Thinking about building a vertical first in first out style powder storage rack...

I am slowly building by reloading shop, and one of the things currently occupying a lot of thinking time is powder storage (and eventually primers). My current thought is to build an insulated rack similar to one for canned foods, where they powder would be loaded at the top and come out the bottom (first in first out style). This way the oldest powder gets used up first and I can very quickly see how much powder I have. The problem is that I really haven't seen anyone else use this type of storage system, not sure if it is because storing it vertically on a shelf works well enough, or is it for some other reason? Such a reason like the bottles are not strong enough to be stacked horizontally on one another?

If I end up going down this route I would probably limit the total vertical height to no more then 30 inches/8# (which ever is less). The racks would be screwed to a drywall wall, possibly with a piece of 5/8 fire rated between the rack and wall for good measure. Each rack would be specific to a brand, so I wouldn't be trying to fit a Hodgon bottle into a rack for Alliant powder.

Anyone with any words of wisdom or experience would be appreciated. I have some time (room is still missing a stud partition wall and 3/4s of the dry wall), in all reality it will probably be a winter project. But I am in Wisconsin and it is the middle of August, so winter will be here before I know it, :?. The sooner I decide on storage the sooner I can also start coming up with a plan and overall layout of the room.

That's a great idea actually...I'm guessing that when you use a powder can from the bottom....the issue maybe putting it back on the bottom to use the next time. I'd say no more than 5 cans high in the stack so you can get the bottom one...back in the bottom after use....or put a peg in the stack just above the bottom can to hold them all up until you need the next one.

I really like this idea...sorta like the old soda can vending machines where you rolled them in the top and they dispensed out the bottom.

redhawk

I use a deep shelf and rotate powder containers forward as they are used. This allows me to place partially used containers back in the front of the line, and new containers in the rear. First in, first out. I also put a label on the containers with the purchase date.

Powder bought at the local store might be fresh where as powder from an out of the way store might be a few years old. Purchase date does not necessarily indicate age.

Red Hawk, the peg idea was kind of what I was thinking. Since I will be the one loading and unloading it I will know enough to be gentle with it.

Bazoo Thanks for the insight on the powders it was already in the back of my mind. I plan on looking at the date stamps on the bottle to get close. I am not worried about the use by date for any reason other then to just rotate my powder, I doubt my shooting ability would allow me to see any real gain. Once it have it stocked the first time I would just add new stuff to the top and call it a day.

Also...with a 30" drop...to avoid splitting a plastic container open...initial loading might be best done from the bottom. then load from the top so the canisters don't drop more than 12" or so.

Like I said...I may adopt this idea too...when I retire and have the time to "revamp" the reloading area.

redhawk

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Originally Posted by redhawk0

Also...with a 30" drop...to avoid splitting a plastic container open...initial loading might be best done from the bottom. then load from the top so the canisters don't drop more than 12" or so.

Like I said...I may adopt this idea too...when I retire and have the time to "revamp" the reloading area.

redhawk

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Yup... I have no desire to drop it 30", my thoughts are to leave a slot in the front and load them one at a time and allow them to drop into my hand and then I can lower it rather then drop it. I don't plan on buying more then a couple 1# cans at a time so it should not take to long to lower them one at a time, even if its loaded I should be able to guide 3-8# of powder for the 1/2 second it take to lower it.

With different style shapes sizes of cans a flow rack might be tricky. Soup cans are generally close in size length and shape for a given size ( the 16 OZ is a 211 can size in dia) this makes the racks for soup and canned goods. A lazy susan type shelf/rack for powder might be doable. I use a sharpie and mark date purchased on the cans

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Originally Posted by country gent

With different style shapes sizes of cans a flow rack might be tricky. Soup cans are generally close in size length and shape for a given size ( the 16 OZ is a 211 can size in dia) this makes the racks for soup and canned goods. A lazy susan type shelf/rack for powder might be doable. I use a sharpie and mark date purchased on the cans

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I thought about that and would do a different style for each brand, since I would only store like powder in one "rack" it wouldn't be a ton more work. Most of the racks would be for Hodgon bottles as that is the brand I usually go with. Eventually I like to make it even easier and narrow myself down to a smaller variety of powders... but that is probably not likely any time soon. I will probably still have some horizontal shelving for the miscellaneous bottles.

For powders that I use in quantity, it makes no sense to buy a bunch of 1 lb'ers. I buy by the jug or case. Powder does not "go bad" so you are overthinking it. It might look neat...if that matters to you, but serves no practical use.

I don't buy very many cans of powder at one time, keeping on hand 2 or 3 at a time. I also mark the date I bought each can on the top and side with a label maker so I know exactly which can to use next. I also store powder in one of my wife's cast off end tables that has ample storage space on the enclosed bottom. Works for me, james

Currently, I buy 2-4# of each powder at a time and store it in a rolling locker (plastic weak sides)...but when I open a new can I put an X on the lid of the current one being used. I use up the one with the X first...then move on to one of the others in the lot.

I don't bother dating anything...I rarely have my infrequent powders last more than a 5-8 years. Frequent used powders are always within 2 years.

redhawk

I use the wine rack method instead. Pieces of wood across the front with half-moons cut in them, and multiple levels up, with open powders across the bottom and newer powder up 5 high from there. No weight on each one, and each also accessible, if needed. Works good but takes up room. I also label the ones that are open, and date of when opened. The reason I went 6 high total, is I don't stock 6 pounds, of every powder, so some I can use the same row, for powders that I only have 2 or three pounds of. I have a shelf across the top, flat, that I can store my 8 #'s, and the ones that I have more than 6 #'s of. Works pretty good, and keeps things where I can keep close track of any inventory, at a glance.

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Originally Posted by Wis Tom

I use the wine rack method instead. Pieces of wood across the front with half-moons cut in them, and multiple levels up, with open powders across the bottom and newer powder up 5 high from there. No weight on each one, and each also accessible, if needed. Works good but takes up room. I also label the ones that are open, and date of when opened. The reason I went 6 high total, is I don't stock 6 pounds, of every powder, so some I can use the same row, for powders that I only have 2 or three pounds of. I have a shelf across the top, flat, that I can store my 8 #'s, and the ones that I have more than 6 #'s of. Works pretty good, and keeps things where I can keep close track of any inventory, at a glance.

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The wine rack was another method I have thought about. I have a variety of 1# bottles, a couple 4s and 8s. I started reloading in 2009, so for a long time if I saw powder I could use I would buy it, regardless of size (it was a probably close to a year before any 8s where even available). Now it is also a lot easier to add a pound of powder to the shopping cart then a 4/8...wife notices those quicker lol. I have also picked up quite a few 1# bottles from a few estate sales in the last year or so. I may end up doing a combination of wine rack style vs can rack, use the can racks for the powder with multiples and the wine rack set up for the random 1 or 2 pounds.

Do not worry about the age of powder and primers. I have and am using powder and primers that I bought 55 years ago. When I moved out of the country, I left them stored in the worst of conditions (high heat and humidity). I resumed reloading 15 years ago after I retired and built a house. Not a single problem with any of the old powder and primers.

I've always stored reloading stuff in a locked cabinet in my garage though I keep primers in ziplocks. Haven't had any issues yet.

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Originally Posted by guywitha3006

I am slowly building by reloading shop, and one of the things currently occupying a lot of thinking time is powder storage (and eventually primers).

>>>SNIP

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I assume you do NOT mean a commercial shop? if you do, this would be quite important...and it is somewhat important even if it's just a private shop in your private residence (for insurance purposes), especially if you will be storing more than 20 lbs.

I recommend looking over this entire PDF
https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads...ess-Powder.pdf
But I will cut-n-paste the most important part...

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11-3.7
Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities
not exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in original
containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg), but not
exceeding 50 lb. (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness.

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And now to Primers...
https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads...oc-Primers.pdf

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11-5.4
No more than 10,000 small arms primers may be
stored in residences.

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Please do NOT ask me what I think of 11-5.4

JonB, this is all for personal use (when I say shop I mean the walled off area in my basement for guns/reloading stuff). I have seen the recommended storage but all my powders and primers have lived on shelves up until now, the thought behind this project is really more for organization, so I can see what I have with a quick glance (and keep the kids away from it) Being in the basement if a fire burns down that far, the house was gone anyways. I may still make a 1" or thicker shell or cabinet to go around the shelves, but I don't know yet. Whoever came up with the 20#/50#/10,000 primers probably wasn't anyone that shot in in quantity, if at all. Other then the actual wiring causing a fire, there is not much down there; I have a small lathe in the corner (concrete on 2 walls and fire rated drywall and foam on the third). The electrical circuits that run through the walls are arc fault protected circuits to minimize the chance wires over heating.

On a side note, did I read that right that at the very most you could have would be 50# or is that 50#/ cabinet?

For my own purposes, I read it as max 50 lbs per residence.
I am not about to interpret SAAMI specs for anyone else.