tcoz
Member
Is there any reason not to store powder in a gun safe if you have room? I've seen a number of people who mention that they don't do it, but I've never seen a reason given.
Storing powder in a safe?
- Thread starter tcoz
- Start date
- Status
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
++1
A safe simply cannot vent burning powder gas out the cracks to release the pressure fast enough.
Think huge pipe bomb in your house if it burns.
rc
A safe simply cannot vent burning powder gas out the cracks to release the pressure fast enough.
Think huge pipe bomb in your house if it burns.
rc
OP
OP
tcoz
Member
Jeez....talk about overlooking the obvious!! Thanks.
medalguy
Member
Besides, that reduces the room available for more guns!!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Besides that.
Anything else in the safe will be burned to ashes & melted metal by the confined white hot, self oxidizing powder fire.
rc
Anything else in the safe will be burned to ashes & melted metal by the confined white hot, self oxidizing powder fire.
rc
Lost Sheep
Member
Vented safe?
I am going to propose that if the safe had a couple dozen 1" holes in it, the pressure would not build up to dangerous levels and if the holes were pointed away from flammable materials, the rocket blast effect would be relatively safe.
1" holes would not compromise the security of the safe overmuch.
Having said that, a much simpler and cheaper solution to locking powder away from the unauthorized (I am thinking of children or untrustworthy adults in the house, etc) would be a surplus high school metal locker with a padlock.
Lost Sheep
I am going to propose that if the safe had a couple dozen 1" holes in it, the pressure would not build up to dangerous levels and if the holes were pointed away from flammable materials, the rocket blast effect would be relatively safe.
1" holes would not compromise the security of the safe overmuch.
Having said that, a much simpler and cheaper solution to locking powder away from the unauthorized (I am thinking of children or untrustworthy adults in the house, etc) would be a surplus high school metal locker with a padlock.
Lost Sheep
witchhunter
Member
Wouldn't drilling several one inch holes in a safe ruin the fire rating? Keep your powder in a wooden cabinet or chest.
Lost Sheep
Member
Sure it would, but I will guess that anything with any decent fire rating would be non-vented. (Unless someone offers a safe that has a one-way relief system). I have not researched enough to say, though.
So, both this post and my previous one are just brainstorming.
Lost Sheep
So, both this post and my previous one are just brainstorming.
Lost Sheep
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Just don 't store powder in a safe and you don't need to worry about it!
Yea!
That's the ticket!
rc
Yea!
That's the ticket!
rc
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Use a gun safe for what it was intended for, guns. Buy or build a cabinet suitable for storing powder if you feel the need to lock up your powder. It's as simple as that.
I for one would not spend a $1000 or more on a gun safe and then drill holes in it!
I for one would not spend a $1000 or more on a gun safe and then drill holes in it!
KansasSasquatch
Member
Besides fire rating and security concerns, putting holes in a safe also hurts your ability to control the humidity inside the safe. Rusting would become even more concern than normal.
Lost Sheep
Member
OK, Point Taken. Dumb idea
When brainstorming, dumb ideas are recorded right along with the good ones.
Apparently, no one builds a safe with factory-provided vents for a reason. Consider both my posts (except for the part about the high school type padlocked locker) withdrawn.
I have not deleted them so anyone in the future who reads the answering posts will know what KansasSasquatch, witchhunter and ArchAngelCD were talking about.
Lost Sheep
When brainstorming, dumb ideas are recorded right along with the good ones.
Apparently, no one builds a safe with factory-provided vents for a reason. Consider both my posts (except for the part about the high school type padlocked locker) withdrawn.
I have not deleted them so anyone in the future who reads the answering posts will know what KansasSasquatch, witchhunter and ArchAngelCD were talking about.
Lost Sheep
ArchAngelCD
Member.
No reason to call your ideas dumb. We all throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks.
KansasSasquatch
Member
Yep. Albert Einstein was a huge failure. But he was a failure who refused to give up. Now everyone thinks he was some kind of genius, maybe rightfully so, maybe not. But his refusal to give up helps change the course of history.
I'm about 98% sure you could put some kind of one-way pressure relief valves on a safe to make them safe for storing flammable and/or explosive materials. The question is, can it be done in a cost effective manner that doesn't sacrifice other areas of integrity of the safe? Thats hard to imagine being possible though. And a sheet metal cabinet (or gym locker) with a good lock is plenty strong and cheap enough to store components. That's how I store mine.
I'm about 98% sure you could put some kind of one-way pressure relief valves on a safe to make them safe for storing flammable and/or explosive materials. The question is, can it be done in a cost effective manner that doesn't sacrifice other areas of integrity of the safe? Thats hard to imagine being possible though. And a sheet metal cabinet (or gym locker) with a good lock is plenty strong and cheap enough to store components. That's how I store mine.
Last edited:
oldpapps
Member
Many areas to explore.
The 'old' safes I'm used to dealing with are lockable fire boxes and little more. The big square one, dump them over and pop the bottom plate and chop out the concrete. The 'Egg' style are a little more of a problem but 75% will 'pop' when pulled from their stand (they do have a nice nostalgic value to them).
If your need is for true security for your supply of powder, build a 'cinder block' igloo with no mortar, put a solid metal door with what ever lock you are willing to pay for (I favor the electronic - spin the dial to charge the unit type, rather expensive) and all of this in a well drained pit. Add a full alarm system that is monitored 24-7. This is a little extreme for most.
More realistic, a plastic trunk with matching lock point in the lid and body. This provides protection from water, light and minimal heat/fire. But also will give way if the propellant were to be sparked, no 'bomb' here. To keep it from being just an easy way to tote your powder away, put lag bolts with BIG washers threw the bottom into floor studs. (I don't even bolt mine down and I keep primers separate from powder.)
My views of 'safe' may be different but works. The determined thief can not be stopped, just slowed down. To just keep fingers out, the locked trunk does a good job for little cash out lay.
The 'old' safes I'm used to dealing with are lockable fire boxes and little more. The big square one, dump them over and pop the bottom plate and chop out the concrete. The 'Egg' style are a little more of a problem but 75% will 'pop' when pulled from their stand (they do have a nice nostalgic value to them).
If your need is for true security for your supply of powder, build a 'cinder block' igloo with no mortar, put a solid metal door with what ever lock you are willing to pay for (I favor the electronic - spin the dial to charge the unit type, rather expensive) and all of this in a well drained pit. Add a full alarm system that is monitored 24-7. This is a little extreme for most.
More realistic, a plastic trunk with matching lock point in the lid and body. This provides protection from water, light and minimal heat/fire. But also will give way if the propellant were to be sparked, no 'bomb' here. To keep it from being just an easy way to tote your powder away, put lag bolts with BIG washers threw the bottom into floor studs. (I don't even bolt mine down and I keep primers separate from powder.)
My views of 'safe' may be different but works. The determined thief can not be stopped, just slowed down. To just keep fingers out, the locked trunk does a good job for little cash out lay.
Bobarian
Member
What about ammo then? Any concern with storing 3,000 to 5,000 rounds in your safe?
In a true safe, bad idea. If they happen to have any powder that is breaking down, they will generate heat, and it will have no where to go, which will accelerate the process. Then if they start to go, the rest will eventually cook off.Bobarian said:
On the other hand, one of those cheap wally world safes that aren't airtight or terribly secure would probably be just fine. Even if they did all go at once, the door would just bend, and maybe pop open. And weight of the ammo would make it hard to move.
oneounceload
member
But it sure would let a lot of humidity and moisture inside
HighExpert
Member
I own both a Ft. Knox and a cannon. I realize they are not "bank quality" but I don't consider them "Wally world" either. They both have fie ratings and they are both vented. I don't store powder but do store ammo.
Yep,
Even though powder is worth it's weight in gold, there's no reason to keep powder in a safe. It's a flammable solid, no special requirements, store it like you would aerosol paint cans, or the like (I wonder how many take precautions with aerosol cans or just store it on a shelf. very dangerous in a fire). If you have to lock it up for security reasons, a lockable wooden box will do...
- Status
