Desiccant Lesson
 

So we were packing to come here to SC, and while unloading a safe I start smelling something odd, sorta like acidity. With all guns from that safe removed I start pulling ammo. Then my son noticed some damp ammo boxes. A total of 41 boxes of ZQ .308 were damp. Made no sense, safe was dry. Turns out that one of my desiccants must have been cracked on the bottom when I got it and I didn't notice. So, it was taking in moisture, the moisture was mixing with the absorbing gel and leaking out the bottom. Was happening so slow it was unnoticed. So, if you use these, just check 'em before putting in your safe. They work GREAT, and last for months. But I got the bad apple....

http://www.cotep.org/forum/picture.p...&pictureid=914

I use the plug in rechargeable one. I had some of the dessican packs, followed the directions for recharging them in the oven, and ended up having to replace a much loved Airbake cookie sheet before the crime was discovered

RIP....Airbake:D.........I Probly over-desiccant my safes. And I'm gonna install healers.....Well, maybe light rope instead of heaters, just for warmth and easier to see in the safe. I'm just happy the leaker was on a low shelf and none of the moisture made its way to a walnut gun stock.

Been buying that ammo, cheap enough and seams good quality. What are your thoughts on it, Joe?

Also, was the ammo damaged from the wet boxes?

I plan on getting one of those plug in dehumidifier thingamabobbers soon, too.

I used a goldenrod while I live near the coast. Kept everything nice and dry. Using dessicant packs and Rem MoistureGuard now. need to wire in another goldenrod.

Keep buying ZQ...in some Walmarts it is $2 higher now. Grab it all you can at under $10. It is good ammo, sought after by guys on the boards who live in parts of America where it isn't sold.

Zero damage to the ammo. I could have saved the boxes, were only damp, but chucked the ammo in a can. Not even tarnished.

Dessicants, like the "plug in to dry" type I use, need to be monitored. They absorb to the saturation point but once there, the moisture seeks dryer objects, like ammo boxes.

Not a big deal in a safe inside an AC'd house closet but major consideration in a humid shed or garage. I check mine often and keep the indicators deep blue.nanner

I have the rod in my safe.

Roger that...will do.