Powder static cling

S

Show Me

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Just when I think I'm the only one with problems some one has a valid good one. I never have a problem buying and trying different powders. What's over the next hill? Anyway they don't go to waste. Seems like a honest good rifle shoots many powders good. Powder measures throw me fits with ball powder. I take them apart and solve the problem most of the time. Some ball powders just won't work. They have static cling. If you stick a well used dipper in the bottle and powder sticks to it what do you think it does in a powder dump. Well I'm not naming brands or names because some wise guy will want to show off and put me down. Well today I opened a bottle of CFE BLK and that is super fine very well behaved easy dumping powder. I always make a few to test . Dump a scoop in the pan then scoop with the smallest and tap tap tap to bring it up. Not a single tiny gradual stuck. Just wanted to. Tell someone, thanks for reading.
PS no a bounce sheet doesn't fix the three powders I have problems with.
 
With a new powder measure, I find it takes a while to build up a graphite coating on the inside of the hopper. Most static problems go away once the coating is established.

I’ll agree dryer sheets are not the “be all to end all” but they help. With a new powder measure, I store the measure with a dryer sheet in the hopper.

One thing, do not clean the hopper of the powder measure. You can use a soft brush to sweep out powder from the hopper but cleaning the hopper with some kind of solvent or cleaner will remove the graphite coating.

There are a company or two that make glass hoppers for various powder measures. These may help reduce the static issues. I’ve not tried a glass hopper. Maybe some day.
 
cfullgraf said:
With a new powder measure, I find it takes a while to build up a graphite coating on the inside of the hopper. Most static problems go away once the coating is established.

I’ll agree dryer sheets are not the “be all to end all” but they help. With a new powder measure, I store the measure with a dryer sheet in the hopper.

One thing, do not clean the hopper of the powder measure. You can use a soft brush to sweep out powder from the hopper but cleaning the hopper with some kind of solvent or cleaner will remove the graphite coating.

There are a company or two that make glass hoppers for various powder measures. These may help reduce the static issues. I’ve not tried a glass hopper. Maybe some day.
Click to expand...
This has been my experience also.
 
cfullgraf said:
With a new powder measure, I find it takes a while to build up a graphite coating on the inside of the hopper. Most static problems go away once the coating is established.

I’ll agree dryer sheets are not the “be all to end all” but they help. With a new powder measure, I store the measure with a dryer sheet in the hopper.

One thing, do not clean the hopper of the powder measure. You can use a soft brush to sweep out powder from the hopper but cleaning the hopper with some kind of solvent or cleaner will remove the graphite coating.

There are a company or two that make glass hoppers for various powder measures. These may help reduce the static issues. I’ve not tried a glass hopper. Maybe some day.
Click to expand...
All my powder handling tools are black from use. Use an old white Pyrex coffee cup to dip out of and it's black and it is very clingy with the certain rifle powders . I didn't mention my handgun powders are well behaved. Thanks
 
Just to add...

I have an RCBS Uniflo powder measure that I purchased around 1980. The hopper is so black with graphite that you cannot see the powder level in the hopper.

No way I'm going to clean the hopper. I do not have static problems with the powder measure. It is no big deal to check the hopper level periodically. You just have to figure how fast you are consuming powder for the cartridge you are loading.

Another thing to not do with powder measures is to leave powder stored in the measure. The solvents in the powder will etch the plastics of the hopper and will discolor the hopper.
 
So I'm not alone. Thrilled with my CFE BLK purchase. And it's not hard to find and not expensive as say benchmark which is my best for a dump. That tapping a thimble and getting powder to drop out for the second time is an unnecessary aggravation.
 
I use graphite on new equipment. It works somewhat but it's not magic.

In my limited experience (only use a handful of powders compared to you all), it depends on the particular powder.

For example, regardless of the outdoor weather or indoor humidity, Bullseye always has static cling but Sport Pistol & W231 never do.

This is true on both my red Lee funnel, the glass custard dish I use for dipping, and the red Lee hopper from one of their dispensers (can't recall the name). RCBS Uniflow? Can't recall...been a while since I used it.

But I never have static cling on my Lyman digital scale's metal pan with any powder. Because it's anodized maybe? IMG_4509.jpeg
 
Show Me said:
Just when I think I'm the only one with problems some one has a valid good one. I never have a problem buying and trying different powders. What's over the next hill? Anyway they don't go to waste. Seems like a honest good rifle shoots many powders good. Powder measures throw me fits with ball powder. I take them apart and solve the problem most of the time. Some ball powders just won't work. They have static cling. If you stick a well used dipper in the bottle and powder sticks to it what do you think it does in a powder dump. Well I'm not naming brands or names because some wise guy will want to show off and put me down. Well today I opened a bottle of CFE BLK and that is super fine very well behaved easy dumping powder. I always make a few to test . Dump a scoop in the pan then scoop with the smallest and tap tap tap to bring it up. Not a single tiny gradual stuck. Just wanted to. Tell someone, thanks for reading.
PS no a bounce sheet doesn't fix the three powders I have problems with.
Click to expand...
someone told me, when i first started out to use this..

1707484383751.png


spray it into the hopper, let it dry....no more static cling, and i have sprayed all 5 of my Dillon hoppers and my Lee hopper, as well as into my scale measuring cup..

walmart has it for cheap, (in the laundry supplies section)
 
buddyd157 said:
someone told me, when i first started out to use this..

View attachment 1193576


spray it into the hopper, let it dry....no more static cling, and i have sprayed all 5 of my Dillon hoppers and my Lee hopper, as well as into my scale measuring cup..

walmart has it for cheap, (in the laundry supplies section)
Click to expand...
Wouldn't that be nice !!
 
I used my RCBS powder measure last evening and it has no powder clinging to the sides when I empty it. It is mounted on the same bench as my LNL powder measure. Why would one have a problem and not the other ? The RCBS I have had since the mid 70's and the LNL is about 6 months old.
 
I have had some issues with gun powder sticking half way up funnels and i literally just break apart a graphite pencil, take the graphite and rub it all over everything.
 
Sure, graphite can help reduce static, but two big sources of static are missing from this thread, the work environment and the person doing the loading. Your clothing, the bench construction, the flooring material and your chair, even the humidity of the air can all contribute to static.
Do what you can to reduce sources of static in your environment. Also consider using an anti-static grounding strap, such as used in electronics work.
 
splattergun said:
Sure, graphite can help reduce static, but two big sources of static are missing from this thread, the work environment and the person doing the loading. Your clothing, the bench construction, the flooring material and your chair, even the humidity of the air can all contribute to static.
Do what you can to reduce sources of static in your environment. Also consider using an anti-static grounding strap, such as used in electronics work.
Click to expand...
I only wear silk pajamas when reloading--bought em at an estate sale--big monogram HH. Probably stands for Hogdon or something don't you think?
 
Show Me said:
You didn't get the OP. Some powders are clingy in the bottle and stick to anything and a bounce sheet doesn't fix it. So what then.
Click to expand...
Yep. Dryer sheets work...sometimes, maybe many times, but not all of the time. I don't even bother anymore. Just power through.

Here are two pictures of the glass custard cup I use to dip from. First, is after bullseye has been dumped back into container. After several sharp taps, powder remains stuck to the cup. Second picture is after Sport Pistol and no tapping. It just pours out.

Not scientific but pictures are fun anyway.

IMG_4511.jpeg IMG_4512.jpeg
 
Won’t help the powder sticking in the bottle, but anything else plastic can be treated with a wash in Dawn, no rinse, let it air dry. Works very well. Probably similar to the Static Guard.
Longer lasting than dryer sheets.
 
Last edited:
CQB45ACP said:
Yep. Dryer sheets work...sometimes, maybe many times, but not all of the time. I don't even bother anymore.

Here are two pictures of the glass custard cup I use to dip from. First, is after bullseye has been dumped back into container. After several sharp taps, powder remains stuck to the cup. Second picture is after Sport Pistol and no tapping. It just pours out.

Not scientific but pictures are fun anyway.

View attachment 1193963View attachment 1193964
Click to expand...
Very good example. Now open your bottles and which powders stick to the side of the bottle. Some will, most won't. They don't give you a chance. The do's are off to a bad start. I have three bottles of socom that almost attract each other.
 
PO2Hammer said:
They used to sell static ‘guns’ that had something mildly radioactive in them to bust static, but I haven’t seen those in a while.
Click to expand...
Popular at stereo equipment dealers in the 70s. I bought a Bang & Olufsen turn table back then which tapped me out so I couldn't afford the gun. A friend did get one but don't recall if it worked.
 
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