We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:06:53 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification So, aside from mowing the grass, the Armorer will be engaged in activities like this.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html Sun, 22 Aug 2004 09:49:49 -0600 swornenemy, Silica gel isn't flammable. The packages it's in may be, though. Silica gel can be partially renewed by placing it in a very slow (less than 200 degrees F) oven for a long, long time. The problem is that most people don't have a way of checking to see if it's finished. You can put a sample into a sealed jar with a humidity test strip (you know, the things that change color with humidity). Leave it for an hour, then check. Humidity test strips may be available at your gun shop, or they can be bought at companies that sell packing and shipping materials. Keeping a test strip in the gun cabinet is a good idea, too. IIRC for most things -- certainly for electronics -- 40% humidity is ideal. You don't want either too much or too little. Regards, Ric http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6209 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6209 Wed, 25 Aug 2004 22:48:50 -0600 John-thanks for the info.I've got 3 pounds of silica gel dessicant in my safe;I realize that's a saturation point situation. I've heard you can "renew" silica gel by "baking" it in the oven.Obviously,if this works for the gel itself,I know it depends on the container whether I have a fire or not. Have you heard anything like this? www.swornenemy.org http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6186 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6186 Wed, 25 Aug 2004 01:51:02 -0600 Well, to be truthful, the Arsenal doesn't use Hoppe's any more. Not because it's bad, just because, any more, all the gun cleaning products are sufficient, in our view. We pay more attention (unless it's in the closet where we, ahem, don't look very often, apparently) to display storage versus shooting storage. For those items that are on the 'don't shoot it list,' either because we don't have ammunition and don't choose to make any, or due to considerations of delicate health and age (not too mention parts availability) those get hit with Rennaisance Wax for the wood if they still have no oil finishes. Oil finished wood gets, well, nothing, since if it isn't out in the open or hot sun, they don't need anything. In fact, when I get a new acquisition to the Arsenal that needs degreasing I sit it out on the deck in the sun, sitting on newspaper. That will sweat out the cosmoline or equivalent it was dipped in. If the metal still has a good finish, that gets hit with the wax, too. For those weapons that have a poor finish, they get hit with RIG, rust inhibiting grease, a very light coat on the outside, a liberal coating in the bore. For the active weapons, a very light coat of machine oil for the metal parts, and whatever the wood requires. The real deal is to clean 'em after you shoot 'em (especially milsurp ammo, which is usually corrosive) and then pay attention to how you store them. I have a dehumidier in the basement, and all the weapons are in 'open storage' where they are in circulating air. Gun safes are mighty fine things (I prefer the vault door, make the room the safe - but I can do that, I have a cast concrete basement) but a gun safe in a humid environment is a moisture trap unless you use some form of dehumidification in it. Make sure the carpeting in there is treated (it should be, if it's a competent gun safe) and don't store your weapons in cases with cloth interiors. Hard cases are usually okay. If you do have to store them in case with cloth interiors, you need to keep an eye on them. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6152 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6152 Tue, 24 Aug 2004 04:59:35 -0600 If Shooter's Choice is good enough for Ma Deuce,it's good enough for me. In my NRA Youth days(roughly 27 yr. ago),my instructor imprinted my mind w/ Hoppe's No.9.That's what I usually buy. John,which does the armorer prefer? I'll admit I just need to kick myself in the keister & use SOMETHING. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6150 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6150 Tue, 24 Aug 2004 02:49:48 -0600 That weapon be the ever popular machine gun, caliber .50, M2 heavy barrel. It is been said that the weapon slices, dices AND makes swiss cheese! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6113 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6113 Sun, 22 Aug 2004 23:57:18 -0600 Sweet, so why not just mow the lawn with that? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6109 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6109 Sun, 22 Aug 2004 21:09:08 -0600 For the perpetually "gun identifier impaired" what type of gun is it? And how long does it take to clean it in all that sand? *grin* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6108 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6108 Sun, 22 Aug 2004 21:07:30 -0600 ahhhh...those were the days. Arditi www.arditi43.com http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6104 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6104 Sun, 22 Aug 2004 20:45:19 -0600 Mmmmm, I love the smell of firearm oil almost as I love the smell of an expended round!!! *drools helplessly* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6100 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/08/today_is_maintenance_day_at_castle_argghhh.html#comment-6100 Sun, 22 Aug 2004 20:10:00 -0600