 12v lighting system batteries if the power went out.
No humidity problems, as it is pretty much controled temp by the large garage surrounding it and the 5" thick walls. A dehumidifyer runs on a regular scheduled timer, just in case. Ammo stored there hasn't given me any trouble either.
David from jax

Would love to see a pic of that

[MossRoad]

Does anyone keep a gun safe in the garage? My wife won't let me bring one inside. I could probably hide one in the garage behind some stuff (junk). What do you use to compensate for humidity? JC

The same thing that can happen to guns in a garage can happen to tools in a garage, or in a basement. I lubricate our tools well and often.

[JB4310]

Well it's gonna be hard to dehumidify the whole garage and I doubt you'd get one in the safe, just thinking here maybe an air tight gasket would do the trick with a large bag of that decadent stuff as a little insurance.
Keep em well oiled and blued, shouldn't be a problem. Or just get all stainless guns.
JB.

[CurlyDave]

I would not go "air tight". How would humidity escape.

The problem is condensation, not humidity.

Most gun safes have a small hole in the top, threaded for an eye bolt to lift the safe. It is used extensively at the factory, and I have used it to move the safe with my FEL.

I cut the end off of an extension cord, fed it through the hole and put a new end on the cord.

The I used a plug strip, so I had multiple 110 volt outlets inside the safe.

I put two small heaters inside the safe. One is sold in pets stores as a lizard cage heater. It is vinyl, about 12" x 18" and maybe 40 watts. It has sticky-back on it, and I stuck it to an aluminum cookie sheet. This sits on the rifle side of the safe. The aluminum cookie sheet conducts heat very well and prevents hot spots. The other heater is a compact fluorescent light bulb, 26 actual watts, 100 watt light output equivalent.

The safe runs just slightly warm, and I have had no problems with rust.

[AMR]

When I moved to my new house it was so muddy that I told the movers just to drop my safe in the garage and I figured I could get them back for a hundred bucks or so to get it into the basement. Well after my lawn was established they wanted $600 to move it to the basement. NO WAY!

So my safe sat in my garage for 3 hot and humid summers, it killed me. To my astonishment though I had no issues with any of my guns at all. I checked them frequently, didn't do much more than keep them clean as usual and I had no issues. Frankly I was very surprised. But still I wanted it in my basement for more room in the garage and I run a dehumidifier in the basement in the summer that keeps RH around 40%, makes me feel better.

My safe is about 850 pounds or so, when I got my new B3030 I moved the safe into the basement using the BH to lay it down, I strapped it just off center and was able to control a slide into the basement, it was a miracle that nothing broke, including me, but it worked and I saved $600.

To answer your question you may not have issues with it in the garage but I wouldn't want to do it myself again, just too much investment to have something happen to them. Actually, I see that you are in Alabama, I have to imagine that it is MUCH more humid than CT, I would probably vote to keep it in a more conditioned space. If you have to keep it in the garage they do sell safe dehumidifiers but I don't know how effective they will be with really high humidity levels.

[MossRoad]

a large bag of that decadent stuff

I think the word you want is desiccant.

A bag of decadent stuff would probably be really good chocolate, gold jewelry, etc...

Come to think of it, the safe would be a good place for your decadent stuff, too!

[polo1665]

A friend of mine keeps his safe in his workshop. Heated in the winter but not climate controlled in the summer. He has had no trouble with rust. Try this site. $40.00 isn't bad for a little piece of mind
Browning Gun Safes and Gun Safe Accessories