Crashbox
Member
bluetopper said:
Not usually. Mine's a dead one which was free with my $151k house.
Reloading in the Garage - Powder Storage
- Thread starter bsdubois00
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Not usually. Mine's a dead one which was free with my $151k house.
lauderdale
Member
What type/brand of de-humidifier would you all recommend?
KMRRA
Member
A big ammo can would do the job , there are some perty good size cans out there
LeonCarr
Member
I use a Frigidaire. Basically I went to amazon.com and found the one that was the best combination of price and good reviews.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
RPegram
Member
I wonder what people did before AC was invented? Maybe as long as containers are kept sealed and not stored in extremely high temps everything will be ok? I live in eastern NC and humidity levels in the summer can be fairly high, 70%and higher. I keep a box full of goodies in the garage beside my powder and the humidity level is recommended to stay at 70% for these goodies to stay fresh and I have no problem with that humidity level and my powder has done fine. The winter, different story, I have to add some moisture to my goodies box to keep moisture level at 70%. I worry much more about the humidity affecting barrels and dies. Also, I have some powder a friend gave me, couple of kegs and some one pounders that were stored in a barn for decades in eastern NC, loaded some up and all went bang.
RPegram
Member
Just to give you an idea of the age of the powder stored in the barn, the 4lb keg of Green Dot sold for $20. It definitely goes bang. I tried it in a couple of rounds, but it is a hot powder. One was 200gr SWC in 45 ACP, it was peppy to say the least. Made me wonder if this old powder didn't load a little different in the 60's and 70's. My friends dad and uncles were big into skeet and loaded a lot of shotgun, so he gave me several shotgun powders, green dot, blue dot and unique, all very old.
lauderdale
Member
Thanks fellas! I just had 14x34 ceiling sheet rocked/and vent fan cut in, aux. roof fan w/2 air intakes w/insulation and paneling already done in r13. Yes timers/on air and ammo cans etc. . T-7/ Dill. presses. trying to keep what I have room temp. Bulk in home. Moisture is a issue I watch and learn, thanks you guys!
TimSr
Member
It's miraculous that the blackpowder guns of the pioneers, or the early smokeless rounds of the soldiers of WWI ever fired!
Yes, things degrade over time, but the first question is how long do you expect to shelve your components before they are all used?
How do the companies who make them, and the stores who sell them, store them?
If you will be using the stuff up in the next 10 years, store it however and wherever its safe and most convenient.
Last year I finished up some Olin296 I bought in the 80's. It had been in my no AC house in southern Cal. a few years, in my basement in PA, in my house in OH, then several years in my garage in OH, where the outside of the can rusted so badly the lid wouldn't tighten, then moved to my attic a few years, and then back in the house. I also had some CCI SP mag primers that had gone through the same journey. Last fall I compared .357 mag loads from those old components to loads with new primers and new W296. The Chrony couldn't tell which was which. Slight difference in the numbers, but nothing out of character for that load.
I don't suggest extreme abuse, but I wouldn't overthink it either.
Yes, things degrade over time, but the first question is how long do you expect to shelve your components before they are all used?
How do the companies who make them, and the stores who sell them, store them?
If you will be using the stuff up in the next 10 years, store it however and wherever its safe and most convenient.
Last year I finished up some Olin296 I bought in the 80's. It had been in my no AC house in southern Cal. a few years, in my basement in PA, in my house in OH, then several years in my garage in OH, where the outside of the can rusted so badly the lid wouldn't tighten, then moved to my attic a few years, and then back in the house. I also had some CCI SP mag primers that had gone through the same journey. Last fall I compared .357 mag loads from those old components to loads with new primers and new W296. The Chrony couldn't tell which was which. Slight difference in the numbers, but nothing out of character for that load.
I don't suggest extreme abuse, but I wouldn't overthink it either.
Nanook
Member
I live in northern IL, about an hour from Chicago. Humidity can be an issue in this area.
My loading bench, with powder and primers has been in my garage since I built the bench in 1999. Safe is out there too. Goldenrod in safe, with a couple of dessicants.
The loading bench is the NRMA bench, powder on one side and primers in the other. I've had no issues whatsoever with either powder or primers in 17 years.
I do heat the garage full time, and it's insulated. In warmer weather, like now, I install a 1 ton window unit and run it most of the time. Not all of the time, but most of the time. I turn it off at night.
The insulation helps, plus I have the walls covered rather than just bare walls with the insulation showing.
I keep an eye on metal objects like tools, dies and guns of course. It's been fine for me for 17 years.
My loading bench, with powder and primers has been in my garage since I built the bench in 1999. Safe is out there too. Goldenrod in safe, with a couple of dessicants.
The loading bench is the NRMA bench, powder on one side and primers in the other. I've had no issues whatsoever with either powder or primers in 17 years.
I do heat the garage full time, and it's insulated. In warmer weather, like now, I install a 1 ton window unit and run it most of the time. Not all of the time, but most of the time. I turn it off at night.
The insulation helps, plus I have the walls covered rather than just bare walls with the insulation showing.
I keep an eye on metal objects like tools, dies and guns of course. It's been fine for me for 17 years.
Damon555
Member
This was my answer....
12'x24' shed with 222 square feet that I get half of......111 square feet of climate controlled reloading goodness.
12'x24' shed with 222 square feet that I get half of......111 square feet of climate controlled reloading goodness.
lauderdale
Member
Let me add this. I have peg board in shop that has r13 in back. The walls are paneld w/r13 fibro. insalation. It wasn't until I poked a ice pick into the insalation and some time later pulled it out w/ rust on the end? I related to me leaving the heat on in the winter for apprx. 4 days. But!!! All air intakes closed shut. Sweated moisture/yes watching your metals/dies etc... true.
david bachelder
Member
I reload in my garage and keep powder and primers there. I did close a part of the garage off with a new wall, insulate and add a window unit. I haven't had any problems ... yet. I only run the ac when I'm in there. I'm about 75 miles north of Houston by Lake Livingston. The humidity hangs around 80 to 90 % most of the time
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
threefeathers
member
I keep everything in the garage but it is well insulated and right next to the coldest room in the house. In 10 years I haven't had a problem with powder and primers.
MislMan
Member
Consider using ice/beer coolers for storage containers. In "old" times powder and such was stored in earth covered bunkers in wooden boxes with an inside wrapping of plastic or water proofed paper (waxed). If negotiating storage space indoors don't forget to consider a front entryway coat closet. I keep my primers and powders on a 2-shelf box in bottom of front hallway closet. I use concrete blocks and boards for shelfing. No kids so I'm not concerned about locking it up.
lauderdale
Member
Yep! When it gets hotter then a firecracker and humid yikes! Were @ or below 90* the house is nice but the shop is finely suitable w/the way the sun lays. no shade it took a lot of you tubing and good friends and $! ammo cans,air conds. insalation etc... and a small fridge for refreshments-pop corn to!
Ironicaintit
Member
I load in my garage, but am lucky enough to be able to store my powder and primers in the house.
If I couldn't do that, those components would have to share the beer fridge with my welding rod.
If I couldn't do that, those components would have to share the beer fridge with my welding rod.
Gravedigger56
Member
Here in northern Indiana humidity is a real issue in the summer months and since I also reload in my old basement (dry but musty) I have to run a dehumidifier 24/7 in my reloading room. Until needed, all of my unopened bottles of powder and primers are vacuum packed using my handy Foodsaver. maybe a little over-kill but one less thing to worry about if climate is a concern and/or for long term storage.
lauderdale
Member
Yep! That vac. pack I know. From meat processing! Got one. I loaded for the last few. But have a area now I try to maintain. Its not organized but its cool wright now. And ive learned allot about trying to maintain!
gonoles_1980
Member
My powder and primer are stored in my computer room, with the temp never higher than 75. I load on the back porch. Though the wife want to move me inside and my weight bench on the back porch.
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