Quick answer: Keep the humidity inside your safe at 40–50% with a dehumidifier, and check it with a hygrometer. Wipe firearms with a light protective oil before storing them, and don't pack the safe too tightly. On digital safes, replace the 9V battery as soon as the red and green lights show together, and keep your override key somewhere secure, never inside the safe.
A safe does two jobs: it keeps your firearms secure and compliant, and it protects them from the thing that does the most damage in storage — moisture. Most people get the first part right. Rust is what catches them out.
This guide covers care for every safe in our range, from key-lock and digital-lock safes to pistol, ammo and fire-resistant models. For model-specific setup, always refer to the user manual that came with your safe. Keep it somewhere handy (just not inside the safe).
Why moisture is the biggest risk
A closed steel box is great at keeping people out. It's also good at trapping moist air. Humidity builds up from the room around it, from firearms put away damp after a wet hunt, and from gun bags, slings and cases that hold moisture. The result is surface rust, pitting on barrels and actions, and mould on leather slings and timber stocks.
The target for firearm storage is 40–50% relative humidity. Below about 30%, timber stocks can dry out and crack. Above 50–55%, rust starts to form.
Controlling moisture
- Use a dehumidifier in every safe. Our Spika Rechargeable Dehumidifier V2 is designed for Spika safes and needs no power point. Recharge it whenever its indicator shows it's full, following the instructions that come with it.
- Add a digital hygrometer so you know the actual humidity instead of guessing.
- Check it monthly, and more often in humid coastal areas or during wet seasons.
Rust protection for your firearms
- Never put a firearm away wet. After a wet or humid hunt, dry it fully, including the bore, action and magazine.
- Clean and oil before storing. Wipe metal surfaces with a light coat of gun oil or a rust preventative. Fingerprints are acidic and cause rust spots, so wipe everything down after handling.
- Store muzzle down if you've oiled the bore, so oil doesn't run into the action and stock.
- Take firearms out of soft cases. Fabric bags hold moisture against the metal. A silicone-treated gun sock is fine.
- Give them space. Don't cram the safe. Air needs to move around each firearm.
- Check them monthly. A quick look and wipe-down catches surface rust before it becomes pitting.
Looking after the safe itself
- Bolt it down. A safe secured to the floor is more secure and, in most states, a legal requirement. Use the bolt-down hardware supplied with your safe (where included) and follow the installation steps in your manual. Always check your local firearm storage requirements before installing.
- Choose the right spot. Avoid laundries, bathrooms, and garages or sheds with big temperature swings, and anywhere prone to flooding. An internal room is ideal.
- Keep it off damp floors. Concrete slabs can wick moisture, so keep the area around the safe dry and ventilated.
- Look after the carpet lining. Vacuum out dust and debris now and then, and never put a wet firearm or damp case on it. Carpet holds moisture against the steel.
- Wipe down the exterior with a soft, damp cloth. Touch up any chips in the powder coat promptly to stop rust starting.
- Don't slam the door. It knocks the locking bolts and hinges out of alignment over time.
Key locks
- Keep your keys clean, and don't use them as a lever or pry tool.
- Don't spray oil or lubricant into the lock. If a key lock feels stiff, contact our team rather than forcing it.
- If a key won't turn, don't force it. Check it's fully inserted and the right way up, and that nothing inside is pressing against the door.
- Store your spare door keys and any ammo compartment keys in a separate, secure location, never inside the safe.
Bolts and handle
- Open and close the door and handle fully at least once a month to keep everything moving freely.
- If the handle feels stiff, check nothing inside is pressing against the door, such as a firearm, rack or shelf.
- Don't lubricate the locking bolts or mechanism. If something doesn't feel right, contact our team.
Digital locks: battery, code and override key
A flat battery is the number one reason people get locked out of a digital safe. Spika digital locks run on a single 9V battery that sits behind the keypad face.
Low battery warning: when the red and green lights come on together, the battery is low. Replace it as soon as you can. We also recommend replacing it every 12 months as a habit, even if the warning hasn't shown. Pick a date you'll remember, like the start of the season or daylight savings.
How to replace the keypad battery:
- Press the small clip on the bottom of the keypad while twisting the keypad face anti-clockwise.
- Lift the face gently away from the backing plate. Don't pull it too far, as wires connect the keypad face to the safe door.
- Align a fresh 9V battery with the symbols on the tray and insert it, terminals first.
- Reverse the steps to refit the keypad face.
Use a quality alkaline battery. Cheap batteries can leak and damage the contacts.
Change the factory code when you first set up your safe, and change it now and then after that. Avoid obvious codes like birthdays or 1234. To change it:
- Enter your current code followed by # (hash). The lock beeps twice and shows a green light.
- Straight away, press * (star). The lock beeps once and the orange light stays on.
- Enter your new 4–8 digit code, then press *. The lock beeps twice.
- Enter the new code again, then press *.
- Three beeps means the new code is set. Four beeps means it didn't work, so start again.
Have your new code ready before you start, as the sequence times out quickly. From then on, enter your code followed by # to open the safe.
Wrong code? The light flashes yellow and the lock beeps four times. After more than four wrong attempts, the keypad locks for one minute.
Your override key is your lifeline. Every Spika digital safe comes with an override key lock and key, so you can still open the safe if the battery goes flat or the keypad fails. Keep the override key somewhere secure and known only to you. Losing it, or storing it inside the safe, will void your warranty.
To open your safe with the override key:
- Remove the keypad face as described above.
- Unplug the cable from the back of the keypad. Take a photo first so you remember which way it goes, then set the keypad aside carefully.
- With the black keypad holder exposed, you'll see the keyhole. If you can't, unscrew the keypad holder and lift it away.
- Insert the key firmly and turn it 180 degrees. If it won't turn, take it out, rotate it 180 degrees and try again, as key orientation varies by model.
- Turn the handle and open the door.
- Reverse the steps to refit the keypad. The key can't be removed until the door is closed and locked.
Keep the keypad clean with a dry or slightly damp cloth. No sprays or solvents.
Safe maintenance schedule
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| After every hunt | Dry, clean and oil firearms before they go back in |
| Monthly | Check the hygrometer, inspect firearms, open and close the door and handle fully |
| When the indicator shows | Recharge the dehumidifier |
| Red and green lights together | Replace the 9V keypad battery |
| Every 12 months | Replace the keypad battery, check the lock and handle action, check the bolt-down fixings, confirm your override and spare keys are where they should be |
Warranty
Spika safes are covered for construction, workmanship and materials, with separate cover for locks and moving parts. See our warranty page for the full terms, and get in touch with our team if something isn't working.
Safe care FAQs
What humidity should my gun safe be? Between 40% and 50% relative humidity.
Do I need a dehumidifier in my gun safe? Yes, in most of Australia. Humid coastal areas especially need one.
How do I know my digital safe battery is low? The red and green lights come on together. Replace the 9V battery as soon as you can.
What if the battery goes flat and I can't open my safe? Use your override key. Remove the keypad face, unplug the keypad, and open the safe with the key through the keyhole behind it. Then fit a fresh battery.
How do I change the code on my Spika digital safe? Enter your current code and #, press *, enter your new 4–8 digit code and press *, then enter it again and press *. Three beeps means it's done.
Can I use WD-40 on my safe lock? No. Don't spray oils or lubricants into the lock or bolt mechanism. If something feels stiff, contact our team.
Where should I keep my override key? Somewhere secure and known only to you, away from the safe. Never inside it.