Storage of Blackpowder

[RAEDWALD]

The advice from my ex firefighter uncle is to assume it will explode in a fire. Even 1/2 a kilo in a paper bag can explode rather than burn so do not put it in a strong metal container or you are making a grenade. Keep it in a light wooden or heavy cardboard container and try not to keep more than a kilo in each container. If you have a rack of shelves use one box per shelf. Hopefully they will not all go off together and the fire will weaken the box before it reaches the powder.

I think his point of view is that of a firefighter entering a building with stored black powder rather than keeping the powder in good order. Also he assumes that the powder is in the box in it's point of sale container. My PNF black powder comes in thin wall plastic bottles and seems immune to deterioration.

 

[AZbpBurner]

Even on a mild summer day (110º outdoors) it gets up over 168º in the garage - last place I'll store anything volatile.

There's a patch of closet floor next to a crate of surplus 8mm ammo where I keep my Goex & Pyrodex - right next to the rug atop some other ammo cans where the cat snoozes, since it's cool, dark & quiet ...

 

[cschibi]

For whatever it's worth...

My biggest concern was for the first responders if in the event my humble domicile caught fire.. So I purchased a 60 minute fire safe where I now store all my black powder and all my ammo. My safe is full but I feel good that any first responders won't be at risk in the event of the worst case scenario.

 

[Zonie]

Well, here's hoping your fire safe will never have to demonstrate it can withstand a fire.

Here's also hoping that if it ever does, that powder that's stored inside never ignites.

If it ever does ignite you've made one hell of a bomb that's going to do a lot of damage.

As we know, when black powder ignites it produces a lot of hot gas but if the gas can escape easily it won't build up a lot of pressure.

It's pressure that causes the real damage. That's why black powder is shipped in weak tin cans or plastic bottles stored in a flimsy cardboard box. These containers won't allow the burning black powder to create high pressures.

A safe on the other hand will contain the pressure up to the point where the door, the lock or sides burst.
Then Katy bar the door! :shocked2:

 

[cschibi]

Dude..really....

What's a safer proven alternative... :wink:

If you can serve up a safer alternative.. I will sign up...

 

[cschibi]

Let's hear from members who are "First Responders" who have to risk their lives everyday with events that include our "use case scenarios"...proposed here.

Just trying to keep it real!

 

[Black Jack]

A safe on the other hand will contain the pressure up to the point where the door, the lock or sides burst.
Then Katy bar the door! :shocked2:

This is exactly correct. When you store powder in a container as strong and tight as a safe, you have created a large grenade. In a major fire, the insulation in the safe may not be enough to prevent ignition.

 

[Billnpatti]

For most of us who do not have a bunker in our back yard, there is no perfect way to store black powder. A nice underground bunker is perfect but who has one? So, lacking a perfect storage location and conditions, we are left to do the best we can with what we have. The best thing is a cool dry place. So, just locate the coolest and driest place that you have that is lockable. That is where you store your black powder. If you have two such places, then divide your powder into two lots and store half in one place and the other half in the other place. You just do the best you can with what you have or you get out of muzzleloading. My best location is in a cabinet in my garage because I don't have an empty closet inside my house. It is the best I can do so that is where it is stored. Knowing that I have done the best I can do given my circumstances, I don't worry about it.

 

[user 20224]

When we had the shop and sold both types of powder the Fire Marshalls inspector said to store it in seperate wood slat containers near the door. Our local fire department came and looked at our cabinets with large casters and approved. They said that advance notification of powder gives them some options.

Now that we have it at home it is stored inside the backyard shop in a repo. Civil War ammo box, ie a flimsy wood box.

 

[Billnpatti]

Ya know, you have given me an idea of how I can improve my storage of black powder. I only thought I was doing my best. Actually I do have a large wooden box that is on casters. Right now it has a bunch of "stuff" in it that can easily be relocated. I can put my powder in the box and it can be easily rolled out of my garage in case of a fire. Thanks for giving me an idea for an improved powder storage. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I like the cardboard shipping boxes it comes in. It will make a big "poof" but no shrapnel.

 

[stone knife]

I store mine in cardboard or wood depending on how much I have on hand. A steel container would make a huge bomb :2