Storing Goex cans in outdoor shed

[Valley Forge]

I have a case of 25 1-pound cans of Goex (20 pounds FFg and 5 pounds FFFFg). I do not want to store it in the house. I have a shed in my backyard, plywood and 2x4 framing, not insulated, 2 small windows: it gets hot in there in the summer and freezing in the winter.

I was thinking of putting the un-opened cans into a thick plastic trash bag, sealing it up, and then storing that in one of those Rubbermaid 32 gallon trash cans. I can seal the lid on the trash can with caulk or silicone if someone thinks that is necessary. Will this plan be OK for preserving the quality of the Goex powder?

Other ideas for outside storage?

Thanks !

 

[BrownBear]

If the cans are unopened, about the only issue you will face is rust on the cans. The contents are really stable when sealed and protected from moisture. Your scheme should do just fine with or without the caulk or silicone.

I'm in a real wet climate with lots of salt in the air. I got a dozen cans of DuPont black from a friend's estate dated to 1972-73. He stored them in a garbage bag tied at the top and shoved into a cardboard box in his unheated shed. Today they look like they just came off the store shelf and shoot just fine. Good enough for me. My case went into a plastic bag, and that went into another box in my barn. Done deal.

 

[Jason Lewis]

it's fine to store it in your house. i'm pretty sure most of us do. out door storage is going to be pretty rough on your powder quality. with 25lbs being a serious investment, i would think that you'd want to take care of it as best as possible.

 

[ericb]

Unless you can control the internal humidity, I would forget the AirTight Bag/Container thing. You're probably more liable to get Rust on the outside of the cans than if you just store them high, dry, and under cover. And BrownBear is right; the cans are excellent, stable containers by themselves. I only had problems with one can, and it had been stored here and there, including damp basements, for 15/20 years. Had some rust on outside and inside of can.

I think a wooden footlocker would work fine, or alternately a plastic container, but just make sure it can "Breathe"...

Eric

 

[roundball]

If you have the room, you can just store them in the stable environment of your house...out of the way on the floor of a closet or something...been storing a case or two in my house for almost 20 years.

The only way something is going to happen to them is if your house burns to the ground...if you're in the house at the time, you will have already died of smoke inhalation...if you're away at the time, its a non-issue.

 

[biliff]

I live in the PNW and store mine in an outdoor shed similiar to what you describe. Just line the cans up on the shelf. Takes me about two+ years to get thru 25lbs and haven't had any issues, even in a wet climate.

 

[MSW]

for whatever it's worth, i agree with ericb: i've stored Goex (and other similar cans in both basement (both damp and dry) and outdoor sheds, and i've never had any problems. for security, i prefer to keep my powder indoors in my basement.

intruders needn't worry about the homeowner with the 12 gauge pump- it's the dog with the big teeth that will probably get them.

just one guy's free advice, and no doubt well worth the price.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I live in NY and wouldn't store them outside in a small shed. Around here a shed would go from -20°F in the bitter winter to 110°F in the summer sun (unless it's shaded). I keep mine on a shelf in a closet (that has no "outside" wall) in the original shipping cartons. If a fire gets there in our ranch house the additional poof of 30 or 40 pounds of powder won't add much to the home's overall loss.

 

[Semisane]

I have a case of 25 cans (well, about half of them are empey by now) sitting in the bottom of the closet about three feet away from where I'm sitting as I type this. What have you got against keeping them in the house?

 

[Jim Fitzgibbon]

VF I not only shoot black powder but make fireworks.I have a ATF permit to do so & store my
Black powder & other chemicals in a under
ground storm shelter.

It really is a good idea to store a large
amount out from the house.A can or two not
so much a problem in home.Black powder is
very safe as long as it is kept away from
sparks or high heat.

The reason to store it away from you home is
fire.If your home was to catch fire, then thats
the problem.

My storm shelter is very damp.I would be sure
all your can lids are on tight & store them in
plastic totes.Throw in a few hand fulls of rice
to asorb moisture to keep the out side of cans
from rust.

Fly :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

My father stored his powder in a plastic bag, with packets of dessicant that he found in various places. Today, you can buy them at most hobby stores, and at a few hardware stores. The packets absorb any moisture inside the plastic bag, to reduce any possibility that metal cans will rust. The packets can be "restored" by heating them up in your oven at very low heat( 200 degrees or less) for about a half hour. They can be reused over and over again for years.

Black Powder is very stable, and does not ignite until you get up over 300 degrees. Since heat rises, I keep my powder on the floor, rather than up on a top shelf. I also keep my powder inside my home, in an interior closet, so that my A/C helps to keep the powder and cans in excellent condition.

As long as the lids on the cans, or the plugs in your powder horn are closed, you don't have to worry about moisture getting to the powder.

Those plastic/rubber containers act as an insulator, in themselves. If they are left on the floor- I use the "Trash" approach to security in outbuildings, covering up "good stuff" with old rags, and junk( stuff covered in grease, and dirt) that even thieves don't want to touch--even high temperatures should not adversely affect the powder.

Remember, ground temperatures remain much cooler than air temperatures, unless in direct sunlight. So, the shed covering the ground below lets that ground stay cool, and that in turn will help keep the floor of a shed cool, too.

Wood flooring acts as an insulator, too, so that it doesn't let temperatures vary too much, too fast, either. Insulators Absorb heat during the heat of the day, and give the heat off during the cold nights. :hmm: :thumbsup:

Where you store your powder is your choice. I would store it inside my house, both for security, and to protect it from corrosion. But, I am not you, and have no idea of your living circumstances. You should be much more concerned with the fumes in the gas can you keep for the lawn mower, or that gas you keep in the tank of your car. They are far more volatile, and will do more damage if reached by fire. :hmm:

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have kept unopened cans of powder in travel trailer for as long as ten years. Subject to high and low humidity and high and low temps. Really just kept out of the weather was all. I have also kept it in a damp dirt floor basement. The outsides started to rust, but were fine.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have stored bp in outdoor sheds, attached garages, in house and currently in the under-house garage of my hillside home. A few cans have showed touches of rust at times but never a serious problem. If you want to get doubly careful, get some spray lacquer or clear coat from the store and spray the cans.

 

[mazo kid]

.... What have you got against keeping them in the house?

Well, SWMBO doesn't like the idea of ~25# of black powder in the house. I have a 2 story out- building, think the upper half was a granary,and store the powder on shelves in the lower half. It doesn't get that hot in the summer, but does get cold in winter. Powder has been stored there for 20 years with no ill effects. BTW, our summertime humidity does get into the 90s. The only powder I have in the house is one can in the basement when loading black powder cartridges.

 

[ebiggs1]

I am also one that just stores it inside the house in my closet. I have several of those plastic ammo boxes that Cabela's sells. I have way more than 25 lbs usually as I get nervous when my black powder supply goes below 25 lbs. You just never know how hard it is going to be to get next time.
I found a can of GOEX way in the back of the gun safe that was purchased in the late 70's, it still works just fine. :grin:

 

[ohio ramrod]

I store my goex cans in a chicken house with no problems. When I get a new case I spray the top and bottom of each can with a light coating of spray on antirust spray and place them back into the case and have no problems.I learned the hard way that cans left in outdoor buildings in Ohio will start to rust after a while.But since I started spraying them I have had no problems. :hmm:

 

[Valley Forge]

Thanks to all for the advice.

I have enough ammo that I really should not keep it in the house. If there's a fire, there will be sounds of popping ammo, and in several recent fires in my area the sounds of popping ammo led to the firefighters backing out and switching to an exterior attack which is likely to result in loss of internal structures and property. And, the fire incident reports that mention sounds of popping ammo will negate my fire insurance unless I go to court, and I don't need that kind of drama in my life. A fire would be bad enough, and I don't need to worry about whether I will have to fight with the insurance company. So, the ammo is going into that shed.

That leaves the question (posed above in the opening to this thread) of whether or not the 23 pounds of black powder should go outside in the shed and how to store it. If there was a fire, it would possibly cause the black powder to blow and the shredded cans would surely be mentioned in the fire report, and I don't need that aggravation. So, it is going outside in the shed with the ammo.

New Question:
Do I store the cans on shelves in the shed, or in the plastic Rubbermaid 32 gallon trash cans? And, a sub-question: Whether on shelves or in those cans, do I put it first in trash bags?

 

[tg]

In or out will be fine if you avoid a high temp/humidity situation, I keep most of mine in an unheated/uninsulated shop in an old kitchen range in the oven section, avoiding a situation with a lot of condenstaion is important I believe.

 

[Macon Due]

tg
Don't you suppose an old unplugged refrigerator would work fine for storing powder too?
Macon

 

[tg]

Yeah, it did untill I stated using it again for a freezer by turning it down all the way, then is when I went to the use of the old range oven and later got ride of the fridge for a place to put another workbench and kept the powder in the oven.I had forgot about that 'till it was mentioned...a senile moment I suppose.... :youcrazy: :blah: :shake: