STATIC ELECTRICITY AND POWDER

16 May 2002, 14:14

DEPUTY450

I have a RCBS powder dispencer that I am using for the first time and I keep having powder stick to the inside of the drop tube.
I can't get accurate volumes of powder with this going on and suggestions? This is a pain. Oh by the way I am using H110 if that makes a difference. Thanks for the help. Jay

16 May 2002, 14:52

Tailgunner

Get some 'cling-free' dryer sheets, from the laundry products section of your grocery store, and wipe down your drop tube, funnel etc. Kills the static, works good on the TV screen also

16 May 2002, 14:52

mbk

Wash it in soapy water(dish soap)and let it air dry without rinsing. The dry soap film will kill the static and not affect the powder. Mike

17 May 2002, 09:37

<.>

The static cling in the tube is not going to affect the accuracy of the throw weight, not a bit.

RCBS recommends that you run some powder inside the tube and through the system before using it. This coats the parts with graphite and makes them work better.

I was having my die in the Uniflow get sort of stiff and tight. Pulled the die and wiped down the parts with a clean, soft, cotton cloth. Everything's fine now.

The only time I'd worry much about static electricity is possibly getting a spark that would set off the powder. But every time you touch the unit, you discharge the static.

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17 May 2002, 12:37

<TomJ>

I just run a little bit of powdered graphite through the measure. There's graphite in the powder anyway.

17 May 2002, 14:38

Dino32HR

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Genghis:
[B]The static cling in the tube is not going to affect the accuracy of the throw weight, not a bit.

Genghis -

It affected the throw weight in my Lee AutoMeasure. I was getting a 0.2 gr. varience on a 3.0 gr. drop of Titegroup.

I called Lee Precision to whine and they suggested the dryer sheet as well. It worked, and my drop weights got a lot tighter.

-Dino

19 May 2002, 12:06

<KING>

This may seem minor fellas, don't load any black powder or subs. using these devices. Only for those of you who use black powder. Static electricity and black powder don't mix. Just talkin'.

19 May 2002, 14:08

Eddie

quote:
It affected the throw weight in my Lee AutoMeasure. I was getting a 0.2 gr. varience on a 3.0 gr. drop of Titegroup.

That's odd. I have nine measures from three different manufacturers (none Lee) and I've never had a problem with inconsistent charges. I'm sure I experience as much static cling as much as anyone else. You aren't running the measure "dry," are you (almost or completely out of powder)?

Eddie

20 May 2002, 01:15

DEPUTY450

Eddie, I am not running the measure dry. Yet the powder drops into the pan and curls up into a ball. I can see it sticking to the inside of the drop tube. And this is effecting the weight as I am weighing each charge and the scale showing that each drop is different (RCBS 10-10). Maybe the gravity is wierd here where I live, I don't know....

20 May 2002, 09:10

Eddie

Now I see the problem. You're in Wisconsin. The magnetic pull of true north is affecting your scale.

quote:
I can see it sticking to the inside of the drop tube.

Are you using the long drop tube? If so, have you tried the dryer sheets or the "no-rinse" wash as mentioned above? Other than that, I think the only option is to use the stubby drop tube.

Good luck,

Eddie

20 May 2002, 11:31

HenryC470

If it's stuck all over the inside of the drop tube, and if exactly the same amount sticks every time, the measure ought to throw consistent charges. Otherwise...

You mentioned the powder balling up on the pan of your scale. You might want to wipe that with the dryer sheet as well. Static electric attraction between parts of a powder scale can positively or negatively affect the measurement. I see 0.2 to 0.5 grain static errors all the time on laboratory analytical balances.

A handy item to own is a Discwasher static gun. We use them in the lab instead of dryer sheets. They used to be sold in record stores for ~$12. With the decline of vinyl LP sales, you almost have to go to a laboratory supply store to get one now. The static guns work very well. If it ever stops working, crack open the case (it's glued together). There is an adjustment screw on the piezo cell inside.

H. C.