Reloading equipment in an outside shed

[User00013]

Just putting the finishing touches to my reloading area the press, bench primer and powder despenser are all bench mounted in an outside unheated shed. My worry is rust and damp might start to set in.

Does anybody else have their setup outside like this and how do you find it? Any ways you keep the equipment in good order? There is no way I can have the stuff mounted inside it has to be out here if it doesn't work I will have to dismantle everything and reassemble every time which I would rather not

Tia

 

[Stalker62]

Have all mine in an unheated cabin at the end of the garden.
Been there for over four years. Thus far, no dramas.

 

[bowji john]

Mine is in a block built stable (now my store room - much to my wife's displeasure)

However I do notice some rust if I leave kit in there so I've moved the storage of powder and dies to the tack room (even greater wifely displeasure !)

 

[CarlW]

It tends to be the variation in temperature rather than its absolute value that causes condensation. The more you can insulate the shed from diurnal fluctuations the better. You can get the boards from any builders' merchant.

 

[Magnificent 7]

I fitted a greenhouse tube heater and its kept the damp off so far after I'd discovered a light dusting of the red stuff on my press once finished I also spray with gt85 to add a little coating

 

[Pedro]

I've got a workstation in the garage. Unfortunately it does get a bit damp in there. For security reasons as much as anything else I don't keep powder and primers there anyway. At present (it's a fairly new setup) my intention is to install a wall cabinet to keep stuff in that might fall foul of rust. Tools kept inside old kitchen cabinets do well, whereas ones kept open in the garage, over a period acquire a certain patina. So I'm on the lookout for anyone around getting a new kitchen, or failing that a cheap wall cabinet from Ikea will probably be acquired. My press is a Lee one and is installed on the desk using the plate you can get, so that's easily taken off and can be put into the cabinet when not in use.

The point being, it's easier and cheaper to keep a cabinet damp free rather than a whole shed/garage.

 

[Scapegoat]

I've managed to write off a set of dies after leaving them in the garage set up for a few months over winter. Fine surface rust made them unusable. Water based case lube didn't help I suspect.

 

[john_little]

Air tight Tupperware containers are helpful. If there is a chance of damp air getting in the shed anything metal, ferrous metal, will get condensation upon it as it cools when temperatures drop. Take out the dies and shell holders, pop ‘em in the containers and seal ‘em in. Spray the press pivots and rod with gt85 or such like, work it up and down a few times. If the press frame is iron or steel oil or grease the threads when you remove the dies. Powder should be kept well sealed and primers too. Also, a ten year old me would definitely try to put some in between a couple of big nuts and bolts or stick some fuse wire on a pp3, so lock the shed well

 

[Craigsaun]

I fitted a greenhouse tube heater and its kept the damp off so far after I'd discovered a light dusting of the red stuff on my press once finished I also spray with gt85 to add a little coating

You have got to love gt85 better than any after shave ,

 

[Ruger 1022]

I have suffered from rust on a couple sets of dies when left set up in the seller so I started covering the dies and presses with a big piece of hessian and that helped but over the coldest of winter I take them down and store them in old tea chest wrapped up to stop the brown stuff attacking them

 

[User00013]

I will keep the dies and shell holders inside I wouldn't want them damaged at all. I should have said I will not be keeping powder or primers in there, they will be safely inside my gun cabinet

 

[Old melv]

I had damp problems in my shed where I store electrical equipment and my reloading stuff. I put a new concrete base in with a damp proof membrane and have a tube heater with a wood stove type fan balanced on top to circulate the warm air. No problem since.

 

[Rusty Gate]

Mines in a garage unheated. Large beach towel over the bench & just swap it once a week when she does the linnen

 

[jb1]

Im fortunate enough to have heating in mine, all lined with 25 mm Kingspan and boarded. Tea and coffee facility added just in case.
I do have a large Van-Vault that the dies and other items are stored in.

 

[enfieldspares]

Well wherever it is don't do any soldering or, if casting, use solderers' flux to flux your lead melt. You'll have rust and rust galore in quick time.

 

[NP435]

My set up is in the un heated garage, I regularly recoat die bodies and the other tools with a light oil, taking care to clean out dies as well coating them too. 15 years and zero rust issues . Rust prevention is in my mind on going preventative work. During the hot months here meaning 35C temps salt from sweat can cause trouble and requires a greater effort to defeat rust.

 

[MAH]

If you're worried about condensation, try a dehumidifier, on a timer. Relatativly cheap, but your shed needs to be air tight.
M.

 

[Jura]

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I keep these in my die boxes and toolboxes

 

[Colonel]

My reloading kit is on the worktop in the shed covered with towels that I sometimes spray with WD40. No rust problems

 

[paul o']

I now use the bar type tube heaters around and under the worktops and on the wall i have one of the red heat lamps, this is only for winter as it gets very hot . I have this on a temp frost timer. I have a good Dehumidifier and just of late I'v installed roof lights the type on campervans that can be opened and 12v 6 " draw fans due to the heat , . last few years its been damp free all year round .