Powder refridgeration? HUH!!??

14 February 2005, 03:48

ruger22com

O.K...first, I am new to reloading (just ran my first batch last night and shoot them today, and am pretty happy with the results).
But...My workshop and gun parts business all run out of a 12 x 16 workshop I had built away from the house. This is also where all my reloading equipment/supplies will be kept. I have full electric power but the air conditioner is a wall unit that only gets turned on when I am out working in the shop...as this is southern Alabama I don't really want my powder/primers in where the temp will no doubt climb into the upper 130's+ in summer, so I am considering putting a small fridge out there to store drinks and my two 1-pound powder bottles.
Has anybody tried to refridgerate smokeless powder bottles before? is there any humidity/condensation problems? what cha think?

14 February 2005, 04:25

ricciardelli

Yes, there are humidity and condensation problems, plus, never store powder in a sealed fridge or any other large sealed vault.

14 February 2005, 17:56

El Deguello

quote:
Originally posted by ruger22com:
O.K...first, I am new to reloading (just ran my first batch last night and shoot them today, and am pretty happy with the results).
But...My workshop and gun parts business all run out of a 12 x 16 workshop I had built away from the house. This is also where all my reloading equipment/supplies will be kept. I have full electric power but the air conditioner is a wall unit that only gets turned on when I am out working in the shop...as this is southern Alabama I don't really want my powder/primers in where the temp will no doubt climb into the upper 130's+ in summer, so I am considering putting a small fridge out there to store drinks and my two 1-pound powder bottles.
Has anybody tried to refridgerate smokeless powder bottles before? is there any humidity/condensation problems? what cha think?

Keep it in the airconditioned house. If you keep it in a reefer, it will get cold. Then when you pull it out into the hot, wet Alabama air, it will sweat like hell!

14 February 2005, 18:02

belaw

quote:
Originally posted by El Deguello:
Keep it in the airconditioned house. If you keep it in a reefer, it will get cold. Then when you pull it out into the hot, wet Alabama air, it will sweat like hell!

Guys, I don't want to get preachy, but reefer and reloading are not a good combination.

Not even in Alabama.

14 February 2005, 19:20

Dutch

While I agree powders should not be contained in vaults or other sealed structures, an unlocked refrigerator should not pose an problem in case of ignition. The door would open at such a low pressure that I can't imagine there being a problem with gas buildup creating an explosive release.

That said, bringing cold powder into a warm humid environment does not sound like a good idea. JMO, Dutch.