Cabinet design reality check

TRaTSeRiF

TRaTSeRiF

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In a limited space application, I figured a 16x16x48 (approximate dimensions, the depth will most likely be 16.7" once I factor in the door thickness) cabinet made out of 3/4" plywood would do. It should be able to store more than the legal limit of powder and all the primers I'll need in the short run. I'd use 2 shelves that would also be bracing the structure. 2 surface mount brass hinges, 2 screws each should be more than good enough to support the door and a padlock hasp should finish the job. A couple of 1" holes per level should be enough pressure relief.
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I just wanted to get your thoughts on the general design, if you guys have any suggestions for somebody who doesn't have too much wood working experience, especially when dealing with brass hardware, I'd appreciate your input. The cabinet will be inside a walk-in closet, so beauty isn't a huge concern, just a quick coat of paint and an "explosives" sign stapled to the door.
 
If you're not a woodworker, get your plywood from Home Depot, Rona, Lowes etc. They can cut the plywood to the dimensions you want right there.

The bottom of the door may drag on the ground when opening / closing. You may want to raise the bottom off the floor a little. A 2x4 base, either flat or upright would fix that.

Your cabinet is kind of big. Remember that you want it to be easily removed from your house in case of fire. I would use another box for the primers (separation of powder and primers) and make the powder cabinet smaller.
 
Thanks for your input MT and everybody else who posts here! I will most likely just glue a couple of pieces of 2x4 or whatever I got lying around the shed to the bottom panel. Got some height to play with (5'1"-5'2" total). Having separate cabinets might make it difficult to maneuver, but I can definitely keep the powder and the primers on separate shelves (was planning on it anyway). Because of the flooring, the cabinet would be easy to drag out of the house in case firemen need to intervene. Just in case, I'll contact a fireman I'm acquainted with and get his input on that before I plan out the final dimensions and go to Home Hardware to get the cuts done (we have one with a lumber yard in the neighborhood).
 
Well, the cabinet's done.. Each shelving level has 3x 1" pressure relief holes and I also mounted the hinges with pressure relief in mind. Ain't a beaut but will hold a few lbs of powder and a few thousand primers. 3/4" plywood, all brass hardware/fasteners (made sure to check if it's solid brass or brass-plated lol) No issues with dragging it across the floor (as I tested). By the way a firefighter I'm acquainted with basically told me that they wouldn't bother dragging it out.. They'd just GTFO the house and dump water. They should be warned there is gunpowder/primer in the house should they ever be called in for a fire emergency. It's in a sliding door closet, so it's out of sight or my wife would have killed me ;)

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Am I missing anything?
 
MattLS said:
I would invest in a well made hasp, hinges and lock.
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I could put on a couple of extra hinges, that would be pretty trivial, but what's the issue with the hasp and the lock? It's a plywood cabinet, can be wrecked with a hammer or a crowbar in no time. I'm aiming for legal compliance and a reasonable amount of safety... I don't have any illusions about the security.
 
Ont thing you might want to do: Split the door. Primers and powder MUST be stored "separately". If you split the door at the same height of the top shelf, and tack on a little piece of wood to bring the edge of the shelf out to be flush with the door when it is closed, problem solved. You'll need those 2 more hinges and extra hasp and lock, though :)
 
mwjones said:
Ont thing you might want to do: Split the door. Primers and powder MUST be stored "separately". If you split the door at the same height of the top shelf, and tack on a little piece of wood to bring the edge of the shelf out to be flush with the door when it is closed, problem solved. You'll need those 2 more hinges and extra hasp and lock, though :)
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Thanks for the warning.. So separate shelves for each without having separate doors wouldn't cut it?
 
If we're talking personal preference and/or common sense, then I think storing primers and powder in the same container is not really a big deal. HOWEVER, from the legal standpoint, I'm pretty sure that if you remove one lock and open one door, you've got one container. Kind of like putting 2 padlocks on your pistol case.
 
mwjones said:
If we're talking personal preference and/or common sense, then I think storing primers and powder in the same container is not really a big deal. HOWEVER, from the legal standpoint, I'm pretty sure that if you remove one lock and open one door, you've got one container. Kind of like putting 2 padlocks on your pistol case.
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I'd like to avoid the hassle if I can help it as it would most likely involve drilling out some of the fasteners (I used wood glue in there too and they're soft).. I know a couple of experienced reloaders that just put them on separate shelves, same door opens the cabinet and also inquired with a fireworks tech buddy who used to reload. Will make some further inquiries. Thanks for raising the issue.
 
A littlebit of redneck ingenuity and I didn't need to drill any out. Just jam the screwdriver in there and whack it with a hammer. All of them came out and I was even able to reuse them. Ended up cutting it completely apart, into 2 separate cabinets. I figured for $15ish in hardware and a bit of extra work, I avoid a lot of potential hassle. The top 1/3 makes a primer cabinet and the bottom 2/3 powder and probably projectiles. The only downer is that I got a brass plated hasp by mistake, so I'll have to take it back to crappy tire and replace it. The pieces are also easier to manage in case they need to be moved.
 
Here's what the 2 separate cabinets look like and this time with solid brass hasps.. Labeled with the type of substance (smokeless powder for 1 and primers for the other) and remembered to use brass tacks.. Not the prettiest, especially since the design needed to be changed on the fly, but it works and will require tools to break into. Proper explosives signs are on the way.

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Just a couple of design notes coming directly from NRCan

1) The 2 cabinets can be placed next to each other or on top of each other

2) A couple of holes is more than enough to satisfy the ventilation requirements. My setup, 3 x 1" holes per shelving level is easy enough, looks good and sufficient. Another option (done by a gentleman at my range) was to create 2 oval slots on each side, thus making the cabinet easier to move.
 
mwjones said:
Ont thing you might want to do: Split the door. Primers and powder MUST be stored "separately". If you split the door at the same height of the top shelf, and tack on a little piece of wood to bring the edge of the shelf out to be flush with the door when it is closed, problem solved. You'll need those 2 more hinges and extra hasp and lock, though :)
Click to expand...

I would like to see where the law states that they must be stored separately...

Also, whats with the all-brass construction? its a new one for me also...
 
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