Do y'all return unused powder from your drop hopper to the original container?

[Bexar]

Or leave it in the hopper?

We had a college chem. lab instructor drill into us to NEVER!!! return unused chemicals to the original container. Even if we had just pulled the chemical out and pulled out too much. We would have lost two grade levels if caught doing so.

He told us every lab. He said contamination and our "but reasoning" logic didn't mater. Everytime I pull powder out of a container I still wince.

Anyway...it sounds "but reasonable" to just return it to a partially full container it originally came out of...But...

 

[LocoGringo]

I only have 1 powder dispenser and many different powders. It's impossible to calculate exactly how much to put into the dispenser. I definitely return the unused powder to the ORIGINAL can of powder. If I switch powders, I make sure I clean the dispenser of the previous powder.

 

[joneb]

^ same here, only one powder on the bench that's the Rule.

 

[Dentite]

I do the same. Back in original container, cautious to never mix in the hopper, etc.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Couldnt think of a better place to put it.
One powder on the bench at a time, of course.
I label my hopper with whats in it, too.

 

[gamestalker]

I can understand the reasoning in a lab setting, but when it concerns reloading, powder should / must be handled differently. In our hobby leaving the powder in the hopper for several days or more, before returning it to the original container, simply isn't practical. This practice violates necessary fail safe handling practices that prevent catastrophic mistakes.

For instance, when you start a different development at some time in the future, what would one do with the powder in the hopper? It wouldn't get thrown away, it would get dumped back into the original container that be on the bench while working with that powder.

1. Always and only keep the current powder being used on the bench

2. Always return the unused portion to the original container, which will always be the only powder on the bench.

GS

 

[ReloaderFred]

Your professor wasn't a reloader. Excess powder goes back into it's original container.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Lman57]

Same here back in original container and only one powder out on the bench at a time.

 

[cfullgraf]

Or leave it in the hopper?

We had a college chem. lab instructor drill into us to NEVER!!! return unused chemicals to the original container.

With a bunch of college kids who did not buy the chemicals and who really do not give a sh**, this is probably a good idea to maintain the ability to get reliable results in the lab. Also, probably prevents a few explosions from mixing two incompatible chemicals.

The risk is still there for a reloader if he does not exercise care and vigilance. Putting the wrong powder back in the wrong container can be disastrous.

But, the risk of mixing powders still exists if using alternate containers unless you dispose of any unused powders. Even before the events of 2009 and 2013, powder was still to valuable to just discard it.

I return mine to the original container.

Some folks who buy in bulk, 4 and 8 pound containers, will keep an empty one pound container that is factory labeled with the same powder on it. They will operate from the one pound container and only draw powder from their large container to fill the one pound container. This is more an effort in convenience as the one pound containers are easier to pour into the powder measure hopper and they minimize the risk of spilling powder when pouring from the large jug.

Storing powder in your powder measure is not good for the powder measure. The chemicals in the powder will etch and cloud the plastic hopper over time. Also, without care, the powder in the measure can be forgotten and then either discarded wasting money or poured back into the wrong jug. A definite safety issue.

Most reloaders operate where powder handling is virtually fail safe in terms of mixing powders or contaminating it. My powder is stored where I have to leave the reloading bench to get it. Also, I only have the powder in use on the reloading bench. Other folks have their favorite handling procedures that work for them.

Hope this helps.

 

[higgite]

Your lab professor wasn't paying for the chemicals out of his own pocket. That's an attitude changer.

 

[GBExpat]

Big difference between chemicals in a lab and propellants on a reloading bench.

My propellant goes back in the original container (which is the only propellant container on the bench at that time).

 

[mr wack]

I do as all above posted ^^^^^.

Also this....

higgite ,,,,," Your lab professor wasn't paying for the chemicals out of his own pocket. That's an attitude changer".

 

[JimKirk]

I understand what the professor was saying ... big difference between a lab setting with many operators verse a single person reloading "lab" .... your reloading practices should be advanced enough that you only have one powder on the bench at the time .... if not you may want to play golf instead ....

 

[Jim Watson]

As said, it is not feasible to not return powder to the original container, but you have to be careful. Hardly a week goes by that somebody is not told to apply mixed or mismarked powder to the rose garden.

Storing powder in your powder measure is not good for the powder measure. The chemicals in the powder will etch and cloud the plastic hopper over time.

This just burns me up. Powder is stored and shipped in plastic containers. Why can't the powder measures be as resistant? I ruined an RCBS hopper by leaving Power Pistol in it. My Dillon hoppers are discolored although not etched.
I had a glass liner for my CH, that didn't turn color, by gum.

 

[Slamfire]

With as many students passing thorough Chemistry labs, I suspect that once a semester a student would pour benzene into the toluene container, ruining the toluene. This could get very expensive and given the number of times someone poured the wrong stuff into the wrong bottles, something very hazardous could be created.

I found early on in my reloading career to only keep one bottle of powder on the bench. The powders I am not using are so far out of reach that I have to get out of the chair to grab them. I learned this by pouring 2400 into a Unique can. Or maybe visa versa. Either way it is easy to be in dream land (la, la, la) when returning powder to the can, so I have altered the work flow.

I wish I understood why there is powder and plastic hopper incompatibility. I suspect nitric acid gas, coming out of the powder, is causing the damage to the hoppers, but, I don't know why clear plastics are damaged, but the colored plastics are not.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know why clear plastics are damaged, but the colored plastics are not.

Say what?
The dark green hopper on my RCBS Uniflo was rotted out in short order with powder left standing. Dillon hoppers have a slight blue-gray tint and hold up much better.

 

[Blue68f100]

At the end of the day I return it back to the original container. I never leave powder in the hopper over night.

When I worked in a R&D center we measured the chemical straight from the original bottle and never had excess setting out. It's all about handling procedures. What ever we made up was ran through a CG to confirm it was right before we started using it. But there was only 2-3 in the lab doing all the work. Not 30+ un-experience out of control youth.

All I can say it would be nice to have some of the $$$$ scales I used in the lab setting on my bench.

 

[j1]

Of course. Why not?

 

[Bullseye]

As soon as I am done. I keep the container right on my bench that I am using too. I wouldn't want to dump it in the wrong container. I also make sure there isn't a speck of leftover powder in my powder dispenser.

 

[X-Rap]

College is supposed to teach analytical reasoning isn't it?

 

[VThillman]

I have no 'original powder container' on my bench. I keep a card by the powder thrower identifying the powder in the hopper. When I change loading projects I dump that powder into its 'original powder container', change the powder ID on the card, and load the hopper with the new powder. And so forth. Safe reloading is routine in all aspects, including maintaining a log.

 

[OilyPablo]

I've got no problem putting powder back in the same container.

What about saving the first empty 1 pound container of THE EXACT SAME POWDER and using it for the hopper left over rather than putting it back?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Reloading isn't chemistry.
If there's a possibility of your powder getting contaminated by pouring into its original container, you're reloading setup is in the wrong place.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Do y'all return unused powder from your drop hopper to the original container?

Why yes, yes I do. Unless I forget, then I burn it.

 

[kerreckt]

Always goes back into ORIGINAL container when finished. I keep only the powder container I am using on the bench. I also write the type of powder on painters masking tape and attach it to the hopper. That way I will know what powder is in the hopper, regardless.