Have accumulated plenty of smokeless and blackpowder over the past several years and decided to build a dedicated powder box for several reasons, rather than the method I had used before.
One recent incident was a total loss house fire of a long time reloader I know. Without a lot of details known to me, the fire started in a closet that had some powder stored away and apparently started by a high intensity flashlight. Thats all the info. about that. Had me thinking about my storage of reloading supplies. I have a detached shop for all my reloading stuff,but it's still close to my home. Anyhow stuff happens.

Built box from materials from Home Depot for under $100.00

Inside box measurements; 26" long, 18" deep, 24" high.

one sheet 1 1/8" plywood on sale $38.00, with 4 steel casters,
1 piano hinge, 2 handles, misc. 2" screws, 4' light weight chain.

Already had a bunch spray paint and downloaded warning decals from 'puter
and misc. materials.

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The box is nice but I really like the coat on your reloading buddy.

she has to be included on everything.

Mine is a lot smaller

Well it is nice to see that I am not the only one who thinks about things like that. I recovered some 5/8 drywall from a dumpster at a local construction site. I also have a few pallets laying around, so together I think I will also put a powder magazine together. I already have a base with casters already on it, but I'm not sure if it is big enough. I sure do like the photos of your creation, Well done.

So what's the theory behind storing solid flammable in a wooden box ?

Line it with dry wall. The idea is that should a fire start, outside of the box, it will take longer for the fire to reach the powder than it will take the fire Dept to control the fire. This is why gun safes are lined with drywall.

TO BE QUITE HONEST, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOME FIREPROOFING MY SELF. PERHAPS METAL ON THE OUTSIDE, FLAMEPROOF INSULATION, THEN THE WOODEN BOX, AGAIN LINED WITH METAL. THAT'S JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD…..

I'M THINKING OF SOME PREVENTION FROM SETTING OFF THE POWDER, IN CASE THERE IS A FIRE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS WITH THE SAFE. STORAGE OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF AMMO. ONE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME RESEARCH. THIS MAGAZINE DOES OFFER SOME LEVEL OF PROTECTION, HOWEVER, AND THE OP DID A GREAT JOB, FOR WHAT IT IS…….

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

You might want to talk with your insurance agent. I could be all wet but I have heard that if you have a house fire and have over 20 lbs. that IS NOT in a powder magazine your insurance is void. I think that there are some fire codes that cover this also. I believe that the magazine needs to be made of wood, 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inches thick, but I'm not sure of the exact requirements. You don't want to use metal. In a fire powder just burns if not confined and does not explode. That happens when it is contained, {think shell case, or cartridge} hence the wood box so it doesn't build pressure.

If you use metal, you would want to include a blowout panel.

There are regulations for storing powder. I don't have time right now to look them up but I'll look tomorrow. I believe I read them at the SAAMI web site.

The powder storage recommendations specify wood construction of 1" (nominal) dimensions. Most residential cabinets are made of 1"(3/4 actual) wood, so would cover the specs.

The "weak wall" requirement would be covered by a hinged door which could blow open under pressure.

Here are the SAAMI guidelines:

http://www.saami.org/specifications_...ess_Powder.pdf

Basically, home storage of up to 20# is OK in original containers alone. Between 20-50# the containers should be in a wood box with 1" thick boards. Over 50# I guess you're on your own.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I have 13lb now and 1lb of triple7 for the muzzleloader. I'm going to build a second chest like my first then put half in the garage and leave the first half in my closet like now. Any time I buy powder now I buy two so I can split it out even like that.

I never knew this, and I deal with NFPA requirements almost on a daily basis.
Great info..Thanks for the link too.

I guess I gotta build me one now.

Wood is a better insulator of heat than metal is, the idea being it will take longer for the powder to ignite than a metal container. Adding sheetrock increases the ignition time.

Burning gunpowder would only be explosive if contained. The hinged lid would easily release any pressure buildup, reducing any possibility of "explosion."

While the SAAMI info is certainly important most of it deals with shipping and commercial situations, I only see one section that deals with residences. I admit I don't know a lot about SAAMI but I don't believe it is an agency with enforcement capabilities. Their guidelines may be used by some other authority such as the DOT. Did you notice the rule about commercial establishments not displaying more than 20 one pound containers? How many times have you seen that violated?

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and the company. If you have concerns you should read it but they cannot just pull up some obscure rule in order to deny your claim if it is not referenced in some manner in the policy. Now if you are reloading as some sort of sideline business out of your house then you may have a problem. Most states have required insurance companies to write their homeowner policies in everyday language and not legalese so check it out. Read every sentence and/or paragraph and understand what it is saying.

All that said, I do store some power in an upstairs bedroom and is on the other side of a wall from my attic HVAC unit. I think I'll move it.

Often local government will adopt industry standards as their local code. Failure to follow local code in how you store your gunpowder may result in your insurance company not paying for damages caused by "illegal" storage. Jag22 is also correct, there maybe specific statements in your policy that govern powder storage.

The guys at my local volunteer fire department have told me they are much more concerned with the flammable liquids stored in an attached garage than they are with flammable solids stored inside a home.

As an aside, the OP mentions black powder. Suggested storage for BP is more stringent than for smokeless.

Per fire regs BP should be stored separate from smokeless.

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Front sight and squeeze