Carbine preservation

[tenOC]

They make O2 absorbers for cheap that can be used in the sealed package. They're typically marketed for food, but would work for arms I guess. Not sure of the composition of the grease, but the little packages draw out Oxygen in a sealed environment trapping it in the compound that's inside the little package. No Oxygen means no oxidation.

I believe I read that hand warmers are O2 absorbers on a larger scale.

[gew8805]

.....................always wipe them off after handling and making sure some oil remains in the pores of the steel.

Ditto, anything else is unnecessary.

[shadycon]

They also sell dessicant packs for gun safes. GK

[phillydude]

Don't do it ! And this is why, a vacuum bag put 1500 lbs per square inch on whatever is inside, with that force it is possible to crush the stock and even bend steel. You could do some real damage. I've use these to make laminated plywood forms . Just remember "the road to hell is paved with good intentions "

[WarPig1976]

a vacuum bag put 1500 lbs per square inch on whatever is inside,

The ones you buy at wally world that you use with your vacuum cleaner? I use 'em to draw glue into cracked stocks,,never crushed one.

[phillydude]

They too can cause damage, as long as you put filler blocks inside the stock to prevent the sides from collapsing

[CrossedCannons]

Don't do it ! And this is why, a vacuum bag put 1500 lbs per square inch on whatever is inside, with that force it is possible to crush the stock and even bend steel. You could do some real damage. I've use these to make laminated plywood forms . Just remember "the road to hell is paved with good intentions "

If atmospheric pressure (outside the bag) is only 14 lbs per square inch relative to a vacuum, how is this possible?

[USGI]

Yeah, I agree that it would be about 14.7 PSI, if you had close to a perfect vauum. - Bob

[ChipS]

USGI is correct that approximately 14.7 psig (standard atmospheric pressure) is the maximum differential pressure that will be applied to the stock if a perfect vacuum is achieved within the bag. But, you will not get close to a perfect vauum in the bag with a floor sweeper. That being said, phillydude is not entirely incorrect (except for the 1500 psi) when he notes that damage can be done.

Pressure (force applied per unit of area) can be a very counterintuitive condition if you are not accustomed to working with it. 1000 pounds of force sounds pretty nasty. Only 1 pound per square inch of pressure on a 33-inch by 33-inch surface sounds pretty benign - but either way the actal resultant force to be resisted is 1000 pounds. In addition, there are structural considerations to be considered that are even more critical than the pressure (vacuum) force considerations (i.e you couldn't damage an iron bar in a vacuum bag but you might damage a balsa wood model). Bottom line - applying 1 psig of pressure to a surface that can support only 1/2 psig of pressure will result in the same failure as applying 1500 psig.

I doubt that a vaccum bag would damage most assembled firearms but I do agree with phillydude to the extent you should look at what you put in the bag and if there are any thin and/or projecting wood sections that will be 'squeezed' by the bag you should take steps to support them before you evacuate the bag. Telescopic sights and batteries in scopes and lasers might be other issues to be considered. Maybe 99% of the time it's no problem but after you break it or permanently warp it it's too late to figure it out. JMHO ChipS

[emmagee1917]

I don't think it works quite this way . If it did , you'd not be able to inhale with your muscles with all that pressure on your chest.
Most of the voided air space will be taken up by the bag forming to the gun's shape . Any air left in the bag will be shrunk to a space to yield 14 psi air pressure inside to meet outside pressure. If not , the plastic bag would rip , not the stock or barrel collapse .
Chris