I've been working with a spherical powder that just doesn't want to stay in the powder scale dish as I measure out loads. I end up with little rolling, bouncing bits on my bench and ultimately the floor. Nothing to any great extent and I work to clean it up, but I don't like the idea of accumulation over time. Anyone have sage advice on controlling it?
spherical powder messes
- Thread starter hillman23
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NoName47
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Are you throwing a charge or trickling a charge. Throwing a charge i just put the pan against the bottom of the of the powder measure and then lower the pan and give the measure a tap to drop the little bit sticking in the tube. Never had a problem trickling.
WrongHanded
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Good question. The one thing I wish someone had told me before I started reloading, was to hold the pan tight to the bottom of the powder measure. I don't think any of the powder stayed in the pan on that first throw. Just bounced right out all over my bench.
Hooda Thunkit
Member
I remember the time I pulled the hopper full of H110 from the Lee AutoDrum without shutting off the flow.
It emptied in a HURRY !
Everywhere....
It emptied in a HURRY !
Everywhere....
Orcon
Member
My RCBS Charge Master does the same with most spherical powders, the finer powders do it the worst. I just keep a vacuum near the bench for clean up. I'm waiting for the day I accidently suck up a primer and die a most gruesome death.
I’m pouring fairly large charges for 338 win mag loads from the powder container into the pan. I’m thinking I’ll try zeroing the scale out with the powder funnel set in the pan and pour into the funnel and slowly lift the funnel out of the pan? I’m a low volume reloader so I don’t need elaborate schemes.
You’d go out in a blaze of glory!
Jesse Heywood
Member
If you are pouring from the powder container I will recommend some changes. Here's what I do.
Use a smaller container as a serving vessel. I use a cup from a liquid detergent bottle. From that I use a plastic coffee scoop. It has two scoop sizes, the small end holds about 30 grains. Powder density will make variations. For trickling use the largest cartridge case you have, leave a spent primer in. Before use the plastic needs treated for static. I also treat my pan, it is subject to static too. Wipe with a used (not new) dryer sheet. The new leaves residue. Or get a spray can of static guard for fabric, which will need dry before use.
Use a smaller container as a serving vessel. I use a cup from a liquid detergent bottle. From that I use a plastic coffee scoop. It has two scoop sizes, the small end holds about 30 grains. Powder density will make variations. For trickling use the largest cartridge case you have, leave a spent primer in. Before use the plastic needs treated for static. I also treat my pan, it is subject to static too. Wipe with a used (not new) dryer sheet. The new leaves residue. Or get a spray can of static guard for fabric, which will need dry before use.
MutinousDoug
Member
I worked for an ordnance company for 24 years and never saw anyone clean up propellant spills/waste with a vacuum cleaner. Did see the effects of a pretty green engineer burn his eyebrows off testing propellant sensitivity to static electricity though.
If we had filmed or photographed the incident, it would have made a good training section; better than our description of it.
If we had filmed or photographed the incident, it would have made a good training section; better than our description of it.
wbbh
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Try a
I had the same problem. I found an old stamped circular box made to hold typewriter ribbons. It's actually an antique, but I use the lid to catch powder coming out of my Chargemaster. It's about 98% effective at catching powder that would be bouncing out of the stock pan. It lacks a spout but it dumps easily into my powder funnels.
I had the same problem. I found an old stamped circular box made to hold typewriter ribbons. It's actually an antique, but I use the lid to catch powder coming out of my Chargemaster. It's about 98% effective at catching powder that would be bouncing out of the stock pan. It lacks a spout but it dumps easily into my powder funnels.
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