Avoiding Gun Corrosion: 4 Tools to Prevent Rust

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Avoiding Gun Corrosion: 4 Tools to Prevent Rust

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Few sights can make a gun owner cringe more than seeing a sleek firearm covered in rust spores. Gun corrosion is a constant battle with hunters, concealed carriers, and collectors, especially those who live in humid climates.

The problem is that rust occurs naturally on most metal surfaces and can spread quickly. To avoid seeing corrosion take hold of your prized firearm, check out some tips on preventing gun rust.

How Do Guns Develop Rust?

Guns develop rust, also known as iron oxide, whenever the metal parts of the firearm are exposed to moisture for long periods without cleaning or maintenance.

As water sits on a metal surface, it combines with carbon dioxide to form a weak carbonic acid. This acid begins to dissolve the metal surface and release oxygen. As oxygen is released, it combines with the dissolved iron bond to create the rust that we know and despise. 

What Conditions Cause Gun Corrosion?

Gun rust comes from exposure to humid environments with a high-temperature variation. Temperature variations can cause condensation, leaving moisture on the body, barrel or receiver.

Places like your garage, shed or vehicle are prime locations for corrosion if your gun isn’t stored properly. If you are a concealed carrier, sweat and oils from your body can make their way to the firearm and cause rust if left over time. 

Internally, your gun can corrode from moisture or fouling from firing your weapon. Copper can be especially bad for your weapon’s barrel if left over time, as it tends to make your firearm more inaccurate. 

Avoid Gun Corrosion with Proper Gun Storage

First and foremost, you always want to put your firearm in a secure and discreet storage option like a concealed gun safe. A safe will give your gun a layer of protection from the elements, theft and little ones’ hands. 

Storing your gun in a safe is the first step to prevent rust, but you also need to consider the temperature and moisture control of the environment around the safe. We suggest storing your firearm in your home if you can.

Storing ammunition indoors also helps to keep it from warping or becoming ineffective. Your home’s air conditioning will do the heavy lifting with dehumidifying and controlling the temperature that your gun is stored.

A Gun’s Worst Enemy: Humidity & Moisture

According to curators at the NRA National Firearms Museum, their preferred temperature and humidity to store firearms are 70°F at 50% humidity.

Other experts have developed the “65/65” rule for temperature and humidity. You will need to determine your preferred temperature and humidity level depending on the type of firearm and it’s composure. Having a humidity sensor to check your weapon’s storage space can help you determine if it is ideal for preventing rust.

If you store a gun in your home, make sure it is away from moisture-producing areas, like your kitchen or bathroom. Make sure to place your firearm on an interior wall. Interior walls are less affected by outdoor temperature fluctuations. 

Once you’ve established your gun’s storage location, you can determine the rest of the necessary equipment to keep your firearm in shape. If you decide to store your firearm in a garage or shed space without heating, you will need dehumidifying agents to prevent moisture from affecting your gun.

Gun Corrosion Inhibitors: 4 Tools to Prevent Gun Rust

Even if you store your gun in an ideal climate for preventing rust, your weapon will still need some maintenance and upkeep to ensure that it remains pristine. Some of the items you will need to ensure its condition are:

1. Standard Gun Cleaning Items

In our earlier blog, “Why you should regularly clean your firearm,” we shared why cleaning your gun regularly is essential. There are a few items that every gun owner should have to keep their weapon in top shape. Bore snakes, cleaning rods, gun cleaner and cleaning rags are just a few of the things every gun owner needs.

2. High-Quality Gun Oil or Wax 

    Oil and wax are imperative for protecting your gun’s exterior from the elements. Apply oil to a rag before wiping down the firearm; this allows for a more even distribution of the oil across the gun’s surface.

    3. Dehumidifiers for Gun Storage

      As we mentioned earlier, if you have to store your gun in less than ideal environments, like the garage, a dehumidifier will go a long way to protecting your firearm from rust. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and levels of power, so there is most likely a choice for your storage needs.

      4. Anti-Rust Gun Storage Bags

        The final storage level that can keep moisture away from a firearm is an airtight gun bag. These are usually used for long-term gun storage and can also be used regularly as an added layer of rust protection.

        If you are looking for a discreet and secure way to store your firearm at home, without giving up your style, check out our line of concealment furniture, flags, decor and more concealment products. Have a question about gun storage or concealment furniture? Contact us today to get in touch with a friendly team member who can answer your questions.

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        Hanging instructions for the Patriot Wall Shelf

        Factors to consider befor you start

        Installing a Patriot wall shelf can be a very simple project but there are several factors that you need to understand. our shelves have been designed to work with standard pine 2X4 construction that was 16" on center. Because they were designed around the 16" on center pine 2X4 framed walls that is the process for our instructions. Installing the shelves on amy other type of wall is done at your risk. Liberty Home Concealment does not advise you to attempt installing your shelf onto amy other type of wall.

        Understanding what is beneath your walls

        Anytime you are doing work or attaching something to a wall it is wise to have a solid grasp of what lies beneath the surface of your walls. If you are not comfortable with the task of hanging a shelf on your wall perhaps it would be wise to hire a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor to install the shelf on the wall for you. There are many factors that you should consider prior to beginning yur shelf installation. SAFETY is the first and top priority.

        Safety First

        As a consurmer of Liberty Home Concealment, it is a safe assumption that you are a gun owner. Liberty Home Concealment sincerely hopes that you have a great grasp of the concept of SAFETY FIRST. The installation of our shelves requires several steps and we highly recommend that you have a friend help you with the installation. This is very important as the size and moving parts of the shelves can make the installation very cumbersome and potentially dangerous for a single person to accomplish by themselves. So please, we urge you to get some help. Secondly, proper tools that are in good serviceable condition are a must. Please use your tools in a manner consistent with the manufacturers intended use. Using proper tools can make the installation quick, simple and enjoyable. But most importantly, SAFE. So, save yourself the trouble and use the proper tools.

        CAUTION!!

        Failure to follow and comply with these instructions could result in INJURY and even DEATH!

        Tools that should be considered for a safe proper installation

        Stud finder, Tape measure, Pencil, Level, Electric screw driver, and Safety glasses.

        Step 1

        Confirm your desired wall has adequate support by finding the studs with the stud finder. Also, remove the foam insert until later instruction. Mark your stud locations and transfer those measurement onto your shelf. Drill pilot holes through shelf in marked locations. We recommend using a 1/8" or 3/16" bit for the pilot hole. A hole too big will allow the screw to pull right through the back of the shelf. That would be bad. And unnecessary. Please use the proper drill bit. Depending on your wall you should be able to locate at least two studs to anchor your shelf into for maximum strength. Some walls may even allow for three studs to be anchored into. The shelf MUST use at LEAST (2) pine 2X4 studs and the shelf bracket's to fully support the finished loaded weight.

        Step 2

        With the help of a friend, and using a level and your original measurements hold the shelf in its desired location and transfer the pilot hole locations to the wall. You should be using a minimum of two studs for this step. Each stud receiving (3) screw locations. Two internally, and the other two in the brackets on top. For now, only focus on marking the internal locations. Mark the four internal screw holes. Make sure to hold your shelf nice and level for this step or yur final installation will be crooked.

        Step 3

        With the help of a friend, hold the shelf into its' mounting location. Line up the holes in the shelf with the marks in your wall and your wall anchors, and install the six long wood screws into the wall. Four into two different studs, and two into the wall anchors.

        Step 4

        Installing the shelf brackets to the TOP of your shelf. At this point your shelf is attatched to the wall but it is not ready for any weight. Please DO NOT ADD ANY WEIGHT until you have firmly mounted and anchored your brackets into the top. Have your friend help you support the weight of the shelf until you can get the brackets tightly mounted to the desired location on your wall studs. Again, use two studs. Do not add weight to your shelf either inside, or on top, until both brackets are fully installed. Using the supplied 3/4" screws attach brackets to the top of the shelf and 2 of the longer screws for the stud attachment.

        Step 5

        Unlocking your shelf. Use your magnetic key to locate and unlock the bottom of the shelf. Do this while the shelf is open so you can see what is going on. You may even want ot make two small marks on the bottom of the shelf if it helps you to locate the pickup. It will take a little practice to find the location of the magnetic pick up but you will find it. Make sure you aren't inadvertently trying to unlock the gas damper. Once the location of the lock pickup is located, the magnet will hold itself in place. However, the shelf will not fully disengage the locks until you release the pressure on the locks by lifting the shelf slightly upward with a simple squeeze of your hands. Once you hear the audible clicks of the locks disengaging you can slowly open the shelf allowing the gas damper to lower the shelf to its resting stop.

        Concealment Picture Frame Installation Instructions

        Consider What is Beneath Your Walls

        Anytime you are doing work or attaching something to a wall it is wise to have a solid grasp of what lies beneath the surface of your walls. If you are not comfortable with the task of cutting a hole in a wall perhaps it would be wise to hire a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor to install this item in the wall for you. There are many factors that you should consider prior to beginning your shelf installation. SAFETY is the first and top priority. CAUTION!! Failure to follow and comply with these instructions could result in INJURY or even DEATH!!

        Recommended Tools

        These tools are not required to install your Liberty Home Concealment picture freame however they will help with the installation process. Stud Finder, tape measure, level, pencil, jigsaw, circular saw, keyhole saw, Sawzall, drill/driver, inspection mirror, flashlight and a second set of hands to help with marking your wall before cutting. These products were designed to work with "standard" 2X4 construction that was framed on 16" centers.

        Step 1

        Acquire all the tools to complete the job. Do not forget about proper personal protective gear.

        Step 2

        Confirm that your wall space is empty!! Failure to do so could result in serious injury or even death!

        Step 3

        Clean your work area around your desired install location. Cover any furniture with a tarp, drop cloth, or painter's plastic to aid in quick easy cleanup.

        Step 4

        Use a stud finder to locate the space between two studs. Confirm that you have 14.5" between the two stud edges before marking and cutting your walls.

        Step 5

        The back box of your picture frame is the size you need to make your hole. Hold picture frame tight against the wall and use your level to ensure frame is sitting level against the wall. On smaller sized picture frames such as 5"X7" and 8"X10" you will fasten to both studs. While holding the picture frame tight against the wall while checking for level and trace around the outside perimeter of the picture frames back box.

        Step 6

        Before cutting the entire wall opening Liberty Home Concealment recommends that you cut a small hole within the area that wil become the full-size hole. This is done to check and confirm your wall is truly clear of obstructions inside the wall such as electrical wiring plumbing. It's much easier to patch a small hole vs repairing a large hole because you got ahead of yourself. Do not skip this step!!

        Step 7

        Once you are sure that there are no obstacles inside your cut area, cut the full rectangle that you have marked previously. Remove drywall cutout away from the wall.

        Step 8

        Slide your new insert/picture frame into the hole you just cut.

        Step 9

        Use the supplied screws to fasten to the stud or studs that run up the sides of the rear of the box. On smaller frames box will only fasten to the stud you biased your hole towards.

        Picture Installation

        1. Lay frame face down on soft surface such as a towel or blanket. 2. Hold firmly and slide picture frame in to the open position. 3. Remove four metal picture retainer clips, if clips are tight use a flat bladed screw driver to wiggle free. 4. Remove wood backer noard and lay picture onto glass. Making sure of proper orientation. 5. Reinstall backer board and 4 retaining clips. 6. Slide picture frame closed and enjoy!

        Wall maunting instructions for Freedom Series Coat Rack

        Recommendation

        Liberty Home Concealmemt does not recommend the use of hollow wall anchors to mount larger items on your walls. While anchors may provide sufficient holding capability, Liberty Home Concealment recommends attaching directly to the studs located inside your wall to ensure the most secure level of attachment.

        Step 1

        Choose the desired location of the item you are wanting to mount your coat rack.

        Step 2

        Once you have your ideal location use a stud finder to locate 2 studs in your wall that will support your coat rack. Mark the location of each stud's center with a pencil. Use a nail to confirm stud has been located.

        Step 3

        Hold product against wall and use level to make sure it is even. Use a friend to help hold level while transferring stud location marks to inside of product to be mounted. Tip: Remember the adage "Measure twice cut once." That same rule applies when making holes in your walls.

        Step 4

        Check that product is plumb and level before securing. Once proper placement is achieve fasten first screw through product and into stud. Re check for level and attach second screw into next stud.

        Step 5

        Step back and admire your handy work. Now get started filling your piece of concealment furniture with all the items you are wanting to keep stored securely out of sight. ENJOY!!

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