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Post by springfieldxdm on Jul 25, 2014 20:26:43 GMT -5
My family is getting ready to move to another home. My current reloading room is in a nice finished part of the basement. It's heated and cooled has nice paint and all that jazz. Where we are looking at relocating across town the house is just right but with my expanding family my reloading room will get bumped out of the house.
I have two choices either go to the attached garage which has room but will have frequent visitors (little boys) or I can move out in the large shop building. All of my equipment still looks brand new and that's something I take pride in. Since neither of these locations are heated and cooled and I live in a humid location, what can I expect my presses and benches to look like after a little while?. Any tips or tricks from you guys that are already loading in the garage or outbuildings? As much money as I have invested in presses and equipment it's really gonna cause me to rethink all this if my stuff starts rusting. Also do those who use these outside location store your powder and primers out there too? I have an old 1950's kelvinator fridge that dosn't work and that's where I currently keep my stock, so was thinking about using that to help prevent wild temp swings.
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Post by krwada on Jul 25, 2014 22:04:06 GMT -5
An old unused fridge is an excellent place to store your components. Just make sure the latch is properly disabled, or that it has one of those magnetic doors like the newer ones and you are good to go.
I reload out in the garage. It is like a sauna sometimes there.
Also; If you keep the ram and other exposed metal parts properly lubed, you will not have any problems with rust.
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050 
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Jul 26, 2014 5:57:15 GMT -5
Actually, the best solution would be to put the children in the garage or the unattached shop. If they're young enough, they won't know the difference, and it will make them stronger...
Ken's right about the fridge. I have an older freezer in my basement that is due to be replaced the next time I don't squander the grocery money on components. The beauty of it is that it has a lock-not real high security, but would keep most little (and big) fingers out of the stuff. I am thinking about cutting a hole in the top and putting some plywood over it to provide a vent in case of fire. Ken, any thoughts on that ?
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Jul 26, 2014 8:33:10 GMT -5
Pooh: What is a lock-not? I suggest a hole in the side rather than the top as it is too easy to put stuff on the top there by defeating the vent. Modifing the door latch would be my first thought as it would be the easiest. If security is an issue a short length of chain that will allow the the door to open slightly(it doesn't take much to releieve the pressure), but not enough for a hand to get in, bolted to the sides and locked conviently would work. Basicly anything that will allow a release of pressure,should the need arise, will work.
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Post by springfieldxdm on Jul 26, 2014 9:20:40 GMT -5
As a little boy I played in my grandfather's reloading room. We scavenged powders for setting fire to GI joes and would play with primers and may or may not have put them back in the right box. Shortly after he caught us we had our first reloading course to understand the possible dangers in what we had done, I think I was 7-8 at the time. My boys are 3 and 5 and except for the severe threat of daddy beating them, I'd rather have a more secure method of keeping things safe. The old fridge I use is an old 1950's kelvinator, it's big and round and absolutely stunning. A few years ago I had all the chrome replated and painted it a ruby red with base coat clear coat. To address the pressure which I had already considered I took a hole saw and cut 4 or 5 one inch holes in the back. I also created a locking pin buy drilling a hole in the top of the door that can't be seen and drop in a 2 ft metal rod that effectively locks the door. It's a pain to get at and very few people besides myself know where its at so I feel comfortable with that.
Lubing up the equipment to prevent rust I can deal with. What about the temp swings on componets? I would assume 0 degrees in the winter to about 110 in the summer. Any dangers in keeping the primers and powder in the fridge set up? Or should I beg to keep then in the house. I do keep a fairly large amount of powder and primers on hand and don't want to risk problems with it. All are sealed in factory packaging. I don't seal them in cans or anything as I usually use them in about a 2-5 year rotation. Thanks in advance for your input.
Shelby
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Post by krwada on Jul 26, 2014 10:15:47 GMT -5
One more thing... Do not store primers and powder in the same cabinet. All reloading companies say this. This is excellent advice.
Anyhow, it looks like you have things in pretty good order. And no ... the temperature swings will not degrade your components. Mostly, you need to make sure the stuff is kept relatively dry. Also, you do not need to concern yourself with keeping things really dry. In other words, I do not think you need to install a dry-rod. And ESPECIALLY ... stay away from products like Damp-Rid. Damp-Rid will ruin all your components!
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Jul 26, 2014 10:48:01 GMT -5
Bob, your question, "what is a lock-not" sounds like one of those imponderables a college professor throws out when he's run out of material half way through the class ! 8-)Good point on the vent-although where ever it is requires some discipline to keep it/them clear. The lock is frosting on the cake-and it's there, even though my fierce cats are always watching over my powder supply.
Ken, I agree with you, but I'd suggest that what we're trying to do is maintain as constant a moisture content in components as is reasonably possible. Part of the process of making primers, for example, is drying them out to some particular level, known only to guys with pocket protectors. We keep powder in more or less air-tight containers for pretty much the same reason. I still think it would be easier to store the children elsewhere-they seem to survive variations in humidity pretty well. |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Jul 26, 2014 17:02:16 GMT -5
Pooh: If you can,just put a magnetic latch on the door then you won't need a hole. A short loose chain will allow the door to open slightly and vent yet still keep unwanteds out. As for seperate storage of primers and powder does this mean we can't put powder or primers in a cartridge unitll we're outside and ready to shoot. I think the companies say don't just 'cause they're worried about lawyers or idiots. Primers are relatively inert unless struck quite hard. This is demonstrated by no Hazz-mat fee required. This maybe a carry over from blasting caps,which can be more sensitive, and blasting agent. I don't store mine together either but it is not out of concern for unintended detonation. Normal good housekeeping and common sense will prevent any problems. As an aside about the house keeping, durning my carreer as a firefighter, in almost all residential structure fires I went to the kitchen was a mess whether it was involved or not. As a disclaimer I don't advocate storing them together either.
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My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
