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I soon will have to be storing boxes of HO rolling stock and structures. The storage facility that I'm interested in says they maintain a temperature range of 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit/10 to 15C.
Should I have any concerns about these cools temperatures?
Does anyone have any experience with storing they would like to share?
Those temps are not really cold enough to do much.
Of bigger concern is the humidity, perhaps...do they maintain a certain humidity level at those temps? High humidity can lead to rusting of parts...so I would ask if the maintain a lower relative humidity level around 60%- considered comfy for homes where you won't shock easily but aren't drowning in water either...
Also, be sure they are out of the way of general harms way {Mother nature}...several storage facilities around here were flooded out during a major flood this month...many lost everything in their storage units as well as loosing their homes too..it was a massive flood....and the storage units did not flood in '06 major flood, but did this time around...
Just some food for thought...
Those temps are not really cold enough to do much.
Of bigger concern is the humidity, perhaps...do they maintain a certain humidity level at those temps? High humidity can lead to rusting of parts...so I would ask if the maintain a lower relative humidity level around 60%- considered comfy for homes where you won't shock easily but aren't drowning in water either...
Also, be sure they are out of the way of general harms way {Mother nature}...several storage facilities around here were flooded out during a major flood this month...many lost everything in their storage units as well as loosing their homes too..it was a massive flood....and the storage units did not flood in '06 major flood, but did this time around...
Just some food for thought...
Thank you.
I picked out a unit on the top floor and avoided a unit with a wall that is the buildings wall.
Make sure for long term storage that if the packing material is of beaded foam (white styrofoam) or closed cell foam that you have a layer of plastic in between. The chemicals in the foam will eventually react with the paint of the model and ruin the finish.
Also throw in a silica bag with the locos to absorb whatever moisture may be present.
Temp isn't too big of a concern, things get shipped and warehoused in extreme temps all the time.
Being on the top floor is a great idea! Also look at storage insurance if it's available...
Thank you all for your great advice.
I put all my brass in a bank safety deposit box in their original boxes. And the rest of the rolling stock and structures will be going into storage.
Is humidity the thing to control moreso than temperature? Reason I ask, I am in the process of finishing the inside of my train room (15 x 25) I am putting kraft faced R-13 and wall paneling up, and installed radiant barrier panels in the rafters which reduces the heat in the building significantly. The humidity stays around 40%-60% due to the wrap under the siding and the insulation. The area above the rafters isnt much at all, so there is not a lot of space to heat. I am going to install a ceiling fan in the middle to circulate the air (I do have a window unit) Do yall think I will be good to go?
i forgot the name of this company that offered storage boxes that would fit a agood amount of cars or engines. They are like the size of those cardboard christmas ornament boxes. It was like $35 plus shipping unassembled, $45 plus shipping assembled.
I just pack and stack 'em.
The computer paper boxes are great for this. With cardboard and hot glue I made slots and brackets. The brackets are high enough to keep clear of the couplers and protrude far enough out to prevent the cars from hitting the ends with the couplers.
I can get 24 cars per box, even more if they are really short ones, just custom build your trays as you need them. Only cost is time and a bit of hot glue.
I agree, use popcorn foam packaging, or wrap them with ripped up old bed sheets to keep them separated and safe, then foam between them. I store mine in any solid box, but computer monitor cases, shoe boxes, small appliance and electronics boxes...they are all fine provided you pack the contents well and then write on the sealing tape what went into that box!!!
Humidity and temperature swings are to be kept to a minimum. Condensation can result, although it would be pervasive and huge if it affected nicely packed hobby items. Don't pack your plastic cars and engines high up in the container where the hottest temps are likely to happen.
I just store mine in their original boxes. If I need to take them some where, like to a show etc. I just stack them into a large plastic container for the trip. This way I can "cherry pick" which cars and locos I want to take without having to take more stuff than I need to.
I just store mine in their original boxes. If I need to take them some where, like to a show etc. I just stack them into a large plastic container for the trip. This way I can "cherry pick" which cars and locos I want to take without having to take more stuff than I need to.
Though original boxes do take up space, rolling stock will be better protected in them.
I put as much as I could in the original boxes, but couldn't find them all so I had to make some boxes.
I also modified the inserts from the original boxes to accommodate new details added to my locos like sunshades, etc.
Document it for insurance purposes... top floors burn just as good as bottom floors...
Speaking from personal experience, fighting storage unit fires is risky, and since lives are not at stake, if the fire spreads quickly (which it probably will, since most units are full of highly flammable material) most fire departments will write off the building as not worth our lives and concentrate on the surrounding buildings. One of the biggest losses for the Baltimore FD was a cold storage unit. I believe 9 firefighters lost their lives at one fire. It's VERY easy to get lost and disoriented in a burning storage building.
I would think that, unless you have a collection that dwarfs Athern's warehouse, you could store the more sensitive locomotives in a flat plastic bin under a bed and the more hardy rolling stock in boxes or plastic bins at a storage facility.
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