Gear storage in metal drums: how to condensation control?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Gear storage in metal drums: how to condensation control?

Posted: 8/28/2018 7:57:15 PM EDT

At work they scrap beer keg sized metal drums (one time use for shipping of nuts or bolts) with clamp on steel lids that have a rubber gasket under the lid. I've gathered quite a few, and when filled with chilled lead shot, are immovable even by Lou Ferrigno ;)

I want to store gear/clothing/whatever fits in these in my garage, but got a hard lesson a while back about storing leg traps /Connibear traps in a plastic bucket with a Gamma seal lid: opened the lid 8 months later, and all my traps were heavily rusted with about an inch of water in the bottom.

How can I avoid this condensation issue?
Large amounts of dessicant? Nitrogen purge?

I appreciate your help.

Posted: 8/28/2018 8:21:34 PM EDT

[#1]

i dunno maybe a bag of rice since people use rice to dry wet phones/cameras? could get moldy if it gets too wet

Posted: 8/28/2018 8:25:31 PM EDT

[#2]

Yep..

Desiccant and nitrogen purging..

Posted: 8/29/2018 2:11:40 PM EDT

[#3]

Metal drums on a concrete floor will cause condensation issues. get them up on some pallets will help a lot. Seal-able drum liner and desiccant will further protect the contents inside the drum.

Posted: 8/29/2018 2:28:37 PM EDT

[#4]

As a general rule, its better to fill the containers full to remove as much airspace as possible, yes?

How about threading a schrader valve into the lid and pulling a vacuum that way? Of course that hinders the stackability potential, but a couple of hockey pucks will lift up enough.

Posted: 9/2/2018 3:00:57 AM EDT

[#5]

Don’t pull a vacuum. You’ll crush the cans.

Posted: 9/2/2018 12:43:11 PM EDT

[#6]

Desiccant, make sure everything is bone dry before putting it in, and seal the drum tops with wax, tar, or any other impermeable substance. Don’t trust that spongy foam gasket in the lid.

Posted: 9/3/2018 9:23:27 AM EDT

[#7]

Rat_Patrol recently started a thread on storing baby items in 50 gallon drums outside. I just looked for his post but did not see it. if I recall his post correctly he didn't say that he did anything specific like desiccant to control condensation. It might be worthwhile to ask him.

@Rat_Patrol, Did you do anything specific to control humidity?

Thanks,

2Hut8

Posted: 9/3/2018 4:16:35 PM EDT

[#8]

he freshly dried the items to reduce humidity, thru in some desicant packs o kitty litter, sealed them and stored them outdoors under cover

Posted: 9/3/2018 10:03:12 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Rat_Patrol recently started a thread on storing baby items in 50 gallon drums outside. I just looked for his post but did not see it. if I recall his post correctly he didn't say that he did anything specific like desiccant to control condensation. It might be worthwhile to ask him.

@Rat_Patrol, Did you do anything specific to control humidity?

Thanks,

2Hut8

View Quote

Quoted:
he freshly dried the items to reduce humidity, thru in some desicant packs o kitty litter, sealed them and stored them outdoors under cover

View Quote

Just going to start storing them under cover now, before they sat fully outside. Other than that, ^

Posted: 9/4/2018 12:51:14 AM EDT

[#10]

Thank you all.

Is Oxygen absorber the same as dessicant?

Posted: 9/4/2018 12:52:06 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Desiccant, make sure everything is bone dry before putting it in, and seal the drum tops with wax, tar, or any other impermeable substance. Don’t trust that spongy foam gasket in the lid.

View Quote

Good point about double sealing.

Posted: 9/4/2018 11:25:41 AM EDT

[#12]

Vacuum seal gear. Place in drum with padding/dunnage and O2 absorbers (disposable hand warmers work for this). Seal drum. Ensure that the paint is intact on the drum.

Posted: 9/6/2018 11:28:48 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thank you all.

Is Oxygen absorber the same as dessicant?

View Quote

No

Oxygen absorber absorbs oxygen. No reason to do that for regular gear (its for food usually).

dessicant absorbs moisture (what you are going for).

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Gear storage in metal drums: how to condensation control?

Outdoors » General Outdoor Discussions

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