ventilation systems for reloading

Even when I was a kid and reloaded outside on my Fathers work bench I had to take everything back inside and keep it in my closet.

Since I have lived on my own almost all of my reloading is done indoors. Only time I tested high for lead was when I shot competition indoors every week. Cut that out and I am back to normal reloading indoors and tumbling/casting out in the shop.

mainecoon said:

Is it worth getting a ventilation system if I plan on starting reloading? I would be working in a poorly ventilated basement. Does anyone use fume hoods or something similar for this?

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Before you contemplate altering the basement, consider building a portable castered bench that will allow you to reload anywhere inside or around the house.

The hobby/passion of reloading becomes more enjoyable when done in comfort.

I do not understand why anyone would want to reload in hot/humid/freezing/poorly ventilated conditions of garage/shed/basement etc. Reloading requires focus to prevent mistakes (especially double charges, squibs, etc.) and it's hard to focus when sweat is dripping from your body or hands numb/body aching from cold (been there and done that - yikes! :banghead.

A man's (woman's) house is his (her) castle, right?

I used to reload on 6 & 8 foot reloading benches in the garage that got hot (100F+) in the summer and cold (below freezing) in the winter while standing up. When I finally got tired of torturing myself (wife kept wondering why I would reload in hot/cold garage alone in solitude), I built portable castered reloading benches that allowed me to reload sitting/standing anywhere in the house/patio while enjoying the comfort of A/C, heating and the company of my family.

2'x3' reloading bench pictured below with casters from Harbor Freight furniture moving dolly with presses mounted at the ends will go through any doorway from even narrow hallways and even be stored inside closets. For those who believe reloading benches must be solidly mounted to floor/wall, I resize even thicker walled military .308 cases and the portable bench does not move, even when empty (the key is mounting the presses at the ends).

So before you consider doing modification to the basement, consider building a portable reloading bench (BTW, I perform tasks that require ventilation such as sorting and tumbling dirty brass outside ).

If you can put in ventilation , do it . If not , cut a hole in door to basement and put in vents
A fan at top will blow air out and air sucks in from bottom / lower vent .
This kind of comes under common sense - if you ask , you probably do it for no other reason than piece of mind .
I would get a carbon monoxide and smoke alarm . Also lights on 2 circirts so if one trips , you can still see to get out

I need ventilation when using double based powders like AA #5 as the nitroglycerine fumes give me a headache. AA #5 used to be my main powder for .38 spl., but I've gone to Winchester 231 to avoid the nitro fumes. I still ventilate.

Walkalong said:

No, you're not stirring anything up that is harmful.

Don't eat or drink after handling lead, don't pick your nose while loading either.

Ventilation for reloading other than bullet casting or tumbling? No

Clean habits? Absolutely.

Cast inside? Tumble inside? Not I.

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It's hard to say it much better than that. I agree completely.

Yea no worries man, you can see how normal we all turned out. The only problem I've had is a bit of a twitch in my forehead eye sometimes...comes and goes so no big deal.

ReloaderFred said:

"YES you should have a fan that draws out the fumes for they are BAD for your health and any one in the house. It will do brain damage and nervous systems very bad for young kids. You can look it up on here"

That doesn't make any sense at all. I've reloaded in my house and shop for over 52 years, and my lead levels are within the norms and my health is way above average for my age group.

Fred

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FRED have you ever look up what the fumes can do to you. I looked it up and I will NOT take the chance of what it can do to you. You are free to do as you like but do not tell people that is is OK to do as you do. People please look it up on the net for your own safety.

Somebody may have pointed this out, but in a poorly ventilated basement, I would worry more about radon than anything from my reloading process.

I wouldn't smelt wheel weights in a non-ventilated area, but simply loading ammo isn't going to hurt anything.

FRED have you ever look up what the fumes can do to you.

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I'm curious as to what specific operation of reloading produces fumes.
What fumes are you referring to?

Guy B. Meredith said:

I need ventilation when using double based powders like AA #5 as the nitroglycerine fumes give me a headache. AA #5 used to be my main powder for .38 spl., but I've gone to Winchester 231 to avoid the nitro fumes. I still ventilate.

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I've heard that some people are very sensitive to that. There is a name or phrase for that, I don't remember what it is right now.

For me, I was concerned about the dust from dry tumbling, so I used a tumbler with a solid top and took it outside to separate the media. Now I wet tumble, so I don't have that to worry about at all.

Someone mentioned the spray lubes, I also take that outside to spray.

I don't cast, so no worry there.

Other than that, I don't worry too much about ventilation. I have a climate controlled shack so I'm not worried about moisture or humidity, either.

I won't pontificate here but, as someone who constantly struggles with high lead levels, I have read just about every article ever written on the subject. I am one of those in the minority who absorbs every molecule of lead I am exposed to. I have to take extreme measures (gloves and lead mask) when casting or shooting (even outdoors) or my levels skyrocket.

The act of reloading is really not the issue. Primers do contain some lead styphnate so minimize your handling of the spent primers. Aside from that there is going to be nearly zero airborne lead. I chose to wear gloves when reloading but most people don't.

I think the area where most people get into trouble has already been covered and that is when tumbling brass. Just do it outside and make sure your tumbler has a cover. For me, I went one further and went to wet tumbling. Even then, don't drink the water coming off of the dirty cases and you will be fine

I can't imagine there being exposure during reloading to be overly concerned. If you're worried, wear lite rubber gloves and toss them in the garbage when you're done. The only thing I won't do is let my dog in the reloading room because he'll immediately start licking his paws. I'm not concerned about me since I stopped licking my paws years ago.

You really should wear the latex gloves to protect yourself , But also
they find and catch on split cases / cuts on base etc .

AABEN,

The sky is not falling, no matter what the "internet" tells you. The original question regarded "reloading ammunition in a basement". That was the question I answered, and for your information, I've studied lead contamination thoroughly, from real experts, not the internet, where every Tom, Dick and Harry feels they are an "expert". My conclusions are based on science, and hands on experience, not internet lore.

My EXPERTS work for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and you can look both of those up on the internet if that will make you feel better. Both of those agencies have studied lead contamination, it's causes and the results, along with courses of prevention and how to mitigate contamination once it occurs. I was responsible for writing the Best Management Practices manual for our range, which was recognized by the EPA as one of the most thorough and comprehensive management plans for lead issues in the nation, and was put up for a national award for it.

If you choose to live in a bubble, that's your choice, but don't try to tell me what's correct about lead issues when you have no idea of the amount of study I've done on the issue. You might try doing a search on this forum and look up this subject in past threads for a better understanding of the whole issue before you start jumping down my throat....

Now if you want to talk about bullet casting, that's a whole other issue, and yes, I do that, too. A lot of bullet casting, like in many, many thousands of bullets per year. I don't wear a HazMat suit when I'm casting, but I do take the precautions the industry and regulatory agencies proscribe. And my lead level is still well within the normal range, according to my last blood test.

And I'll repeat, your post didn't make any sense in the context of the OP's question.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I was telling him that in case he did start making his own bullets. I know a lot of people starts out reloading then get in to powering there own bullets as I did but I had a very nice man that help me get started so I was trying to give him some head up. I am sorry that I did not spell it out for every to under stand

Unless you're casting bullets (molten lead) there are no hazardous fumes involved in handloading.