Humidity and metal?

[never_retreat]

What is considered a safe humidity level for metal to not rust?
I spent the last few evenings reloading up ammo (supplies were dwindling) Since I haven't done a tone since the spring.
Started finding rust of stuff around the reloading compound. Dies, press parts, a barrel that was on the bench, so need lees to say I'm pissed. Never had a problem before with the basement being damp, I think its all the rain we have been having.
So I humped a dehumidifier down the basement and set up of the humidity/ temperature things.
How dry do I need to keep it so stuff won't rust? I need to find the optimal set point for the unit.

[Nick1911]

I run the dehumidifier in the machine shop at about 50%.  Not sure if that's optimal, though.

[Lennyjoe]

Humidity?  I say that jokingly because a few of my reloading dies rusted as well.............in Tucson Arizona!  LOL.

[K Frame]

I have mine running at 60% and I don't have any rusting problems.

[Regolith]

Humidity?  What is this humidity you speak of? 


One of the benefits of living in the desert, I guess.  Stuff only rusts if you leave it outside during the winter. I've never had rust form on any of my guns, tools or accessories, even the ones I've neglected a bit.

[Scout26]

Got the dehumdifier in Gun Vault set at 45%.

[Gewehr98]

I almost got violently sick after I moved my Harley, reloading bench and lathe/mill to my garage in beachside Florida.

I hadn't considered that salt-laden ocean humidity is also present inside one's garage.

Did I mention RIG is some pretty good stuff? 

[BlueStarLizzard]

if only you knew how much desicant we have in this house. plus a dehumidafier in dads room. in fact my 1911 had to go away for the summer (it's spot has been claimed by the xd) becuase of rust spots.

it all started the year dad found mold on the leather coats and a rust spot on the benilli.  now we're both a little anal about it, specially in summer.

[280plus]

I doubt you could get the humidity level low enough to stop rusting. A regular cleaning and light coating of oil is probably the better answer.

[Regolith]

I doubt you could get the humidity level low enough to stop rusting. A regular cleaning and light coating of oil is probably the better answer.

Probably not stop it completely, no, but low humidity makes a process that normally takes days in high-humidity conditions into one that takes years.

[K Frame]

Heat and humidity are barking like big dogs here in DC right now.

Mid 90s today with high humidity.

Near 100 tomorrow with higher humidity.

Normally my dehumidifier will cycle on and off a couple times during the day.

Today it ran straight through.

[HankB]

When I lived in MN and had a home with a (finished & heated) basement, I never had a rust problem with my reloading equipment. Now in TX, my loading bench is relegated to the garage . . . and I HAVE had problems with rust on dies and such. 

A thorough cleaning with Naval jelly, rinse with hot water, and a light coat of Corrosion-X, along with some of Midway USA's VPI chips in each die box, seem to have arrested the corrosion. (Which reminds me . . . it's about time to renew the protection.)

My safe indoors has never been a problem - I have a couple of cans of silica gel in there, and every couple of months I bake the absorbed moisture out of them.

[280plus]

Probably not stop it completely, no, but low humidity makes a process that normally takes days in high-humidity conditions into one that takes years.

Good point!

[Silver Bullet]

Eezox is your friend.