Moldy Stocks... Suggestions?

[Steve Havener]

Mold is a living organism and once established requires treatment with a product specifically formulated to kill it once it has been established. I would bet that the interior of the gun safe is contaminate and will require a complete cleaning and disinfection. Cleaning the interior of the gun safe with TileX and Formula 409 will kill mold and should prevent further problems.

[John Cinkoske]

Thanks for all the replies, all great suggestions.
Would Tilex or Formula 409 work on carpet?
They are all lined with it.

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by John Cinkoske

Thanks for all the replies, all great suggestions.
Would Tilex or Formula 409 work on carpet?
They are all lined with it.

I think your mold problem could be directly related to the carpet lined safe. Get rid of the carpet and I bet the problem disappears.

[John Cinkoske]

I've used vinegar to strip blue off of gun parts.
Don't try this at home for sure!
Stripping out the carpet and painting the insides with Kilz Primer might be the best solution.

....and doubling up the GoldenRods, and installing Hygrometers in each one...

Will Lemon Oil hurt the bluing? I suspect it has a neutral pH...

[Joe D.]

In Vietnam during the monsoon seasons we would install a porcelain keyless fixture with a 60 watt bulb in it to heat the insides of our lockers and keep clothes and firearms dry. It generates a respectable amount of warmth and keeps things dry. Use a 130 volt bulb for much longer (bulb) life. You could probably get away with a 40 watt.
I agree with Daryl that the carpet is holding humidity. Get rid of the carpet in one safe and try the hot locker treatment.

[John Cinkoske]

I found a supply of 15W 130 volt bulbs, so a couple weeks ago we installed porcelain fixtures in the safes above the center partitions, nowhere near the stock wood. They seem warmer whenever you open them, so maybe this will work. The owner wouldn't let me rip out the carpet. I won't name names but the safes were sold recently by the successor to Parker Bros... Thanks again for all the suggestions!