Static electricity and powder bridging...

[Tamara]

Since I installed my new Auto-Disk on my Lee Turret press, I've had a couple of squib loads that I assume are caused by static cling of the powder (light flake powder, Green Dot and Blue Dot) to the sides of the plastic hopper.

Is there a way that I can prevent this from happening without running a fifty-foot wire between my powder hopper and the nearest sink to ground it out?

 

[SodaPop]

Don't laugh......

I've heard of people using those little laundry things that stop static cling.

 

[WESHOOT2]

WARNING: PRIMERS WILL EXPLODE

I keep my shop moist.
Moist enough to rust tooling........

 

[tc300mag1]

The dryer sheets do works that is what i had to do to my lyman and lee hoppers to keep powder from clinging to them

 

[BSlacker]

If it is a part that will take water then mix dishwashing soap and water. You want a pretty soapy water then dip the part and let it dry, don't rinse or wipe, and it will be static free for a while.

 

[Jaywalker]

Guys who worked in microchip labs used to have litttle personal grounding devices grounding them to the floor. It was a little thing similar to an ankle holster or an ankle brace with a metal grounding strap leading the base of their shoes and in contact with the ground.

The dryer sheets seem easier, though.

Also, my wife uses a spray ("Static Guard"?) to keep static electricy down in synthetics.

Jaywalker

 

[Steve Smith]

Tamara, unless you are running your measure quite low, I don't see how the static cling at the top would create squib loads. There should be enough powder in there that the weight would oversome the small amount of cling. I use dyer sheets too, but not to prevent squibs.


I think something else could be wrong.

 

[Poodleshooter]

It isn't the cling in the reservoir, it's the cling in the drop tube or measuring drum/disk that causes the weird drops. You can test for cling by throwing a charge, then tapping the measure with your finger. If extra powder drops out, it's clinging (or you have a leaky fit with the disks). I experience this a lot with my Lee "Perfect" powder measure.
Dryer sheets work well to reduce this problem.

 

[ojibweindian]

Ditto what everybody else has said about using dryer sheets.

 

[Navy joe]

I pressed the cap on my Dillon measure overtop a piece of aluminum mainly to keep moisture out. As a side effect, it eliminated static cling completely. It also keeps gov't microbots from radiating my powder which has caused squibs.

Dunno about your static causing squibs. could be something else.

 

[caseydog]

I'll take Lee dies, I'll go along with Lee presses and the Auto Prime , but their powder measures plain BITE !! Ray

 

[Steve Smith]

Ok, in that case, perhaps you guys could benefit from a mod we Dillon owners do. We use a tapered reamer in the powder funnel to open it up. Works wonders for a Dillon. Just an idea.