Electrostatic Discharge

[roundknob]

Ihave been reloading for the past 32 years and have never encounterd this problem untill tonight. I was throwing RL22 powder from a Redding BR3 with a 1 pound tube on top. Afterwards carry over to my sartorious scales and trickle off with the Omega trickler.I started hearing a sound almost like popcorn popping when the powder was falling from the BR3 into the pan.Also when I transfered the powder from the scales to the plastic funnel Iheard the sound again and this time could see the powder dancing in the funnel. I stopped right then as this scared the living crap out of me. Has anyone had this problem and how did you correct it?
Thanks
Steve

 

[dmickey]

Sounds like your humidity level is exceptionally low! A humidifier would probably be of help here.

 

[dhighlan]

Try wiping down your pan, funnel, and tube with a dryer sheet. I have used this when I see the static in my funnels.

 

[M-61]

The use of an aluminum funnel usually prevents this problem. When you see granules of powder "sticking" to your plastic funnel that is usually caused by static electricity. One first hand knowledge I have of the weird ways static elec. can occur was in the loading of weapons on fighter acft. While loading these various weapons the acft must be grounded ( ground wires are attached as soon as the acft is chocked and remain in place until departure). The static elec. allegedly builds up as wind blows over the surface of the fighter and in particular over the 'plastic' bodies of some weapons. Plugging in the electronic cable to these weapons can be hazardous, should what was known as "stray voltage" be present. This "stray voltage" was static electricity. Kind of a strange example I know but none the less it was of concern enough to have ground wires and grounding points all over the ramp.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Try an aluminum cal specific funnel and you will never use plastic again.

 

[Nodak7mm]

Three ways of alleiveating the problem:

Incorporate an ESD Abatment program, complete with wrist bands, floor mats & etc......

Or steal one of the wifeys dryer sheets, I am partial to "Downy" and wipe your plastic stuff down with it. Or get a aluminum funnel.

Dryer sheet works for me.

Rod

 

[roundknob]

Thanks guys for the help.It was a little cool down here in So Ga. last night and I did have the central air on and the room is carpeted. I have had several ideas go through my head today but you guys have encountered this before and I thank you for your help. Is it possible for the static to get high enough to ignite the powder and has anyone heard of it? It sure sounds like the military has.
Thanks
Steve

 

[fullersson]

I can't speak for the powder but I know it will ignite gasoline vapor. That is why your not supposed to get in and out of your vehicle during fueling. I say this with confidence because I'm a career fireman and through the years we have taken a fair amount of training on the dangers of static electricity. What you were experiencing really does need to be taken very seriously. Brian Brown

 

[Nodak7mm]

What you were experiencing really does need to be taken very seriously. Brian Brown

Agreed.. Volitile/flammable/explosive matter, eliminate risk. Simple!!

On the other hand, I have seen the incorporation of ESD programs reduce damage to sensitive electronic components by 95%..

However, I dont feel it necessary to wear a helmet & faceshield during the reloading process...

Rod

 

[necchi]

What you were experiencing really does need to be taken very seriously. Brian Brown

Agreed.. Volitile/flammable/explosive matter, eliminate risk. Simple!!

Respectfully disagree, It's much to do about nothing. Powder needs to be a fine particulate with a proper oxygen mix to ignite from static spark. Read this,, it's bassed on Black Powder but and example of Unique is also shown.

http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/sparks/sparks.html

It's an inconvienance for sure and an issue that should be resolved with simple dryer sheets and/or a humidifier. Washing equipment with soap and water every so often goes along ways too.

 

[mr45man]

Aluminum funnel or SS
Kitchen gadget stores have all kinds of cool stuff/
Found some SS funnels there. Various sizes seem to work as
Drop tubes?
John H.

 

[fullersson]

Necchi,

I respectfully disagree with you. I could write a very long post about my career as a fireman and the things I've seen happen that should not have happened because the conditions weren't right but I won't bore anyone with that stuff. I agree with you that the solution to this problem should be kept simple such as washing equipment and wiping down equipment with static sheets. I disagree that this is much to do about nothing. You said that the powder would have to be a fine particulate with the proper oxygen mix to ignite from a static spark. Sfoskey said he is throwing his powder. Everyone here knows that when you throw powder that a kernel of powder usually ends up getting crushed or at least broken when closing the handle. There's the fine particulate. Once that fine particulate ignites the rest of it won't have to be a fine particulate to ignite so he will end up with a flash fire and burns to the face and upper body at the very least. Sfoskey described his reloading area as having carpet and central air so I will bet that his reloading room is attached to the house so at the very least he has a flash fire and gets burned at the worst he sets his house on fire and we all know the other possibilities that go along with house fires.

This is copied directly from the MSDS sheet for RL22: DO NOT PRESSURIZE OR EXPOSE CONTAINERS TO HEAT, FLAME, SPARKS, STATIC ELECTRICITY, OR OTHER SOURCES OF IGNITION.

This is a link for the entire MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) if anyone is interested in viewing it: http://www.alliantpowder.com/downloads/msds/Reloder22.pdf

Whether anyone agrees or disagrees this is a very accurate assessment based on many years experience. This is a very serious problem and I pray that it is handled as such. Brian Brown.

 

[TnTom]

i found the simple solution was to lose the plastics.

 

[roundknob]

Thanks everyone,Problem eliminated for now with the drier sheets. Thats two more things other than clothes I can use them for. We also use them down here to repel gnats. As fullerson said I was throwing the powder and that was where the most static was coming from.It was so bad it reminded me of popcorn popping. I will replace as much of the plastic as I can. I have also heard from some guys that some powders are plastic coated to some degree which looks to me would make this problem worse. I do know that I had not cleaned the thrower through about 16 pounds of powder and there is a lot of fine residue clinging to the tube.And yes you were right my room is in the upstairs portion of my house where I also store no less than 40 pounds of powder and several thousand rrounds of ammo.
Steve

 

[fdshuster]

You can also get static cling on the plastic powder cans, like Hodgden. It will collect around the threaded top, and to stop that I wipe them down with the anti-cling clothes dryer sheets. Worst time of the year for me: furnace has started running regularly but it's not yet dry enough for the humidifier to kick-in.

 

[necchi]

Necchi,

I respectfully disagree with you. I could write a very long post about my career as a fireman and the things I've seen happen that should not have happened because the conditions weren't right but I won't bore anyone with that stuff.

Professional experience and opinion duly noted, I will be more carefull in the future when minimizing a similar problem,
Thank you Brian,,