Cabinet heater

[private fraser]

I've done a search and found that reptile mats seem to be quite popular as cabinet heaters.
My question is...what wattage / size do folk have?.
It's for a 6 gun cabinet.
A link to would be handy if possible.
Thanks.

 

[RED-DOT]

Don't do it, your woodwork will crack as will it when using Silica gel bags.

 

[N.F.W.M]

I've done a search and found that reptile mats seem to be quite popular as cabinet heaters.
My question is...what wattage / size do folk have?.
It's for a 6 gun cabinet.
A link to would be handy if possible.
Thanks.

Why would you want to heat your gun safe ?

Regards

Ed

 

[private fraser]

To stop damp forming.
Nothing fierce,just a few watts is the idea.

 

[archie12]

Where's your cabinet located?

 

[Malxwal]

My cabinets are in an unheated area, always give the guns metalwork a wipe with Leiga spray, never any issues with damp, rust etc. Pondered the use of silica gel bags, glad I haven't now I've seen RD's post.

 

[RED-DOT]

Risking a reply from Luckyeddie i think stocks should retain about 5% moisture to keep them hard and free of cracking. I have gun socks on mine and in an unheated but dry cupboard.

 

[private fraser]

Cabinet in a built in wardrobe and bolted to outside wall.
Can get a bit chilly in there so the idea is just to lift the temp to normal room temp.
Guns are synthetic furniture except for a Mossberg pump which I think will be ok.

 

[private fraser]

Risking a reply from Luckyeddie i think stocks should retain about 5% moisture to keep them hard and free of cracking. I have gun socks on mine and in an unheated but dry cupboard.

Ah but are they reinforced socks ?
Sorry

 

[archie12]

You could try one of the low voltage greenhouse heaters in the wardrobe that way increasing the overall temperature of the wardrobe and cabinet

 

[private fraser]

Thanks archie,I considered that but the way it's laid out I would have problems that way.
Prefer just a heater in the cabinet itself. Prob looking at about 8 watts,just wondered how others had got on with it.

 

[RED-DOT]

You are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist?

 

[Biathlonjimmy]

My cabinets are in an unheated area, always give the guns metalwork a wipe with Leiga spray, never any issues with damp, rust etc. Pondered the use of silica gel bags, glad I haven't now I've seen RD's post.

I have a few small silica gel bags, the kind you get in shoe boxes, in my cabinet. Are they doing more harm than good?

 

[Ronin]

Small Vivaruium matt is what I use on a cabinet that gets subjected to temp change, the other I have don't so i have no requirement for them.

The matt is small fitted at the back wall of the cabinet in question and linked to the mains.

Works a treat and keeps the contents in dry moving air.

 

[LuckyEddie]

Risking a reply from Luckyeddie i think stocks should retain about 5% moisture to keep them hard and free of cracking. I have gun socks on mine and in an unheated but dry cupboard.

You wanted a reply you're getting one

Totally agree with you on this

 

[private fraser]

Thanks re the Vivarium thingy,will look it up.
Just got a bee in bonnet about it.

 

[LuckyEddie]

Ah but are they reinforced socks ?
Sorry

You will be - you will be!

 

[RED-DOT]

You wanted a reply you're getting one

Totally agree with you on this

Share the love brother X...

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

I've fitted my guns in a garage that was subject to temperature change due to cooling and warming during the night and day, the windows warmed the place up and vapor condensed on some of the actions causing slight surface rust. My solution was to box the cabinet in with an insulated cupboard, I can access easily. I then added a 40w tube heater in the cupboard to keep the temperature warm and stable.

 

[Ronin]

Just be aware if you buy a heater mat you'll have to remove the supplied (and often moulded in ) plug, drill a suitable flex diameter hole in the cabinet and then protect the hole / flex in this area from being cut. Then thread the flex through and re wire a plug to it (suitably fused)