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Author Topic: Old Powder Cans  (Read 886 times)

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Offline ironball

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Old Powder Cans
« on: December 30, 2011, 07:47:39 AM »
Hi guys. I left several cans of FFg powder out in the shed for about 10 years. They are mostly OK, but some are rusted around the bottom. The problem is the twist off caps are stuck on pretty tight. Is there any danger of a metal against metal spark if I use pliers or vice grips to get them off? What about using a can opener to pop a couple of holes so I can dump the powder out. Someone here has probably had the same problem. Any advice?
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2011, 08:43:06 AM »
I had some cans that rusted, and when I went to open them the tops tore off. Powder was fine tho. I'ld say just be careful not to cut yourself on the rusty edges if the can does come apart.
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Offline keith44

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2011, 05:55:38 AM »
Ok first that is not proper powder storage!! (you can now say you have been fussed at and will never do it again  ;)  )


I would use side cut pliers or heavy wire cutters and split the caps enough to tear them off with slip joint pliers.  Before you do though, have a container to dump the cans into.  Be sure you do not use plastic to store the powder in due to the possible sparking from static.
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2011, 06:37:16 AM »
I had some powder that had been stored in a less than ideal location. The powder was good and shoots fine.
 
There shouldn't be a problem using pliers to twist off the caps, just be carefull and don't be in a hurry. If the powder looks good, go to the paint store and get some clean 1 qurat paint cans to store the powder...you should be able to get righ around 2 lbs of powder per can. The cans can be easily resealed and the powder tranfered as needed.
 
The powder is best stored in a cool dry (low humidity) location, where there are not a lot of temperature swings...you want the temperature to be rather stable.
 
Listen to Keith44...he's in the know.
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2011, 06:43:15 AM »
Another suggestion:
 
Go down to the nearest army surplus store and see if they have one of those big M548 Ammo Cans...the big ones that they use for the .50BMG ammo. Those make excellent powder vaults, they meet OSHIA Standards and they're actually not very expensive. That's where I store my balck powder.
 
Then store it in a cool dry place where the temperature is stable.  8)
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“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
Henry Frap the "Mountain Men"

“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
Del Gue in "Jeremiah Johnson"

Offline ironball

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2011, 09:45:50 AM »
Thanks, guys, I have some .50 cal ammo cans. The problem is the only temp. stable place is inside the house, and I'm not too fond of keeping more than a pound or 2 indoors. So I really don't know what else to do. Right now, I just need to get the powder out of the rusty cans.
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2011, 10:34:09 AM »
Blackpowder doesn't give a flip about temperature stability. The only thing that really bothers it is getting wet, if it does, just dry it out, and all is well again.
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2011, 10:47:23 AM »
If blackpowder is improperly stored over a long period of time...with fluctuating temperatures...it will clump together and if you look real close you'll see very small white crystals. That is the Saltpeter coming out of the formulation.
 
The clumps will most likely be easy to break up, shake the container and they will come apart; but the improperly stored powder will not be as effective as powder that was stored properly.
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“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
Henry Frap the "Mountain Men"

“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
Del Gue in "Jeremiah Johnson"

Offline Ranch13

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2011, 11:00:34 AM »
Have seen and shot powder from the 1880's, that was in a powder horn hung in a barn..... didn't see anything anywhere close to what you describe.
 Have stored blackpowder in an unheated, uninsulated shed for years, stuff is still just as good as it was the day it was new.
 Guess your experience and mine are somewhat different?
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Offline ironball

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2011, 12:19:00 PM »
I'm sure the powder is OK, but the main problem is the steel cans. They obviously didn't like the humidity of the last 10 summers. They were in the cardboard shipping container they came in. That probably didn't help them.
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2011, 12:23:34 PM »
Shouldn't be a problem. I hope that it all works out for you.  8)
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“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
Henry Frap the "Mountain Men"

“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
Del Gue in "Jeremiah Johnson"

Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2011, 05:18:58 PM »
I wouldn't worry about a static spark setting off the powder.  Years ago some of the guys on MLML tried to set of black powder with a spark from a spark plug, even that didn't fire it off.  I don't think that temperature bothers the Holy Black, moisture will.  I wouldn't argue with RHI, but that saltpeter could be leaching out from condensation inside the can rather than temperature changes.

Have a Happy New Year!  I expect to hear lots of blank loads being fired tonight....  ;D

-WH-
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Offline ironball

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2012, 12:09:50 PM »
Well, here's the update.
 
Yes, there was some noise here the night of my last post on this thread. All intentional.  ;D
 
Working outdoors, I used my old Black and Decker Workmate portable bench as a vise to loosly hold the cans, and used a small pipe wrench to remove the caps that I couldn't get off with my gloved hands. None of them came apart. Yes, I was being carefull.
 
I poured the powder into empty paint cans. I put 9 pounds into 4 one quart cans. There was 1 or 2 small clumps in each can that I broke up with my fingers. Everything looked good. I used a small brush to get a few granules out of the lips, and tapped the lids on with the butt of a screwdriver. Everything went into the .50 cal. ammo boxes. I'll transfer the powder as needed to the few non rusty cans I had inside the house.
 
Thanks everyone, for all the good advice. I'll shoot it all up plinking, and in my mortars. I'll use fresh powder for my serious shooting.
 
It's time to watch the Stupor Bowl.
 
Later!
 
 
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2012, 01:58:29 PM »
There's no danger in storing powder in it's cans in the house.  Gun powder is safer than the gasoline in your car that's in the garage..
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Offline alleyyooper

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #14 on: February 06, 2012, 03:07:48 AM »
Where did the don't store powder in plastic jugs come from?
That is all I have seen it sold in in several years ROUND space wasting plastiac jugs.
Clean out some old oil bottles, dry them good and dump the powder in them when the bottles dry out. You can make labels on the putter of what is in them or use a sharpie to mark them.
 ;D   Al
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #15 on: February 06, 2012, 03:35:37 AM »
Some people still believe static can't ignite blackpowder.  I believe that's where the idea of not using plastic jugs came from.
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"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

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Offline DANNY-L

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #16 on: February 06, 2012, 05:07:44 AM »
You could have put a rag over the cap to avoid metal to metal contact and use pliers.
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Offline Cuts Crooked

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Re: Old Powder Cans
« Reply #17 on: February 07, 2012, 02:35:15 PM »
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