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?

Never use a vacuum to pick up powder! Even a hand vac could light it off! I use a big clean paint brush and a dust pan.

I have yet to see a documented case of gunpowder blowing up in a vacuum cleaner.

Well, I would clean my reloading bench, if I could actually see it

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.

quote:

Originally posted by Live Oak:
Never use a vacuum to pick up powder! Even a hand vac could light it off! I use a big clean paint brush and a dust pan.

I have been using a small vacuum cleaner to pick spilled powder for years.

Never had any problems!

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.

With a shop vac the filter catches the powder before it reaches the vac motor eliminating set off. At least on my 4 shop vacs.

Hip

I can really identify with Rockdoc. I know everything is there it just has to be uncovered. Good Shooting.

quote:

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.

Throughout the years, I must have vacuumed literally pounds of spilled powder, and God only knows how many live primers.

Never, NEVER, had we had any problems!

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've also used a shop vac without trouble.

My only issue with shop vacs is the new ones don't seem to have enough suction to pick up loose shot reliably.

Every single reloader here uses vacuums.

NEVER had anyone EVER had any problems.

It's an old wive's tale.

Using a Dyson vacuum.

We spilled powder on the carpet.

Vacuumed it.


Dropped an assortment of primers we have recovered from unknown loads.

Added 10 small rifle, small pistol, large pistol, large rifles primers to the mix to these on the carper floor.

Vacuumed them all, on top of the powder cleaned earlier.

Nothing happened!

We had one individual who left the room and stood outside.

Saying "I am not going to get involved in Saeed's experiments!"

Bloody nitwit!

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.

Saeed,

Is that a FLYING carpet or a wall to wall?

Hip

We have wall to wall carpet.

We also have a flying carpet, which we tow behind a 4 wheel SUV in the desert with people riding it.

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).

if you just build your bench all crooked everything eventually slides onto the floor.

Static electricity and munitions do not mix.

quote:

Originally posted by Gojoe:
Static electricity and munitions do not mix.

Yeah! But sometimes you just need something to

LIGHT UP YUR LIFE!!!

Hip

quote:

Originally posted by Gojoe:
Static electricity and munitions do not mix.

This pertains to black, can't see smokeless being much different.

https://www.texas-mac.com/Sens...tatic_Discharge.html

shop vac works for me. Has for many, many years.

Cordless vacuum for 30+ years. Currently a 2v DeWalt.