Reloading in Low Humidity

[Gearhead Jim]

Winter in Illinois can get darned cold outside, which translates into low humidity inside our house. The house is very tight and we don't have a humidifier, normally not needed for human comfort. But I can still get sparks from some clothing or dragging my feet across the rug.

All year round, I've had the habit of touching the closed plastic jug of powder to the covered plastic powder hopper on my Dillon 650 before adding powder. And I touch the side of the aluminum primer pickup tube to the steel primer magazine shield, before dumping the primers into the magazine tube.

Those precautions are probably unnecessary, but easy.

My inside shop floor has asphalt tiles, I have not noticed any static sparks in the shop.

Doing a Search for static problems on THR, I didn't see any actual dangers mentioned, just occasional light throws from some powder measures or difficulty in pouring powders.

Does anyone see any hazards to reloading in low humidity that I've missed?
Thanks.

 

[wlkjr]

We don't have that problem down here in the South. So I got nothing.

 

[rcmodel]

No, but get a can of Static Guard at the grocery store or Walmart laundry aisle and spray everything.

Your problems will be over!!


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Static-Guard-Fresh-Scent-Spray-5.5-oz/21092566

I use it for lots of things.
* Reloading equipment.
* Truck seats in the winter.
* Unruly packing peanuts.
* My clinging nylon slip.

Never mind!
It is great stuff though!!

rc

 

[win71]

static electricity

No, but get a can of Static Guard at the grocery store or Walmart laundry aisle and spray everything.

Dang, since 1972 all my reloading benches sat on concrete slabs. Never gave the hazard of a static spark a thought. Never heard of Static Guard either. I've learned a lot on this forum.........

 

[macgrumpy]

I've reloaded for several decades in a variety of places; Kansas, Arizona, Utah, Montana, and I have never had an issue with static electricity. In most places my benches were setup on concrete but in Utah it was sitting on a carpeted floor. I'm not saying that static is never of any concern but it hasn't been in the places where I've lived.

 

[theHeretic]

If static discharge is of concern to you it can be easily be handled. Run a small gauge wire from your press mount to ground. 18 to 22 gauge will be sufficient. Each time you touch the press you will discharge safely. Or you could use a wrist strap like is used by computer technicians.

 

[rcmodel]

I've never had a static problem with reloading either, any more severe then powder clinging to the inside of a powder measure.

However, sliding out of my truck seat on a dry cold winter day and touching the gas pump would often result in a 1" blue spark that made my eyes water.
And concerned me a little when there were gas fumes in the air!!

And packing peanuts!!!
Don't get me started on styrofoam peanuts when I open a box on the kitchen table and they jump out and stick to everything!!

Sucking saw dust out of my table saw with a shop vac would light me up every 30 seconds too!!

Just a single spritz of Static Guard stops all that foolishness, permanently!!

rc

 

[Dudedog]

OK mental picture rcmodel in his clinging nylon slip seconds before being covered with pink packing peanuts that attacked him when he opened a box of reloading goodies he ordered then...... poof a pink POP N Fresh dough boy RC saying peanuts....spraying anti stat spray blindly around the room at flying packing peanuts...LOL


OK, I had a tough day a t work and what's left of my mind is fried tonight..
No offense intended RC.

 

[rcmodel]

Don't fret!

I can take it, and even much worse!

That's why they pay me so much!

rc

 

[Hondo 60]

I haven't had any issues with static.
And my house is D-R-Y.
Even the dogs spark.

But I DO rub my reloading stuff with a used dryer sheet every once in awhile.
Does it help??? IDK, but it doesn't hurt.

 

[stringnut]

Modern gun powders wont light off from static discharge under most conditions. I guess if it was large enough it might, but, the powder would be last of your worries at that point. From what I under stand powder and primer dust can. I control the dust , but, keeping the static in check can't hurt. I am a natural coward about such things. Black powder can definitely be set off by static. Saw a video about this and wish I could find it again. Was set off with the equivelent of scuffing your feet on the carpet. Yikes!

 

[SARuger]

It hasn't been an issue but I planned ahead. When I put my re-loading equipment/bench into my gun vault I ran a ground from the press to the ground on the copper plumbing near the water main. That keeps everything discharged.

Humidity in my house right now is a very dry 20%, in two months when spring gets here it will be 80%. Gotta love the weather in VA

 

[GBExpat]

If RH is low I turn on a vaporizer ... I currently keep 2 going 24/7, one under each of the 2 open Returns upstairs.

If RH is high I turn on a dehumidifier (lives in the basement).

My reloading area is in the basement, which can become rather dry in winter. During the worst such periods, I simply humidify that area and static is not an issue.

BTW, a very cheap replacement for store-bought Static Guard can be made by adding a little bit of liquid fabric softener to water. Put it in a spray bottle, mix it and you are G2G.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

If you're that concerned about static electricity, simply buy an ESD mat and lay it out on your reloading bench.

Then whenever your setting up to reload, put the wrist strap on and go to town.

You can get various sizes/brands of ESD mats for about $15 and up. Google "ESD mat" or go to someplace like Amazon and search "ESD mat".

 

[Gearhead Jim]

I came looking for information, got information and some good laughs too.
Thanks!