Static discharge

[Enron Exec]

While reloading, do you guys ever worry about static electricity setting off primers or powder? If so, what kind of precautions do you all take? I remember seeing/feeling a few static discharges before that where strong enough where i could see the blue arc when i touched something and if it had been a brass casing with some power around the rim and more inside, could that be a potential hazard?

 

[LubeckTech]

That is a good question which I've never heard much about. I think it is more of an issue with black powder. If you are reloading in an area floored with a nylon rug or other static generating material it could be a problem. At any rate and reguardless of your flooring material and all the static precautions manufacturers take in packaging it is wise to remove the static charge from your body by touching a grounded metal object frequently during the loading process and especially when handling powder and primers and don't wear synthetic fabrics when around such stuff. This is also a good practice before pumping gas (touch a grounded metal object AWAY from the fuel vapor stream) you are more likley to have a problem there than handling powder. Most static discharges are from you to ground but discharges can occurr between 2 conductive surfaces of differing electrical potential - they happen all the time but most are so small as to go unnoticed. Anti static mats and wrist straps are also precautions if you are having problems which make you worry about static. Has anyone out there had a problem with static??

 

[Shooters Plus]

I've never had a problem with static electricity in my reloading room so I currently have taken no preventive measures. I do know guys who have ground wires run to their press/presses.

 

[LubeckTech]

I'm not so certain about grounding the press as if the press is at ground and the operator builds up a charge and touches a grounded press there is more likley to be a discharge so to me keeping the operator from building up a charge would be the wisest precaution. Keeping the area around the reloading bench clean and free of stray powder is also essential. Don't forget about proper powder/primer storage either - keep them seperate and stored away from the loading area close th the press(s).

 

[rcmodel]

I have used Static Guard spray on some of my reloading equipment for years.

http://www.mystaticguard.com/

Not so much that I was ever concerned about explosions, but to prevent powder flakes from sticking to my plastic scale pan, as well as plastic powder measure containers.

It works like a charm!


rcmodel

 

[Walkalong]

Ditto, but I was using Isopropyl Alchohol to wipe down powder measure surfaces. Looks like rcmodel has a better way. I believe I will get some Static Guard.

 

[snuffy]

Look at this

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

It would appear that strictly static electricity doesn't have enough heat to ignite even black powder. Notice he tried smokeless,(unique), it didn't ignite either.

 

[esq_stu]

You can be as anal as you like, but what you do should probably depend on the amount of materials that you handle or store, and how confined it is. I know people resent OSHA for proposing rules to make workplaces more safe, but I think there are guidelines that can be found online. Just as one may be free not follow gun safety rules, that doesn't make it a good idea.

This is not small arms related, but I work as a consultant at a facility that is in the ballistic missile business. Wherever certain solid rocket fuel components or explosives are handled, the floors are painted with conductive paint containing carbon fiber, we wear conductive shoes (black rubber soles containing carbon fiber), and everything is grounded wherever the fuels and explosives are handled. Even with all that, bad things happen that one never reads about.

Given the frequency of unexplained explosions in Gaza basements, I suspect that some terrorists don't think these procedures are very macho.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Have never given it a thought until you brought it up. Still don't give it that much of a thought... Maybe with black powder. Never heard of anyone bringing it up for that either. Maybe they have and I just wasn't paying any attention to it...

 

[Cougfan2]

I'm not sure about static discharge detonating primers, but I used to work for Hodgdon Powder Company. Shortly after they built their Pyrodex plant in Herrington, KS, they had a series of explosions that blew up some buildings. Had to buy almost all of the windows in Herrington more than once.

They finally figured out that it was due to a static charge buildup on some of their material handling and mixing machines. The buildings apparently weren't properly ventilated and there was a lot of powder dust in the air. The static would discharge and.....BOOM!

 

[strat81]

Never worried about. I talk on my cell phone at gas stations too.

 

[amlevin]

Short answer ---NO.

Static Electricity is more of an annoyance on a press by making powder granules stick inside the powder measure and on any plastic tools. Primers are difficult to set off accidently. You have to HIT them to make them "pop".
As for explosions in manufacturing facilities, there is a greater magnitude of powder and static generation ther. The average reloader is not performing operations that create huge volumes of dust which is prone to exploding.

 

[BAT1]

Static

I had a problem when I first starting using my new press, so I wiped everything down with a dryer sheet and it stopped.

 

[MutinousDoug]

Graphite coating on smokeless powder and the carbon in black powder is conductive thus very little heat is generated by passing normal static current over these grains.
Just as copper grounding cable can be melted by a lightening strike or shorting of a powerful circuit, propellant powders can be ignited by electrical spark. Not likely in your loading room unless you have a VanderGraff generator running nearby.

 

[Master Blaster]

I load in my basement workshop. It has a concrete floor, I use rubber shop mats around the bench. The Humidity there is high enough that there is no problem.