BP winter temperature storage

[Etienne Brule]

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.]

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

[4V50 Gary]

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

[B.L.E.]

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]

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]

What do I think?

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

<grin>

[roklok]

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

[long rider]

25 pounds of bp:eek:.
I wish i could have 25 pounds, gee.:rolleyes:

[long rider]

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

[Etienne Brule]

Well,

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

Etienne Brule

in the snow of Quebec...

[Etienne Brule]

ROKLOK,

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

Best regards

[Andy Griffith]

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.]

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