Powder storage project

[Terry C.]

Here's something that's related to cannon shooting, so I thought I'd share it in case someone else might want to build one of these.

This is not intended as a box for transporting  prepared charges to the field, it is strictly a storage for bulk powder in the original containers.

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I've always kept the opened cans of back powder that I'm using in a .50 caliber ammo box. Unopened cans are kept in a much bigger metal box that doesn't get moved around.

To take up the extra space in the smaller box, I padded the sides and bottom of the box with a course fibrous padding used for shipping. Not knowing exactly what it was made of, I always worried about it being a possible source of static, but it was better than letting the cans bang around inside the metal box.

I finally got around to building a wood liner for the box.

The liner is constructed out of ¼" and ½" birch plywood.

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The bottom of the metal box is not flat, so the bottom of the liner had to accommodate the shape. The small nails are showing here to illustrate the construction, but were covered with tape to prevent them from rubbing against the metal box when the liner was inserted.

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The liner will hold up to five 1-pound Goex cans in separate compartments. The partitions are removable so that it can hold other container shapes if necessary.

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A piece of the ¼" plywood is attached to the lid by two-sided carpet tape. This stuff is super-sticky and will hold the liner to the lid without any other fasteners. Like the bottom, the inside of the lid is not flat so I had to glue spacer strips to the plywood for the tape to stick to.

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Here is the finished box, loaded with powder cans.

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I used to have some makeshift labels (black marker on masking tape) on the box, but I removed them. I will print some new labels more fitting to this improved powder box. They will be a variation of this label that I found online.

[Powder keg]

Very clever Terry :-)  Great another project :wink: Thanks for sharing.

[Evil Dog]

I like it !!!!  Gonna have to make one.... project # 3,572..... now working on project #17.... gotta get more organized.

[Terry C.]

Okay, opinions needed.

I have the stuff to print the labels. They will be printed on Avery full-sheet label stock, cut to size, then covered with a sticky laminating sheet (the lam will overlap the edges of the label, sealing out moisture). When I was building remote-control logging equipment, I made labels for the controllers this way and they held up really well.

The labels will measure roughly 6" x 6" and will be placed on both sides of the box.

I have several designs made, but I would like a consensus on which way I should proceed.

This first image replicates the shipping placard for black powder and other explosives of this class:

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Since this is NOT a shipping container, I considered a simplified label using the standard explosives placard, but without the class designation:

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So what do you guys think? Should I go with the first design or the second, or something in between?

[GGaskill]

I would go with the "Black Powder" labels.  In fact, I think I would simply label the can "Black Powder" and not link explosives to it.  No idea what kind of ignoramus might encounter it and the less official mis-response, the better.

Here in the California SSR, it's against the law to have more than one pound of black powder in a vehicle.

[Cpt Ed]

I vote for #2 design, BLACK POWDER.   :grin:

[Terry C.]

Here are the labels that I printed.

Making these labels is easy, and they hold up really well on metal surfaces. I cut the clear laminating sheet so that it overlaps the edges of the paper and seals out moisture.

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To make labels like this you need:

Avery full-sheet inkjet labels (8165)
Avery self adhesive laminating sheets
A color inkjet printer (duh!)

After you have printed your label and cut it to size, peel off the backing and set it aside in a way that it does not accidentally get stuck on anything. Peeling it before laminating it is the trick to getting a professional application.

Pull back the laminating sheet and stick the label to the backing. It won't stick to the slick backing paper very well, but it will stick good enough to stay in place while you cover it with the lam. Lay the laminating sheet back over the label and rub it out smooth.

Cut the laminating sheet labout ¼" beyond the edge of the paper label.

Since you peeled the label before laminating it, then all you have to do is peel the back of the laminating sheet and the label will come off in one sticky piece.