BP winter temperature storage

Etienne Brule · December 9, 2009, 08:07 PM

Hi,

Since a few weeks,I have about 25 pounds of black powder in the house...

I am thinking to take all that stuff in an outside shed: but the temperture will go down to 10*F in January.

What do you think? is it too cold to keep the BP in good shape ??

Great forum !

Best regards.

Etienne Brule

B.L.E. · December 9, 2009, 09:02 PM

It won't affect black powder one bit. Some people even store it in the freezer.

**4V50 Gary** · December 9, 2009, 09:39 PM

It's not the temperature, it's how dry it is.

B.L.E. · December 9, 2009, 09:59 PM

Black powder is a mixture of three very simple and stable ingredients.
Charcoal lasts forever
Sulfur lasts forever
Saltpeter lasts forever
Therefore, black powder pretty near lasts forever as long as it is kept dry.

I have an old can of Goex ffffg from the old Dupont mill in Pennsylvania that still goes off like it was new.

jimbob86 · December 9, 2009, 10:04 PM

It is moisture that must be avoided...... and wide temp. swings can cause condensation of humidity in the air.....

Water is the closest thing to a Universal Solvent......

kflach · December 10, 2009, 02:07 PM

What do I think?

You need to move to someplace warmer. For your sake, not the powders' sake.

<grin>

roklok · December 10, 2009, 07:07 PM

I have black powder stored in an outbuilding, it gets down to -60 here in the winter. Have had no problems yet.

long rider · December 10, 2009, 07:35 PM

25 pounds of bp

.
I wish i could have 25 pounds, gee.

long rider · December 10, 2009, 07:36 PM

I will add to that , send it to me, i live in arizona
its nice and warm and dry.

Etienne Brule · December 10, 2009, 09:02 PM

Well,

Very happy with your answers. Great !! Thank you everybody.

Etienne Brule

in the snow of Quebec...

Etienne Brule · December 10, 2009, 09:10 PM

ROKLOK,

-60 * grrrr ... Well You are the best reference up to now...

Best regards

Andy Griffith · December 12, 2009, 10:24 PM

Btw...

If black powder does get wet, simply allow it to air dry and it is ready to go again.

Trappers and mountain men would simply pour their wet powder out on a rock and let the sunshine dry out their powder if it ever got damp or wet from fording streams or being in the rain. So long as the wet powder isn't crushed or stirred, it'll be just fine. Most people always seem to leave out this important virtue of the "holy black."

B.L.E. · December 12, 2009, 11:30 PM

As a matter of fact, the black powder you buy was wet at some point of its manufacture.

December 9, 2009, 08:07 PM	#1
Etienne Brule Junior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 9	BP winter temperature storage Hi, Since a few weeks,I have about 25 pounds of black powder in the house... I am thinking to take all that stuff in an outside shed: but the temperture will go down to 10*F in January. What do you think? is it too cold to keep the BP in good shape ?? Great forum ! Best regards. Etienne Brule

December 9, 2009, 09:39 PM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	It's not the temperature, it's how dry it is. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 10, 2009, 07:35 PM	#8
long rider Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 669	25 pounds of bp. I wish i could have 25 pounds, gee. __________________ Sod Buster Tried To Pull On Willson.

December 10, 2009, 07:36 PM	#9
long rider Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 669	I will add to that , send it to me, i live in arizona its nice and warm and dry. __________________ Sod Buster Tried To Pull On Willson.

December 12, 2009, 10:24 PM	#12
Andy Griffith Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Macon Co. NC Posts: 591	Btw... If black powder does get wet, simply allow it to air dry and it is ready to go again. Trappers and mountain men would simply pour their wet powder out on a rock and let the sunshine dry out their powder if it ever got damp or wet from fording streams or being in the rain. So long as the wet powder isn't crushed or stirred, it'll be just fine. Most people always seem to leave out this important virtue of the "holy black." __________________ Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...."

December 9, 2009, 09:02 PM	#2
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	It won't affect black powder one bit. Some people even store it in the freezer.

December 9, 2009, 09:59 PM	#4
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	Black powder is a mixture of three very simple and stable ingredients. Charcoal lasts forever Sulfur lasts forever Saltpeter lasts forever Therefore, black powder pretty near lasts forever as long as it is kept dry. I have an old can of Goex ffffg from the old Dupont mill in Pennsylvania that still goes off like it was new.

December 9, 2009, 10:04 PM	#5
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	It is moisture that must be avoided...... and wide temp. swings can cause condensation of humidity in the air..... Water is the closest thing to a Universal Solvent......

December 10, 2009, 02:07 PM	#6
kflach Registration in progress Join Date: July 15, 2009 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 99	What do I think? You need to move to someplace warmer. For your sake, not the powders' sake. <grin>

December 10, 2009, 07:07 PM	#7
roklok Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2008 Location: Fort Yukon, Alaska Posts: 735	I have black powder stored in an outbuilding, it gets down to -60 here in the winter. Have had no problems yet.

December 10, 2009, 09:02 PM	#10
Etienne Brule Junior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 9	Well, Very happy with your answers. Great !! Thank you everybody. Etienne Brule in the snow of Quebec...

December 10, 2009, 09:10 PM	#11
Etienne Brule Junior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 9	ROKLOK, -60 * grrrr ... Well You are the best reference up to now... Best regards

December 12, 2009, 11:30 PM	#13
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	As a matter of fact, the black powder you buy was wet at some point of its manufacture.