Restoring M1 carbine, Garand, No.4Mk2

[Bruce_in_Oz]

From my time in Arizona, rust, per se, is not a big issue, unless you are doing something really unusual.

The wood, on the other hand, has a hard life in that very low humidity.

The dryness seems to suck the moisture right out of everything, including the "operators". Fortunately, "refreshments" can be found everywhere, (except the really "deserty" bits). Take your own: "Hydrate or Die!"

Neighbouring Nevada is just as bad. A friend took a lovely little wooden jewel box as a gift over there and was disturbed to hear it making "popping" noises after a couple of days in Vegas. It was the exotic timber inlays separating from the walnut lid due to shrinkage caused by the VERY low humidity.

There's a good reason that the cafe district in Tempe, Arizona, (and other places) has a network of water atomizers above the outdoor tables.