just read about burn rate variation if powder(propellant) gets too moist. i keep my containers tightly closed being i live in a high humidity part of the USA. if one suspects a powder is too moist(factory moisture is .5-1.5% or slightly more) can you microwave small batches to drive the water off? i can hear some yelling "you will blow yourself up", but i'm not sure the temp increase reaches the temp of combustion. i have used a desiccant material(a dehydrating product used to dehydrate flowers) that has color coded beads that let you know moisture absorption is maxed out and you restore it by microwaving and the beads do get quite warm. i'm sure there is info on temp required to ignite "gunpowder" at room temperature. anybody tried this?
powder that might be too moist
- Thread starter lpreddick
- Start date
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
The typical home is air conditioned. The system removes humidity. Check your homes humidity before you get worried. You could also run a portable unit in a room, get the humidity down and spread out your powder on cookie sheets. I have a wood shop that's in a basement. I have a dehumidifier running 24/7 so my wood stays stable. I've brought in wood from "stores" and had it shrink in my shop due to loss of moisture content. Stay away from the microwave unless your wife wants a new kitchen.
Put the desiccant packs into the microwave to dry them out. Then put the desiccant packs in your powder jug. Repeat as needed.
Please don't put powder in your microwave.
Please don't put powder in your microwave.
It's just generally a bad idea to put something like gun powder in the microwave because it does not heat evenly and you can get hot spots. Of course, if for whatever reason there is any metal in there it will arc and...
The adage "just because you can does not mean you should" applies here. There are lots of other better way to dry gun powder without resorting to this...
The adage "just because you can does not mean you should" applies here. There are lots of other better way to dry gun powder without resorting to this...
Toolbreaker
Gold $$ Contributor
Before resorting to other means, try weighing a quantity of powder on a sensitive scale, then seal that powder in a jug with a desiccant pack for 24 hours. Re-weigh and see how much loss you've recorded as a percentage. A simple desiccant pack may get you right where you want to be.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
Microwave my gun powder?
Now that is something that I have not tried!
Now that is something that I have not tried!
I think you are correct, this would almost certainly result in a change in weight. However, knowing what the percent moisture actually is would be difficult.
I dont think we can work with the moisture content variable too much. With water having a density of 1 and powder having a density of much less than 1, maybe even less than 0.5, a little moisture will add a lot of weight to your charge. However, since we are loading a batch of rounds at one time, they will be a consistent powder volume and weight and shoot to the same POI. Load some a year later with that same powder batch and it is pretty surely to have a different velocity and POI, if only very slight.
Sir, never ever microwave your gunpowder. This is a completely unsafe thing to do. Put it on a cookie sheet and let it dry out in the house that is air-conditioned/de-humidified. I was just talking to a guy last weekend at a trap shoot that got a batch of really wet 700X powder and he had to do that. We live in California so it's fairly dry here and all it took was 24 hours. So, adjust your time on a cookie sheet.
I sometimes dry things by playing the soft flame from my propane torch over the item. And, when I wash my BBQ grates, I dry them over the gas flame of the BBQ grill so they don't rust. I kinda' like the spice of danger, but I imagine you will be saying I shouldn't dry gunpowder with either of these methods. Right?
Which may be why you can still type here.
Nope, you go right ahead. Tell your family I'd like first dibs on anything left over after the fires.
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
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
Danny
No s***?
I put mine in a cookie pan and dry it with a blow torch . Joking
If you have air conditioner put in a pan and let the condition air dry it . Larry
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.