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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Sept 7, 2022 15:02:14 GMT
Hi All,
I know some of you store swords/guns in cabinets or containers.
I assume you use some sort of dessicant in the safe/box etc.
I'll be moving homes soon, and am in the fury of packing, so my collection has to go somewhere.
I've now got them all in a blanket chest that seals fairly well.
I don't want to make the box or blanket padding stink, so I'd like to avoid using cat litter as a dessicant.
What do you think, no dessicant, or something else?
Oh...and I expect them to be in storage like this until Jan/Feb.
Thoughts?
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Post by carbon on Sept 7, 2022 21:29:10 GMT
Hi All, I know some of you store swords/guns in cabinets or containers. I assume you use some sort of dessicant in the safe/box etc. I'll be moving homes soon, and am in the fury of packing, so my collection has to go somewhere. I've now got them all in a blanket chest that seals fairly well. I don't want to make the box or blanket padding stink, so I'd like to avoid using cat litter as a dessicant. What do you think, no dessicant, or something else? Oh...and I expect them to be in storage like this until Jan/Feb. Thoughts? I can't speak for swords as mine are all hung on a wall, but I do keep several carbon steel knives stored in a plastic tool box. I use a light coat of oil and keep a few packets of silica gel in the box. Some have been there several months with no sign of rust. Silica Gel at Amazon for example.
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Sept 9, 2022 0:45:25 GMT
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Post by kamagatsu on Sept 9, 2022 11:39:16 GMT
Be very careful with desiccants in storage boxes! A relative destroyed a browning shotgun by leaving it in his gun cabinet with desiccants for a prolonged period of around 5-6 months.
Unfortunately the desiccants absorbed lots of moisture became over saturated and then provided a damp environment which caused significant rusting to the gun.
Then again that’s the wonderful damp environment of Great Britain.
Desiccants do a great job if changed out regularly. But you have to be on top of checking them.
I know manufacturers use them within there packaging of all manor of products and I’ve never experienced any poor effects, my relative’s experience could just have been down to his gun cabinet being positioned in a damp area who knows.
Just a cautionary tale.
Personally I don’t think you’ll ever beat a good coating of oil.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Sept 9, 2022 16:44:51 GMT
They are all oiled, and coated w/ ren-wax.
If in a wood scabbard, they're scabbarded (thats a word?).
THis is how I store them normally, and I check them regularly.
I only need to fuss with them every 6ish months, and then is the same da**n sword every time. (clearly a rust magnet)
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Post by paulmuaddib on Sept 10, 2022 12:27:45 GMT
They are all oiled, and coated w/ ren-wax. If in a wood scabbard, they're scabbarded (thats a word?). THis is how I store them normally, and I check them regularly. I only need to fuss with them every 6ish months, and then is the same da**n sword every time. (clearly a rust magnet) Sounds like that one sword is your desiccant. |
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JakeH
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Post by JakeH on Sept 11, 2022 21:32:55 GMT
Rather than a passive desiccant, perhaps consider a Golden Rod Dehumidifier (I'm sure there are probably competing brands, but that's the one I know). It's a very low power heating element that provides just enough temperature gradient to keep the humidity in the container down. They come in several sizes. The last time I looked into such things they were popular with folks in damp climates. YMMV. No warrantees expressed or given.
Cheers,
Jake
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Post by pellius on Sept 17, 2022 22:51:01 GMT
I keep my precious items in my gun safe, but it eventually filled up. I got a large locking steel cabinet for “overflow,” which I keep in the house (i.e., air conditioned). It keeps pets and curious fingers at bay, but isn’t really meant to withstand determined attack. (The items on display would be even easier to abscond with, but at least they require a ladder to reach.) I also use a tiny plug-in dehumidifier in the cabinet. It looks pretty gimmicky, but it is super quiet and keeps everything nice and dry. Even in the 72* house, it fills its reservoir in a few weeks. This is Florida, after all.  Of course, I oil everything, too, to stave off rust and moisturize leather. It isn’t fire-and-forget, but it works well for decent stretches of time with only occasional cursory check ups. fwiw |
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Post by demonskull on Sept 18, 2022 1:08:34 GMT
For temporary use, use a desiccant. Place the packets in a bowl on the bottom of your crate/trunk/box. Instead of buying some, just go to your local shoe store and ask for a handful. They generally throw out hundreds every week. For longer storage, get some plastic gun storage bags, add a desiccant pkt and then seal the bag with tape. If you have hand and 1/2s or two handers you may have to use two bags (1 over either end, the desiccant pkt and then seal the two bags together with tape. Plastic packing tape works the best.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Sept 19, 2022 15:25:57 GMT
Interesting ideas!
An amusing addendum...
I have more sword BOXES than swords.
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mrstabby
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Post by mrstabby on May 4, 2023 10:04:34 GMT
You can damage wood if there is too much silica gel and the container is sealed completely. I have heard of gun stocks cracking after being in a plastic bag and silica gel for a long time. And like someone already said, if the silica gel is gorged with water and gets in contact with the metal, it will rust. You need to cook off the water every so often, putting them in the oven @ at least 150C for a few hours.
You could use a weather station with a sattelite. Put the wireless sensor in the box with the swords and look how much humidity is in there.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on May 4, 2023 13:40:59 GMT
Update.
The swords were stored in a storage garage for 5 months.
I am amazed.
We had a wet winter, and plenty of humidity. (Cincinnati weather)
By the time I got to them, I had forgotten this thread, so thanks MrStabby!
The results, everything weathered perfectly, except the one that rusts if you look at it funny.
I'm not sure if it was luck or the layers of wool and cotton blankets working as desiccant.
14 swords, 4 spear tips, half dozen knives...all were good. I found a couple spots with rust spots, but those were my fault for not getting them coated properly.
So...all in all, it was a success.
Your mileage may vary...
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mrstabby
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Post by mrstabby on May 4, 2023 15:48:40 GMT
When you put the swords in storage, how did you store the sheaths? The same way as the swords?
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on May 4, 2023 18:54:40 GMT
Yes, if they had a decent scabbard, I stored them scabbarded (is that a word?).
Some have crap leather sandwich scabbards, which are only nice for transport.
Those were stored in the trunk, but in their own blanket layer.
Does that help?
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mrstabby
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Post by mrstabby on May 4, 2023 19:20:51 GMT
So longtime storage in wooden sheats is OK? I was unsure about it, thanks. This helped, yes.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on May 5, 2023 13:38:52 GMT
Consider, my blankets were made of wool, cotton, various synthetics etc.
I think the layers absorbed the bulk of the humidity, but the relative seal on the box was the biggest contributor.
It was COMPLETLY non-scientific.
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