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Author Topic: Humidity or Lack Thereof  (Read 703 times)

Offline 120RIR

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Humidity or Lack Thereof
« on: November 03, 2023, 06:19:35 PM »
I suppose this might be better for the Over the Back Fence section, but I have to assume I'm not the first collector to run into this so maybe it's more appropriate here.  We always hear about the dangers of too high a level of humidity in gun safes or wherever our originals are being stored or on display.  What about not enough humidity?  I bring this up because I'm the current caretaker of a humble but nice (I think so) collection including RCA 62 (George Weiker).  When I pulled ole' George out of the safe to start taking (or attempting to take) color photos for the upcoming updated version of RCA Vol. 1, I noticed two "new" cracks opened up in the buttstock.  They weren't there until fairly recently and I suspect it's because this rifle appears to have lived in the east for 230 years but only being out here in the colonies (California) for the past five or so.  Humidity here can be in the single digits during the summer months, and I wonder if this has taken its toll.  I hope those cracks will close up again when we move to North Carolina next year (knock on wood - no pun intended) but is there anything I can do about it now?  It really seems counter intuitive, but should I be trying to add a little humidity to the inside of the safe?
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Offline Seth Isaacson

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Re: Humidity or Lack Thereof
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2023, 09:21:59 PM »
Maybe run a small humidifier in the room the safe is in set to maintain 50% humidity in the room?
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I am the Lead Historian and a Firearms Specialist at Rock Island Auction Co., but I am here out of my own personal interests in muzzle loading and history.
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Offline JTR

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Re: Humidity or Lack Thereof
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2023, 09:41:21 PM »
You could just send it down here!  ;)
Our climate is much more stable than yours up that way, and I could send you a picture of your gun from time to time so you could see how its doing!
Forever helpful, John  8)
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John Robbins

Offline 120RIR

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Re: Humidity or Lack Thereof
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2023, 01:11:19 AM »
I knew, I just knew you would have a good idea, John! 

This may sound silly given, again, the goal that most have is to keep humidity low, but I'm tempted to just put a bowl of water in the safe and let it slowly evaporate.  It would take quite a while this time of year and presumably add just a little humidity to the interior.  Thoughts, anyone?  Seeing those "new" cracks in such a nice rifle is killing me.  I'm quite sure they'll close up and disappear once I'm in a more humid environment (at least I hope) but for now it's murder!
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