It sounds like DimmyW should remove the guns from his safe, install some racks, and use the thing as a food dehydrator. He could become one of those guys who sells jerky at gun shows.
But with 23% humidity in the room, he may have already dehydrated his brain into a raisin... which would explain some things.
Years ago, when I bought a baby grand piano for my wife, I checked into proper care and humidity levels. The optimum humidity for pianos is 45-50% at 68 degrees. Stradivarius violins are maintained around the same levels. And a museum conservator told me they try to maintain a stable 45-50% relative humidity and temperatures of 65-70 degrees F. for antique wood furniture and other wood objects. There seems to be a general consensus that humidity levels lower than 40% for wood objects can lead to shrinkage and cracking issues. The ideal moisture content for properly seasoned wood itself will read much lower if checked with a moisture meter (6 to 8% optimal for gunstocks). But moisture content of wood, and the humidity surrounding it, are two very different things.
