Protecting Safe Queens

[TDH]

Chuck and VP I have to agree on Ann-Margret and I think she looks better today than she did when she was young. Alas Natalie Wood died too young. And VP can I swap out Sophia for Nicole Kidman?

[vp146b4]

TDH,
Yes, I'll give you Nicole for Sophia anyday. Sophia was a little before my time, and she didn't have as much competion as they have today.
Bach to protecting my rifles, if I just continue to use breakfree for the bore, is taking them out every year to re-clean enough, or, should I do it every 6 months?
Bill

[TDH]

I would say it depends on what kind of humidity you have. Or you could just pull out a couple every week and fondle them a bit and run a patch thru them just for S**ts and giggles.

[JGaynor]

Subj: Penetrating Oils Compared


I'm not going to verify or endorse this. Draw your own conclusions.


Happy knuckle busting !

Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.

They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment.

*Penetrating oil ..... Average load*
None ..................... 516 pounds
WD-40 .................. 238 pounds
PB Blaster ............. 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ..... 127 pounds
Kano Kroil ............ 106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix....53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note the "home brew" was better than any commercial product in this one particular test. Our local machinist group mixed up a batch
and we all now use it with equally good results. Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price.

Thanks Capn - An interesting and informative post.

Regards,

Jim

[jlkonn]

Anyone found anyplace that still has RIG in stock. I can't find it anywhere including Brownell's. PM me if you prefer.
Thanks!
JLK

[JGaynor]

Thanks J.B.,

{snip}
Rig sounds like a combination of cosmo and toilet ring wax, boy is that stuff a mess to get off your hands. Had that experience Saturday.

Death to bad guys,

Robert/LB

Nope! RIG is a very light grease. Not at all like cosmoline. It can be used as a presevative but its also intended for working parts where you want a little more than what oil provides.

Regards,

Jim

[ralfus]

RIG was out of production for a while.

Birchwood Casey bought the rights to it and is starting up production now and shops should have it again this summer. This is per a rep at the NRA convention last week. They bought the whole product line.

[Coal Burner]

The best presevative that I have found for medium to long-term storage is LPS-3. It is available in aerosol cans or in gallon cans. Current price for a gallon from McMaster-Carr is 48$. A gallon would last an average collector a very long time. The aerosol cans do make it easier to apply though - when sprayed onto a surface it foams up to a large volume for good coverage, then it dries to a waxy film similar to cosmoline. It cleans up easier than cosmo (at room temperature) and it smells a whole lot better.

I spray it on the bottom of barreled actions and let them dry before assembling to the stock, this way I have a protective film under the barrel and I don't have to worry about the wood getting soaked with oil. When I take one out to shoot, I just swab the bore out and wipe off the excess.

The last thing I would ever use for storing an antique rifle is a penetrating oil. The superior creep properties of CLP and Kroil allow them to migrate across surfaces and penetrate wood stocks no matter where they are applied. That's great for an AR-15, but it's not good for a rifle with a nice walnut stock.

From the McMaster-Carr website:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#1370k78/=27eds0

LPS #3 Heavy Duty Rust Inhibitor— Oil based, this inhibitor produces a self-healing waxy film that dries slightly tacky and protects for 2 years indoors; 3-6 months outdoors. Maximum temperature is 175° F. Color is amber. Remove with mineral spirits or a cleaner/degreaser. Meets MIL-C-16173D, Grade 2.

On the subject of moisture, if you live in a humid area a permanent dehumidifier is always worth the investment. I got a Haier from Target a few years ago for my basement. They are seasonal items, usually stocked in the summer months. Mine cost about 150$, and it works great. It has a humidistat control, and I ran a PVC drain through the same hole as my AC drain. I leave it running year-round and I never noticed the impact on my power bill.

The golden rod does not remove any moisture, it just raises the temperature inside the safe by a few degrees to prevent condensation on cold surfaces. I never bothered getting one.

I think it is always a good idea to have a bucket of Damp-Rid inside the safe. It can provide back up protection against moisture if you have a reasonably good seal on the door.

[Alvin Linden]

HEY GUYS: TRY PLANO V.C.I. INHIBITOR PLUGS !!!THIS ONE PRODUCT CHANGED ONLY ONCE A YEAR ALONG WITH A ROOM DEHUMIDIFIER IS ALL YOU NEED! 13 YEARS AND THEYR'E ALL I'VE USED AND NOT A BIT OF RUST ON MY GUNS IN MY SAFES. I'M AMAZED NOONE HAS MENTIONED THE V.C.I. INHIBITOR PLUGS SOONER. P.S. I ONLY USE ONE 12 GA. PLUG PER SAFE...NOT ONE PER GUN! TRY IT, IT WORKS. JERRY

[vp146b4]

HEY GUYS: TRY PLANO V.C.I. INHIBITOR PLUGS !!!THIS ONE PRODUCT CHANGED ONLY ONCE A YEAR ALONG WITH A ROOM DEHUMIDIFIER IS ALL YOU NEED! 13 YEARS AND THEYR'E ALL I'VE USED AND NOT A BIT OF RUST ON MY GUNS IN MY SAFES. I'M AMAZED NOONE HAS MENTIONED THE V.C.I. INHIBITOR PLUGS SOONER. P.S. I ONLY USE ONE 12 GA. PLUG PER SAFE...NOT ONE PER GUN! TRY IT, IT WORKS. JERRY

Who carries these VCI Inhibitor plugs and how do they work? What affect does it have on the wood? Would they work just as well if a gun is stored in a rifle case? Do they provide protection for the exterior parts as well as the bore?
Thanks,