Powder storage

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
When I built the new detached garage, I had a plastic 55 gallon drum buried in the ground. With the specific intentions to store, most of my extra powder, outside the main residence.

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Finally, decided to move some powder this AM.............can't rush these things. Had to monitor the temperature and humidity, making sure condensation wasn't an issue.

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When I first began monitoring, temperature was staying @ 63 degrees in the barrel. We weren't in the 90's yet. Since the hot weather hit, the temps inside the barrel leveled off to the low 70's, while the garage temperature climbed to the mid 90's, during the heat of the day. The other day I added the foil backed hard insulation to the barrel lid.

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Can stack plastic milk crates, three high, if necessary.

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These readings are a bit skewed because the humidity is near 100% outside and I had the lid off while I was adding the powder.

72.3 degrees, inside the barrel, humidity is 73% (expect these to drop by tomorrow AM)

76.8 degrees, inside the garage, with 74% humidity.
 

creosote

Well-Known Member
Very good good planning.
I always wanted a secret passage to a room. (To many old movies)

Do you, or will you use any of the desiccant silica gel?

I use them, but probably don't need to living in the dessert.
During the winter, I add moisture to keep the nose bleeds to a minimum.
Mark
 
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Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Not planning on using any type desiccant, if I can help it. Time will tell. Researched goldenrods, have an outlet right there, but they work the best, in the lowermost horizontal position. Don't think I want to store powder, right on top, of a electric object.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Goldenrods add heat, keep the temp above the dewpoint. You don't need that, and with good cap seals and plastic powder jugs, humidity is not an issue anyway except for mold growth. A large can of dessicant (which can be renewed by heating in your kitchen oven) would be advisable to prevent mold. A protective cover for the barrel, made from 2x6s and plywood and insulated with the reflective foam panel, could also reduce the temperature. You could also cut circles out of plywood and staple plastic flowerbed edging material around the edges to make stackable trays rather than the milk crates if you need to use every available cubic inch of space. Put a wire handle on the trays so you can hook them with a garden rake and lift them out while standing, to save strain on back and knees.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
Neat idea. It may be my 20+ years of doing water damage mitigation, but I couldn't bring myself to store things underground. In fact everything in my basement is waterproofed to a foot high or more. Definitely keep the humidity below 60%rh.