Reloading in AC or not??

[BruM]

A friend is considering starting to reload.
He wants to do it inside his house in FL where it will always be airconditioned. I wonder about static electricity in the dry environment.

Perhaps I am over thinking this because even inside static sparks are rare but it is hard to be too safe around powder. Long ago I always loaded in the garage and never gave it a thought.

What do the experienced loaders advise today?

 

[rcmodel]

If I couldn't reload in A/C?

I wouldn't reload at all.

The only problem static will cause is static cling.
It can effect your powder measure and scale pan, and of course, your slip.

But is isn't dangerous in the least as far as igniting powder or primers.

It can be controlled with a wipe-down with a dryer sheet, or a can of Static-Guard works even better.

rc

 

[cfullgraf]

Same here.

I believe static discharges would be noticed during the cold months when the humidity is lower in the atmosphere. I cannot ever remember getting static shocks during A/C season when we lived in New Orleans, but I have slept a bit and consumed my share of adult beverages since then.

Now, the breeze from the A/C system can cause problems with getting good readings from the scale, but that is a different issue.

 

[45lcshooter]

Basement stays a nice 67 degrees all year long. Only static I have is static cling on my Lee Dippers. Just run a a dryer sheet of it.

 

[dragon813gt]

AC units are designed to maintain a 50% relative humidity at 70 degrees inside. This isn't close to the level where you have to worry about static discharges. Once it gets around 20% you might have some issues. To drop the level to around 40% while not subcooling the entire house you need a form of reheat. Residential homes don't have reheat. I wouldn't worry about reloading in the AC.


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[mtrmn]

When you live in Fl (or La like me) you'll have the same attitude toward AC and reloading as rcmodel--no AC/no reloading, unless of course dire circumstances require it.

 

[antlermafia]

I live in AZ. I had to install an A/C unit in my garage so I "could" reload in the summer time. No sparks yet!!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If I couldn't reload in A/C?

I wouldn't reload at all.

Me neither. At least not in the summer. It gets 100+ degrees here fairly often in July and August. I have a small shop with a window unit but it makes it bearable.

 

[flgolfer29]

I reload in a portable metal building, 12' x 24', no AC or insulation. During summer months I only reload during the evening and when it is absolutely necessary (with fans). The wife hasn't let me come inside for reloading yet :banghead:. I keep telling myself I'm going to get a window AC unit but have yet to do so...

I'm in Florida.

joe

 

[beatledog7]

AC does no harm other than blowing on my scale. I had to set up a deflector on the ceiling vent to keep the thing from fluctuating.

 

[Rule3]

Static is more of a problem up North. I live in sub tropic Florida. AC is on 10 months of the year. As rc said no AC, no reloading for me either.

 

[rcmodel]

Here in Kansas, static is way more a problem in the winter when the furnace is on then in the summer when the A/C is on.

I have to run a humidifier on the furnace to keep the humidity up where is is all summer with the A/C on. (50%)

I have to use Static Guard on my truck seats in winter to keep from getting my shorts knocked in a knot by little lightening bolts every time I get in & out all winter.

rc

 

[Lost Sheep]

A friend is considering starting to reload.
He wants to do it inside his house in FL where it will always be airconditioned. I wonder about static electricity in the dry environment.

Perhaps I am over thinking this because even inside static sparks are rare but it is hard to be too safe around powder. Long ago I always loaded in the garage and never gave it a thought.

What do the experienced loaders advise today?

With smokeless powder, static's most likely ill effect is powder clinging to the inside of your powder hopper. Sparks are not common, nor do they easily set off your propellant (which is flammable, but not an explosive).

With black powder, you should be a little more concerned.

Pile 20-30 grains of smokeless powder on a bare patch of ground or a flat rock and light it. It will create an impressive little flame (I have done this myself as an experiment), but not explode unless it is confined to where it creates a lot of pressure. Black powder, however, will explode (I have not done this myself).

Lost Sheep

 

[Bud0505]

I used to reload in A/C shed but unfortunately we moved and now I'm set up in the garage. This time of year I do a lot of reloading. When summer gets here I will spend less time reloading with most of the action being done in the mornings before it gets too hot. I can accomplish quite a few reloads on my Dillon 550B in a relatively short time if I fill my primer tubes in the house where it is very comfortable.

 

[moonzapa]

I would like to echo another post regarding the handling of black powder. It is much more sensitive to static charges leading to ignition than smokeless powder! I have a buddy that lost his eyebrows due to such a freak accident. He was the water cooler subject at work for a month or so. Lots of laughs.
I load smokeless powder all day long on carpet, but I would not attempt to handle black powder. (I know, I'm not being very safe). God protects fools like me.

Keep your powder dry, and cool! Keep the AC!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Smokeless powder is not Black Powder. While a static charge will set off Black Powder smokeless powder is not explosive. It just does not explode while Black Powder will. Primers are designed to go bang when the primer cup is struck with a firing pin but usually will not ignite any other way.

 

[BruM]

thanks for all the replys

Good info