Goldenrod?

rufrdr

rufrdr

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Relatively new to the area.

Anyone using a Goldenrod in their safe/stack-on locker? I'm using Eva-dry units since September with no rust issues but it hasn't gotten really humid yet.

I've read complaints about Goldenrods failing after a couple of months.

Your experiences?

Thanks!
 
Been using one since October, works great. Lifetime warranty on genuine Goldenrods. Use approx. 8 watts per hour.
 
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I had one that came with my safe fail after about 9 months.
I threw it out and got another from amazon for around $25,
Didn't know about the warranty...

They work pretty decent, I use silicon desiccant packs as well.
 
Have had one in my safe for probably 15 years now. Last time I checked it was still producing heat, so no issues here.
 
There are a lot of sellers of Goldenrods on Amazon. How do you tell the genuine from the Chinese copy when buying sight unseen?
 
If your safe is in an airconditioned home, then honestly I fail to see the need for an always-on power drain just to bump humidity a few points lower. The rechargeable silicon dehumidifers sold by Stack-On and others are so convenient and work great.
I have even seen them sold at Aldi for around $8. One could run 2 and have one always charging, and one always working if you need a desert environment insider the safe. I clean and oil my guns on the regular so.....not much worry here.
 
Ikarus1 said:
If your safe is in an airconditioned home, then honestly I fail to see the need for an always-on power drain just to bump humidity a few points lower. The rechargeable silicon dehumidifers sold by Stack-On and others are so convenient and work great.
I have even seen them sold at Aldi for around $8. One could run 2 and have one always charging, and one always working if you need a desert environment insider the safe. I clean and oil my guns on the regular so.....not much worry here.
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Agreed, but call me paranoid.
I usually recharge my silicon bags every 2-3 months.
I maintain my collection like is full of delicate antiques, even though I only buy modern high end tactical gear.
 
The desiccant devices are getting saturated after about a week to two weeks. I guess I'll go for the Goldenrod plus desiccant. An NCO told me that when he was in VN his wall locker had a light bulb inside on 24 hours to reduce the humidity and stop his stuff from mildewing.
 
I used a Golden Rod in my old Safe (had it from 2008 to 2015, ran nonstop unless power failed

Got a larger safe and a larger golden rod that’s been running since the last one was replaced.

I put silica packs in ammo cans inside the safe but it’s probably unnecessary
 
What size desiccant bags are you using?
I have a 45 gun safe, and use 4 large bags, again probably overkill, but every 2 weeks sounds like there is way too much moisture getting into your safe.
 
I have a 45 gun safe and use 4 of them, which is admittedly overkill. But, I am paranoid about rust.
 
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My 750g desiccant canisters last 4-6 months before I have to switch them out. I don't know what sort of safe you have but I'd look into improving the seal. I also use a goldenrod that's going on 3 years in service.

ETA: how often do you open the door?
 
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Catfish said:
My 750g desiccant canisters last 4-6 months before I have to switch them out. I don't know what sort of safe you have but I'd look into improving the seal. I also use a goldenrod that's going on 3 years in service.

ETA: how often do you open the door?
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They are stack on lockers. I open them up about once a week. They are sitting on plastic sheets
 
Stack on lockers, although fine for basic storage, are on the lower side of the spectrum, they are subject to much more moisture and humidity issues.
I would also recommend silicon socks for all your weapons, as an additional precaution.
 
Golden rod is just a heat source. You can replace with a reptile heater, light bulb, or electric heating pad. I figured this out about 5 years ago, the day after I installed mine.
 
I have had the same golden rod for 22 years. Safe has been in unconditioned space for most of that time. Doesn't use much electricity and never had rust on anything.
 
I check my goldenrod with a laser infrared thermometer once a month.
I have one of these in my safe, $8 at Walmart.

33314-c7eac850ec9ba4fb099e8efecfacd8ba.jpg
 
I ordered some 18" goldenrods and small humidity readers. I should be ok. Thanks for all the replies!
 
Goldenrod is a gimmick. It's just a heating element. Nothing special about it. If it's humid in your safe a goldenrod doesn't get rid of the moisture. A light coat of oil is always the best defense. Rechargeable desiccant is a good supplement.
 
A light bulb of the same wattage has the same effect, plus you can see inside your safe :)

It isn’t just a gimmick. Warmer air will be lower relative humidity when the door is closed, and warmer metal in the safe won’t condense water from cooler moist air when you open the door.


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They are in the 10 watt range normally. Put 10 watts of LEDs in there for blindingly bright. Or a couple of 4 watt incandescent nightlight bulbs.


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Definitely get a digital humidity reader, got one for like $8-10 on Amazon. I had 4 of the baseball-size/hand-size desiccant packs in my 24gun safe and my humidity was still up to 70% in the summer. I have the biggest eva-dry but it needed to be recharged too often.
I ended up putting a dehumidifier in that space and now I can keep my safe at 45-55% depending on the season.
 
Steel rusts at about 80% humidity. Consistent temperature is probably the most important climate factor. Unless your safe is in a non-climate controlled area, it's unlikely to be that humid. Thermal cycling is going to be more effective at causing rust than consistent humidity.
 
bigfelipe said:
Goldenrod is a gimmick. It's just a heating element. Nothing special about it. If it's humid in your safe a goldenrod doesn't get rid of the moisture. A light coat of oil is always the best defense. Rechargeable desiccant is a good supplement.
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Rechargeable desiccant works unless you’re in a high humidity environment. I had a small safe and a large rechargeable canister. I basically had to do it daily. The beads would change from pink to purple when they were saturated and back to pink when baked. It quit working after about a month because of how often it had to be “recharged”.
 
So I now have goldenrods in each stack-on and a Eva Dry in each also. The humidity reader in each stack-on is showing between 43% and 46% today on a rainy day with 100% humidity. Looks like the system it working. They are in a non-climate controlled area.
 
Before I installed the Goldenrod my indoor safe was at 54% humidity and 70F, with it running 42% and 74F.
 
Chdamn said:
Goldenrod was my nickname in high school.
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I appreciate you being willing to carry on the family tradition son. Always great to know that you honor my legacy so well and I'm so proud of you.
 
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