Fridge for storage?

[TrxR]

Anyone here use a fridge to store there ammo and powder in? If so do you use a running one or a old non functioning one? Do you allso use some sort of dehumidifier in it?

Thanks

 

[pirate ammo]

Do you allso use some sort of dehumidifier in it?

moisture is your enemy.

 

[Dgd6mm]

An unplugged one I assume. Oh no, I said assume.

 

[TrxR]

I was thinking unplugged . I seem to remember welders storing welding rods in old refrigerators

 

[bigstick6017555]

A fridge with a heat stick, you can not beat it, except for security (fire/theft)

 

[Willie]

I use an old upright freezer to store primers and loaded rounds. At least, it prevents major temperature extremes that helps prevent condensation, or so I hope. Lot's of primers 20+ years old that still shoot fine.

I would think 8# jugs would be difficult to fit in most, but 1# cans would work fine, depends if shelves are adjustable. Should be fine to give more consistent humidity level storage.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Golden Rod to prevent humidity forming. Been thinking about the the same thing. Upright freezer would do the trick.

 

[muleman69]

Been using a up right frig for 16 years for powder with no problems and no humidifier. It has been inside an insulated building, not a speck of rust

 

[muleman69]

I was thinking unplugged . I seem to remember welders storing welding rods in old refrigerators

Great place to store welding rods

 

[Kurz]

I have a set of three which came out of a grocery store being remodeled. Full front glass doors, I use these for rust bluing. Then I have three more full size freezers which I use for storing powder and primers, separately, of course. All are decommissioned and have humidity control.

 

[Larryh128]

A low power like 15 watt light bulb in it takes care of moisture.

 

[Daddymac]

If it is old enough to have metal panels on the inside, do not use it for storage, make a smoker out of it, they are the best.

 

[watercam]

FWIW Federal standards for powder storage dictate the storage vessel have non-metalic (plywood usually) lining inside and the ability to easily vent pressure (ie - no latches). Needs to be able to vent internal pressure from burning powder. No idea how the plastic lining of freezers and fridges would come into play.
Black powder is limited to 25 Ibs. and can not be stored in the same vessel as primers and/or smokeless powder.
ATF has full and complete regulations related. Non-compliant storage will apparently void your home owners insurance in the event of a fire.

 

[284winner]

Anyone here use a fridge to store there ammo and powder in? If so do you use a running one or a old non functioning one? Do you allso use some sort of dehumidifier in it?

Thanks

No, but always thought an upright freezer or fridge would be a helluva good gun safe. Nobody would think to steal guns from a fridge or freezer. In fact, how many even get opened up during a home break in ? Guess you'd never know unless items were taken from one. Just a thought. The Son and I were talking about that the other day.

 

[Texas10]

Refrigerators are natural de-humidifiers when operating. I intend to buy a small one and set the temp to something around 40 to 45 degrees. Not too cold, but enough to keep things dry enough to store supplies in.

Once upon a time my shop was visited by the Fire Dept, and Code Enforcement. All my painting supplies were stored in an operating refrigerator. They initially protested saying it didn't conform to code. I responded that my paints, mostly polyester enamels required refrigeration, or the shelf life would drop to mere days in the summer heat, not to mention the fact that being cold, lowered the likely hood of fire anyway. Plus the fact that no one makes an official Flammables Cabinet that also refrigerates. That satisfied them and they left without writing me a ticket.

 

[ebb]

It might just be me but a bunch of gunpowder in a sealed up metal box kinda sounds like a bomb. Then there is that southern red neck thing that I am trying to overcome, cars in the yard jacked up on concrete blocks and old none working refrigerators, lots of dogs living under the front porch.

 

[dsculley]

"ATF has full and complete regulations related. Non-compliant storage will apparently void your home owners insurance in the event of a fire."

This from the ATF website:
Is smokeless powder designed for use in small arms ammunition subject to the explosives storage requirements?
Smokeless powders designed for use in small arms ammunition are exempt from regulation under 18 U.S.C. Chapter 40 and the regulations in 27 CFR Part 555. Packaging that readily identifies the smokeless powder as being designed for use in small arms ammunition may help in determining whether it is entitled to the exemption. Smokeless powder designed for use other than in small arms ammunition, and explosive products such as squibs, fireworks, theatrical special effects, or other articles that may contain smokeless powders, are regulated and must be stored pursuant to the regulations at 27 CFR 555, Subpart K – Storage.

It should be noted that persons engaged in the business of importing or manufacturing smokeless powder designed for any use must have a Federal explosives license. Further, importers of smokeless powder designed for use in small arms ammunition must also possess an ATF firearms importers license (Type 08 or 11); must register with ATF under the provisions of the Arms Export Control Act; and must submit (to ATF) and receive an approved ATF Form 6 – part I (5330.3A), Application and Permit for Importation of Firearms Ammunition and Implements of War.


So, based on this store your powder as you wish. I too use an old refrigerator. Primers are in the freezer compartment, powder in the fridge. I believe that if there were a fire and pressure did build up in the fridge the magnetic seal would allow the door to open. Smokeless powder is not explosive, it simply burns fast when under pressure.

 

[DACthebiker]

I turned my dad's old deep freeze into my gun safe back in 2014. The compressor had burned out so we gutted the copper and then lined the walls with cedar flooring and made racks. Was pretty good looking inside and out. I never had any rust or moisture problems with it either. I kept my powder and primers in there too.

 

[theallcineyes]

I reload in my garage, too. My garage doesn't get that hot in the summer, thanks to the concrete floor, but the humidity can build up. The solution to the humidity problem turned out to be sealing my garage door (duct tape worked on the small cracks) and carefully and purchasing a de-humidifer that was much larger than the required space demands.

 

[mikehotel]

My old boss kept an old refrigerator for welding rods. He hard wired a 10 or 15 watt bulb in it to stay on all the time. Never had a problem with moisture damaged welding rods.