powder that might be too moist

[spclark]

Any kind of propellant + microwave appliance 'processing' will get you a Darwin Award.

Alternative plan:

Buy yourself a 5-gallon 'big box' bucket & lid and a package of DampRid.

Open your 1 lb. containers of 'too moist' powder and DampRid, then place both into the bucket. Seal with the bucket lid.

(And if by reading this you think I mean to have you dump both propellant and dessicant into that bucket - together - there's nothing more I can add to this saga....)

Three or four days left undisturbed ought to do the trick. 8#'rs may take ten to fourteen days.

 

[dickn52]

I am not sure if powder absorbs moisture all that well, but I could be wrong. I once had a useless amount of powder left over, so I tossed it in the toilet and was going to flush it. I let it sit for quite a while, but it kept floating, not really seeming to get darker or heavier and sinking. Maybe that does not tell much, I don't know.

Danny

Probably correct. I threw a lot of it into the front yard as a fertilizer. It took a week before it broke down with water everyday. Grass loved it though.

 

[danny]

Probably correct. I threw a lot of it into the front yard as a fertilizer. It took a week before it broke down with water everyday. Grass loved it though.

Normally I toss any in the yard, too, but this was in the dead of winter, late at night, during subzero temps. I really didn't want to be going outside.

Danny

 

[AckleymanII]

My tanerite got wet in the flood in La, microwave is ok. How about microwave the tanerite to day it out?

 

[swd]

I have seen warnings about vacuuming powder, as well.

Danny

I don't know about powder but I can confirm primers will ignite from static in a vaccuum. And if the primers go off in same vicinity as powder in the vaccuum, well you may need a new vaccuum if not a new house...

 

[JohnKielly]

Yes,
Believe it or not.

Danny

I was referring to the possible status of the john.

 

[bench]

How will you check the FPS of the microwave

 

[noylj]

Just a note: We have been reloading smokeless powder for well over 100 years and moisture absorption has never been a problem. I have known folks who keep their presses set-up continuously, with powder in the measure, and never had a problem. If they are OK, your powder, in the powder company's jug, will be OK.
Finally, if you do have a worry--contact the powder company and talk to them. They know virtually everything about their powder.

 

[rardoin]

Yes,
Believe it or not.

Danny

That explains why it did not get darker...at least.

 

[rardoin]

How will you check the FPS of the microwave

No problem if it is an Amana labRadarRange

 

[sundance]

In 2 Precision Shooting magazines in 2011 there was a question about getting humidity in your powder. One cause is leaving powder in your powder measure overnight as power is hygroscopic . Powder uses energy to burn off the water and that takes away energy from pushing your bullet out of the case. The speaker was a retired gentleman who worked for 30 years in a gunpowder manufacturing plant (unnamed). He forgot mention a microwave in the article.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Could you just add a dryer sheet to the jug of powder?

http://downy.com/en-us?

 

[JeffinVAB]

Just a note: We have been reloading smokeless powder for well over 100 years and moisture absorption has never been a problem. ...

Good grief, how OLD are you? I thought I was the old man here.

 

[BillPa]

Could you just add a dryer sheet to the jug of powder?

A silica packet or two would be a better choice.

 

[wapiti25]

The "cook off" temp is about 400* for powder. Just for general info, I was involved in an accident investigation involving ammunition and a hot gun.

 

[joshb]

Could you just add a dryer sheet to the jug of powder?

http://downy.com/en-us?

Only if you want it to smell "April fresh"! Does nothing for moisture.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Only if you want it to smell "April fresh"! Does nothing for moisture.

You would think that with the word Dryer in the name, it dried things. So much for truth in advertising then . . . . .