Temperature Changes: Preparing Your Firearms for Fall
This month I am going to talk about preparing your customers’ firearms for the fall season. I will also provide information that you can pass on to your customers so they can keep their firearms free from rust.
As a Gunsmith, nothing makes a restoration job more complicated than rust. The amount of time spent on a rusted firearm is triple of a normal worn firearm needing restored. Many gun owners are not aware that the fluctuating temperatures of fall can cause condensation which can produce rust on their guns. They need to keep a close eye on their weapons because the humidity is constantly changing. You need to educate your customers on how to care for their firearms during the transition from Summer to Fall.
Safes and Cabinets
There are many options available to keep safes and cabinets moisture free. You may be thinking, why is he talking about moisture when the humidity is low? The humidity one day may be low, but it will fluctuate. You are very likely to have some warm fall days and then the temperature can drop drastically overnight. This should not cause a lot of problems in the main area of your home, because your home is climate controlled. But many of us keep our firearms in the basement or garage. I wrote a blog awhile back about caring for your firearms during the summer months. The products I talked about can be used all year no matter what the climate. The goal you and your customer are trying to reach is a constant temperature and a constant humidity level. That goal temperature is 70° and the humidity should be 50%. To combat moisture during the colder months, I recommend the same method that you use in hotter months. I recommend you use both electric and non-electric air dryers.
Here are some suggestions:
All of these products will work great in safes and cabinets. Additionally, there are some things to consider when using them. You can’t just put them in the safe and forget it. Heating rods need to be installed with care. If the tool gets hot to the touch, you should not let your firearm lean on it. Also, dry desiccant does not work forever. It can only soak up so much moisture and then it stops. The portable units work using heat and desiccant. Owning a firearm comes with a lot of responsibility; caring for them correctly is part of that responsibility. Open up your safes and cabinets every couple of weeks to inspect your firearms as well as the devices you have installed to regulate the temperature and humidity.
Firearm Protection
While temperatures themselves are not harmful to firearms structure or performance, Autumn weather can play a factor in the firearm’s functionality. I will use a hunter as an example. A hunter can head into the woods early in the morning when the temperature can be in the 30’s and be walking out in the afternoon when the temperature can be 75 degrees. As the day warms up, so does the firearm. This slow climb in temperature does not cause the condensation that causes corrosion. Corrosion happens when the hunter harvests his deer early and he puts his cold rifle behind the seat of his truck, and the sun heats up his truck faster. That is when condensation happens, and that is when the damage starts. You may not have any issues on the surface of the rifle, but there are areas you do not see. Rust can form anywhere, and it usually starts in areas where air cannot get to easily. If you have drastic temperature fluctuation during your hunting days, pay closer attention to your firearms condition. Take it out of the stock and inspect the areas you cannot see.
Lastly, the best thing you can do for your firearm is when you come home from the hunt or from being in cold temperatures, to wipe it down and let it air out. Many people will come home from the hunt and put the cold firearm right back in the safe or leave it in their vehicle. As that cold weapon warms up, it will form condensation on the outside and inside. The same thing happens to all of those hunting rifles that are placed behind the seat of the owners hunting truck. Over time, that rifle will rust from the inside out. I have restored many firearms that have been left behind the seat as well as in cases. Soft cases and their padding will act like a sponge and soak up condensation and oils. If the firearm stays in the case, it will end up rusting. Dry air around your firearm is best. So, take them out of their cases and boxes and store them in cabinets and safes.
Conclusion
Educating yourself as well as your customers will save them a lot of money in the future. The horror stories of firearms rusting because of improper care happens all the time. Although improper care of firearms makes my business do well, I hate to see anyone’s family pieces get damaged because of improper care. If maintained correctly, these firearms will be a treasure to be passed down for generations to come.
Semper Fi!
Written by: David Johnson
