fridge ammo locker??

[kingwood]

ok kinda off the wall question but recently my new fridge got struck by lightning so i got the idea to make it a ammo locker (since my safe shelves are a little bowed)its the double door side by side style. well it turned out great with lots of room for storage and sturdy shelves that should'nt bow put the heat rod in the right hand side bottom and there is two vent holes from one side to the other, one at the top and one bottom. but im wondering about the humidity levels since its sealed air tight anyone have any thoughts or ideas on this matter? thanks for any help.

 

[Step N. Mud]

I heard lighting never strikes twice.

 

[nawilson]

I use a silica gel canister that absorbs moisture in my gun safe. The same should work in your ammo locker. Out of curiosity, what do you need a heat rod in it for?

 

[BigBill]

I been pondering using an older fridge to store my gun powder and primers.

 

[kingwood]

i was thinking the heat rod would help drive out the humidity but since its air tight im having secound thoughts. just to make sure im not misleading anyone the fridge no longer works i gutted all the parts except the shell and insulation.

 

[Mcwsky09]

I thought the correct storage conditions for ammo are cool and dry. If you need a small amount of heat to prevent cooling to the point of condensation or freezing then okay. A google search on "desiccant" should result in lots of options including some that can be cooked in on oven or left in the sun to "reset".

If it is air tight and the insulated I would think that even with large fluctuations in the surrounding temperature should not be a problem unless you have a habit of opening the door when the air outside is cold and damp and then sealing the door with the moisture inside.

Or you it be able to find an inexpensive method of measuring ot testing the huipmidity leve and check to see if there is any issue over a period of time.

 

[kingwood]

well thats the next plan gonna try and find a cheap temp and hygrometer and find out whats going on inside, btw its gonna be sitting in a unheated garage in Pa. if that matters for the climate. at times i may be in and out of it a couple times a day and other times it might be weeks before its opened.

 

[kingwood]

ok with a temp and hydrometer: outside temp is 58 degress f. and inside is 61 humidity is 60% inside and 68% outside. think it might work or to damp?? might need to look into the silica idea huh??

 

[Rule3]

Silca is a big waste of time and money, especially is a container that size. What does silca do?? It absorbs moisture and traps it. Once it is saturated it's just like having a big damp rag in there.

The locksmith who installed my safe (he has been around over 30 years) Threw away the big bag of silica that comes in every safe.

If it just ammo and not reloading powder, you are better to just leave it air tight, No Holes. Military stores ammo for years in water tight ammo cans right?

If you are looking for real long term storage, perhaps get one of those seal a meal, food saver vacuum seal bag machines. I have certain things vacuum sealed in them, they work great. I live in the land of 90% humidity all year.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Ya gonna keep it on the front porch next to the couch????

 

[rwsmith]

I thought the correct storage conditions for ammo are cool and dry. If you need a small amount of heat to prevent cooling to the point of condensation or freezing then okay. A google search on "desiccant" should result in lots of options including some that can be cooked in on oven or left in the sun to "reset".

If it is air tight and the insulated I would think that even with large fluctuations in the surrounding temperature should not be a problem unless you have a habit of opening the door when the air outside is cold and damp and then sealing the door with the moisture inside.

Or you it be able to find an inexpensive method of measuring ot testing the huipmidity leve and check to see if there is any issue over a period of time.

I pretty much buy this. But is the refrigerator going to be in inside or conditions? You don't want condensation or freezing and you don't want mildew. Since it's airtight a desiccant that can be recharged and a humidity/ temp meter (Radio Shack, I've got one). Since the fridge is airtight, the desiccant should last a long time before being recharged or changed. I think as long as it is dry enough inside not to condense, the less heat, the better. There should just be enough heat to keep it from freezing.

 

[Moonman]

I made a STOCK REFINISHING/DRYING cabinet from a non-working refrigerator.

I un-wired the compressor & blower and disabled/by-passed the door light switch, and wired the interior light direct.

If the refrigerator is PLUGGED IN, the Interior Light is on.

The light is the only thing that now works on it.

Light keeps the inside warm.

Works for me.

 

[Frank237]

I use lots of ammo cans. They work quite well. As if they were made for the job.

 

[Tom Beavert]

It works for me, but we live in a 'dry heat'. Inside the garage, check it often.
Good luck
tb

 

[ace22]

Don't believe that.

I have been struck by lightening 1) On the ground, 2) Flying a Cessna 150, and 3) Driving a Chevy Jimmy.

actually, if you were driving a jimmy, it was a gmc

 

[setxn]

The old fridges with metal interiors used to be a coveted item for keeping welding rods dry with the heat from a light bulb mounted low. The amount of heat put of by a light bulb in an airtight, enclosed and insulated box left on constantly can and will melt the plastic interior unless you use a very small bulb that may do no good or add a simple thermostat or specific heat rated Klixon type safety. They also made a really fine meat smoker with a outside firebox.

 

[Roadtrash]

When I was a kid we laid them down and used them to raise worms. Worked real well.

 

[kingwood]

thanks for all of your thoughts, I think i'll place some sort of silica pack in it and see what happens, and with the golden rod im hoping it will keep the temp above freezing in the winter since its in a unheated garage but does it matter if the temp falls below freezing? and what humidity % is ok for ammo??

 

[setxn]

My Grandpa was never guilty of throwing away an appliance in his life. If it died inside it found new life outside with enough man hours and material used to " convert " it that a new one could have been bought-but that wasn't the point. Raising a family during the depression left a life long impression on him and much to Mrs. Setxn's displeasure his pack rat ways were passed down to me.

 

[kingwood]

so far this thing is working like a champ, humidity stays in the low 60's air temp in the low 70's even with our 50 degree temps have three gauges in the fridge and all within a degree or two. def. helped with my storage issues