Take Note----For those of you that use light bulbs in safes for a heat source to prevent rusting. More specifically if you use the new government mandated , democratic, curly cue, energy efficient bulbs you will have a problem. As you know these bulbs have mercury in them that about requires an EPA permit to clean up if you drop and break it on the floor. They also give off harmful light rays of some sort that will bleach walnut stocks over time. This time frame being less than two years. Notice the comb on this stock it was about 8 inches from the bulb.
A fair warning to all.

Chad, I know you are upset about this stock. I would be. This is more serious than the stock. My wife and I have worked with ionizing radiation in many forms for a total of almost 70 years. If these bulbs did this to your stock, think what it is doing to our eyes and skin. My question is: who is qualified and has the equipment to determine what these bulbs are emitting?

I was not aware that the more recent CFL bulbs used for residential lighting were any different in composition and light emissions than the fluorescent lighting that is present in almost every commercial lighting situation around the world for as long as I can remember. Please enlighten me.

Would the newer LED based bulbs cause similar bleaching or other problems? And are there known problems with other products, like the Goldenrod?

BC I do not know if the LED light would cause this or not. They are usually quite cool and I do not think they would generate enough heat to be used as a deterrent to humidity. I do have a string of white LED Christmas lights in a safe just for the light in a dark safe and they work nicely and go out when the door is closed. I remember a few years ago they tried the LED lights on traffic signals. Guess what, they won't melt snow and ice off them like the old bulbs and they were changed back.
JimT I do not know much about lighting or the comparison between the 4 or 8 foot florescent tubes used in commercial areas and the CFL screw in bulbs now used in many homes. Heck I have the 4 foot ones in the kitchen and basement.
You don't think out great government would have us use something that was not good for us????
I did find a link to sun light on different kinds of wood and how it affects it.
http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/uv-ligh ... ing-color/

Yankee, I would have thought the CFL was also too cool, though maybe the CFL ballast creates enough heat. I'm really beginning to think this may be a case for using the right tool.

Yankee thanks you answered the mystery I've had with my Winchester 1894 stock which is much worse than yours. Those CFL's suck!