Black Powder Storage Box

[Doug Fay]

Statistically, the chance of your house catching fie is very very low.

How many houses in your neighborhood have burned down in the last ten (10) years?

Some folks worry each day about the sun rising.

Good point!

 

[Doug Fay]

Togo is nice but I don’t think he is that nice!

I have looked at that box before for organizing my collection of powders.
For any one thinking of purchasing it to organize their collection I am pretty sure the “Ammo Crate” version is the same box but tan instead of red and $15 cheaper.

Yes - thankfully, he realized I was kidding

The main reason I bought that particular "Powder Keg" box was because its internal dimensions were just large enough to contain the internal box that would be built from the 12"x12" fireproof plates. Turns out it was a closer fit than I had anticipated, but luckily, it fit very nicely.

 

[wpage]

Not keeping much here. But in a ammo box inside a wooden box.

 

[Icemanxxxv]

Lost all my blackpowder in a boating accident. Enough said....

 

[Doug Fay]

Here's mine, cunningly concealed in plain sight in my Whisky Lounge / Gun Room. Some of my pistols are likewise cunningly concealed. View attachment 373125

Great room! As long as you haven't cunningly concealed it in one of those kerosene lamps and left matches lying around, you should be OK! Ha, ha

 

[Doug Fay]

(d) Sporting use.(1) No person shall discharge firearms at, against or within 100 feet of a black powder storage box where such storage box contains five pounds or less of black powder.
Why anyone would continue to pay taxes to such an entity is beyond me.

Oh, boy! That makes is sound like it's ok to shoot at the box if it contains more than five pounds. Were I there, it would be a hot time in the old town tonight ;-) But I suppose I'd end up in jail somehow.

 

[RedPoin]

I use a steel box made from 1/4" plate door has 2 large hasp latches the hole box is lined with 3/4" plywood holds my powder.
I been thinking I might put my primers in there for fire safety , what do you think about storing primers on separate shelf inside box

 

[Coinneach]

Here's mine, cunningly concealed in plain sight in my Whisky Lounge / Gun Room. Some of my pistols are likewise cunningly concealed. View attachment 373125

You sir have exquisite taste in furnishings, appointments and ambience.

 

[Coinneach]

@Omahkap'si Just a little bit off topic, but your funny reply reminded me of the CWP class that I took over 15 years ago. The instructor was telling us that as newly minted legal carriers we would probably feel strange carrying even though we would be legal. He asked "Where is the first place that most people carry their concealed guns?" One guy's arm immediately shot up and he replied, "Your mother in law's place!" The instructor wasn't ready for that one. BTW, Walmart is the answer.

Psssst ....I happen to know a guy in Canada (Canadian Army Veteran who I met during my service) who carries a Handgun around in a brown paper wrapped Shoe Box !
Hows that for innovation ?

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

You sir have exquisite taste in furnishings, appointments and ambience.

Why, thank you sir! The Gun Room (which functions also as a gentleman's whisky lounge and library) will soon be redecorated in the 'Dark Academia' or late 19th century style. I will post pictures when the work is done! The good thing about France is, while there are obvious safety rules governing gunpowder storage, BP guns are as unregulated as airguns are in England. Thus, I feel it good and proper to have them on a display rack among the portraits of Napoleon, Robert E. Lee, Nelson etc. You are welcome to attend for coffee and cigars anytime you are my side of the Pond!

 

[wiscoaster]

.....among the portraits of Napoleon, Robert E. Lee, Nelson etc. .....

.... and Wellington?? ....

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

.... and Wellington?? ....

Him too! And Von Clausewitz. There are also a few naval scenes such as Trafalger, the Hermione... and of course USS Constitution!

 

[wiscoaster]

I'll bet Napoleon and Wellington get hung side by side - facing each other!!

 

[smoothshooter]

Just wanted to post description and pics of the black powder storage box I just built.

Here's what I was trying to achieve:

• Reasonably secure from "casual" attempts to get at the black powder inside.\
• If the building where I keep it were to catch fire, the powder wouldn't go off - at least for a good long time (i.e., somewhat fireproof).
• If it did go off, it wouldn't be a big bomb (e.g., like it would if it were kept in a steel container)

So, here's what I did:

• Bought a plastic lockable box from Amazon
• Built a "fireproof" box of refractory materials (from Amazon) to put inside the plastic box (each of the refractory plates is 12" x 12")
• Sealed the seams between the refractory plates with high-temp silicone (good to 600 deg F)
• Used long, thin wood screws to hold the refractory plates together when the silicone gets hot enough to no longer be able to keep the plates together.
• Used 1/16" steel aircraft cable and steel springs on the outside of the box to keep the lid tightly closed (aluminum loses strength at relatively low temps)
• Note: to do that and not have the cables cut right through the refractory materials, I used four pieces of steel angle iron to protect the edges - the four black things on the top edges of the refractory box.
• Placed heat-absorbing paraffin blocks inside the box with the powder to absorb heat that does get through the refractory box (haven't done that yet, but will probably use normal paraffin or "white beeswax", also available from Amazon)

Here's how it's supposed to work in a fire:

• The plastic box will melt, and lose all strength, thus preventing a big explosion, should the powder inside eventually ignite.
• The refractory plates and high-temp silicone will prevent much heat flow into the inside of the refractory box.
• As heat does come through to the inside of the box, the paraffin will melt, thus keeping the temp low as long as there is more paraffin to melt.
• Eventually, if the temp inside the box does get high enough to ignite the powder, it won't result in a big explosion with a lot of shrapnel, because the refractory material is very weak, and the external plastic box will have already melted.

Below are pictures

I was easily able to put five one-pound flasks of black powder inside. My guess is that it could easily hold 20 to 25 such flasks.

If anybody would like details, just let me know - Doug

Box needs to be thin and somewhat flimsy. It needs to blow apart easily if it is ever in a fire.
Just how much powder are you needing to store? If it is only 10 pounds or less I wouldn’t even bother with it.

 

[smoothshooter]

Just wanted to post description and pics of the black powder storage box I just built.

Here's what I was trying to achieve:

• Reasonably secure from "casual" attempts to get at the black powder inside.\
• If the building where I keep it were to catch fire, the powder wouldn't go off - at least for a good long time (i.e., somewhat fireproof).
• If it did go off, it wouldn't be a big bomb (e.g., like it would if it were kept in a steel container)

So, here's what I did:

• Bought a plastic lockable box from Amazon
• Built a "fireproof" box of refractory materials (from Amazon) to put inside the plastic box (each of the refractory plates is 12" x 12")
• Sealed the seams between the refractory plates with high-temp silicone (good to 600 deg F)
• Used long, thin wood screws to hold the refractory plates together when the silicone gets hot enough to no longer be able to keep the plates together.
• Used 1/16" steel aircraft cable and steel springs on the outside of the box to keep the lid tightly closed (aluminum loses strength at relatively low temps)
• Note: to do that and not have the cables cut right through the refractory materials, I used four pieces of steel angle iron to protect the edges - the four black things on the top edges of the refractory box.
• Placed heat-absorbing paraffin blocks inside the box with the powder to absorb heat that does get through the refractory box (haven't done that yet, but will probably use normal paraffin or "white beeswax", also available from Amazon)

Here's how it's supposed to work in a fire:

• The plastic box will melt, and lose all strength, thus preventing a big explosion, should the powder inside eventually ignite.
• The refractory plates and high-temp silicone will prevent much heat flow into the inside of the refractory box.
• As heat does come through to the inside of the box, the paraffin will melt, thus keeping the temp low as long as there is more paraffin to melt.
• Eventually, if the temp inside the box does get high enough to ignite the powder, it won't result in a big explosion with a lot of shrapnel, because the refractory material is very weak, and the external plastic box will have already melted.

Below are pictures

I was easily able to put five one-pound flasks of black powder inside. My guess is that it could easily hold 20 to 25 such flasks.

If anybody would like details, just let me know - Doug

Impressing engineering, but WAAAYYY overkill.
You want a box that looks crappy and just banged together with a few small nails, a couple hinges, and some kind of latch. The crappier and flimsier it looks and is, the better it will be as a powder “magazine”.

Absolute overkill. A wood box built from 1" thick boards would have been more than sufficient. If/when it burns through, the plastic containers melt and the powder would just go up in a big WHOOSH.

Even 1/2” or 1/4” plywood would be enough.
In case of fire you want it to go “WHOOSH”. Not KA-BAM!!
Remove any markings or stickers on outside of box that Identify the contents as an explosive. Those markings on a nice, pretty box would be a magnet for thieves.
No one needs to know what’s in that box except your wife and any other family members that have access to that building. And make sure they understand that that information is not to be shared with ANYBODY ELSE ! Not with neighbors, friends, girlfriends -NOBODY.
In the unlikely event the building were to catch fire, and the fire department comes, you can advise them on what’s in the building and about how much.
Remember that a 5 gallon jug of gasoline is more of a hazard in a fire than several pounds of UNCONFINED smokeless or black powder.
A large amount (thousands) of primers can be a different matter. They are the killers.
Just know that more and more fire departments, on finding out the building burning has a significant amount of ammo, primers, or gun powder of any kind inside are going to back off and just let it burn. First Responder safety rules.

 

[smoothshooter]

Not keeping much here. But in a ammo box inside a wooden box.

Military ammo cans are very bad for BP storage. Guaranteed bomb-type explosion in a fire.

 

[smoothshooter]

I use a steel box made from 1/4" plate door has 2 large hasp latches the hole box is lined with 3/4" plywood holds my powder.
I been thinking I might put my primers in there for fire safety , what do you think about storing primers on separate shelf inside box

Very bad idea. Guaranteed bomb effect in a fire.
Heavy steel box is the absolutely worst thing you could use.

 

[SDSmlf]

Every time I see another post on this thread, Rube Goldberg comes to mind for some reason.

 

[Tumbledown]

Even 1/2” or 1/4” plywood would be enough.
In case of fire you want it to go “WHOOSH”. Not KA-BAM!!

The thickness of the wood provides a degree of insulation, both in terms of direct heat and by delaying burn-through.

Remove any markings or stickers on outside of box that Identify the contents as an explosive.

They are required by law in NY. Failure to mark the box means the insurance company can deny your claim for not following storage laws.

Those markings on a nice, pretty box would be a magnet for thieves.
No one needs to know what’s in that box except your wife and any other family members that have access to that building. And make sure they understand that that information is not to be shared with ANYBODY ELSE ! Not with neighbors, friends, girlfriends -NOBODY.

I'm not that paranoid, but locks and alarm systems exist for a reason.

In the unlikely event the building were to catch fire, and the fire department comes, you can advise them on what’s in the building and about how much.

That's assuming you are home at the time, and capable of informing the fire department.

Remember that a 5 gallon jug of gasoline is more of a hazard in a fire than several pounds of UNCONFINED smokeless or black powder.

Yes, and there are legal requirements on how and where gasoline can be stored, including it being in a properly colored and marked container.

 

[smoothshooter]

No kids here and ammo cans never leave the basement (plus they'd have to furnish their own pipes). No, not too worried about that aspect. Someone breaks in to a locked residence and steals stuff and I haven't violated any laws, then my liability is zero. Wisconsin has no bogus "safe storage" laws that infringe upon my Second and Fourth Amendment rights.

In my state, IIRC, 50 pounds or less of BP requires no special storage methods.