This is probably a dumb question, but I'd be interested to know how forum members clean up spilled components on their loading table/bench?
I load .410 on a MEC Sizemaster, using 296, which is a very fine grain powder. The charge bar isn't very tight, so it throws a small bit of powder onto the table with each charge.
I though about using a hand vac but that would not neutralize the powder. Currently I clean with a damp paper towel but it's difficult to get all the loose powder that's in nooks and crannies.
Suggestions?
LTC, USA, RET Benefactor Life Member, NRA Member, SCI & DSC Proud son of Texas A&M, Class of 1969
"A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" Robert Browning
Posts: 1555 | Location: Native Texan Now In Jacksonville, Florida, USA | Registered: 10 July 2000
I use a soft hand brush I found at the dollar store. Sweep into a dustpan... ponder if I could load a shell or too with a "duplex" load. Then toss it in my wood stove and watch the flash.
Could be possible to glue a strip of thin plastic to the base of the charge bar, cutting out holes at the bushing openings. Would be better to eliminate the nuisance of fine powder spilling from the powder reservoir via the charge bar rather than deal with spillages around your loader and bench. Thin plastic, I'm thinking of something like that used for clear file pockets etc.
The standard alloy charge bars in my Lyman Easyloader (separate shot and powder bars), were not particularly tight, not that I have ever used very fine powder, but the accessory steel adjustable powder bar I use is nice and snug and I wouldn't imagine any fine powder would escape this bar.
Posts: 3924 | Location: Rolleston, Christchurch, New Zealand | Registered: 03 August 2009
Shop vac. The wife claims that she once sucked up a primer from the rug and the beater bar on the vac. set it off. To eliminate powder escaping from the MEC I use the red plastic baffle attachment between the powder bottle and the bar. It has a spring loaded bushing that rides the bar and pretty much eliminates any powder escaping. If you don't like the baffles just drill them out. C.G.B.
The wife claims that she once sucked up a primer from the rug and the beater bar on the vac.
When we were high-schoolers my friend's mother sucked up a crimped .22 blank we had dropped on the carpet in her Kirby. Kapow! We were personnae non grata for quite a while.
Posts: 13261 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
Vac. Never had a problem, although years ago, our cleaning lady had a primer blow a hole in her upright vac bag. She put a piece of duct tap e over the hole and thought nothing of it.
I use my shop vac. As a matter of fact, the shop vac is stored right next to the left leg of my reloading bench.
If I was paranoid, I would just leave an inch or so of water in the bottom of the canister to neutralize the powder after it is sucked up.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
Posts: 12745 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002
Why not use a turkey type aluminum cooking pan under the press? It's great at catching all spills. I read about it somewhere and have them under all of my shotgun presses. Unbolt the press once in a while and dump all the goodies from the pan (I usually sift it to reuse the shot).
