Cleaning up powder spill
- Thread starter pitpenz83
- Start date
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
Don't use a vacuum cleaner...........vvvvvvv...boom
- Location
- Saskatchewan
broom and dustpan.
kokanee king
Regular
- Location
- Didsbury, Alberta
aww i was gonna say a match
Help a newbie
I am so tired of mindless smart aleck answers I'm breaking a long self-imposed silence to post here. Mods, you might want to address those thoughtless members who somehow think it OK to give dangerous advice on your forum. Remember, the question was raised by someone so new to reloading, he thought he could get decent advice on CGN.
Clean up the spill with a broom, brushes, and even adhesive tapes. Do not use a vacumm cleaner, as there is a small risk of fire from spark. Just gently and thoroughly brush all powder into an open pan, and flush down the toilet. Think cleaning up a keyboard - small brushes, in between parts of the reloading tool, and maybe do a detailed disassembly to get it all. A simple broom will clean a hard floor, and sticky tape will get powder granules out of carpet or textured flooring. The fire hazard is not great, but smokeless powder fires are impressive, and no one wants the fire department hosing down their gun rooms! Oh, and make sure you close and move clear any powder containers before you start the clean-up. Limiting the amount of fuel available is always prudent in any potential ignition situation.
I am so tired of mindless smart aleck answers I'm breaking a long self-imposed silence to post here. Mods, you might want to address those thoughtless members who somehow think it OK to give dangerous advice on your forum. Remember, the question was raised by someone so new to reloading, he thought he could get decent advice on CGN.
Clean up the spill with a broom, brushes, and even adhesive tapes. Do not use a vacumm cleaner, as there is a small risk of fire from spark. Just gently and thoroughly brush all powder into an open pan, and flush down the toilet. Think cleaning up a keyboard - small brushes, in between parts of the reloading tool, and maybe do a detailed disassembly to get it all. A simple broom will clean a hard floor, and sticky tape will get powder granules out of carpet or textured flooring. The fire hazard is not great, but smokeless powder fires are impressive, and no one wants the fire department hosing down their gun rooms! Oh, and make sure you close and move clear any powder containers before you start the clean-up. Limiting the amount of fuel available is always prudent in any potential ignition situation.
thats funny! and something I would do.
Don't clean it up. It adds to the reloading bench character. At the end of the year sweep it all up and come on CGN and say you want to relaod with the mixture. Then watch some CGN'ers really stroke out 
My current mixture is approx 50% varget, 20% IMR 4350, 15% titegroup, 10% RE22, 5% dust. I figure it will be good for my WSSSSSSM.
Honestly, broom and dust pan. Unless you are vacuuming a pound, shop vac also works (which I am sure to go to hell for). Yeeeesh
My current mixture is approx 50% varget, 20% IMR 4350, 15% titegroup, 10% RE22, 5% dust. I figure it will be good for my WSSSSSSM.
Honestly, broom and dust pan. Unless you are vacuuming a pound, shop vac also works (which I am sure to go to hell for). Yeeeesh
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kokanee king
Regular
- Location
- Didsbury, Alberta
aww man...in light of the political rat race going on right now, some of us were just havin a bit of fun. Christ, its not like he would seriously take a bic or a match to the powder?
I woulda used a dustpan and a broom myself.
I woulda used a dustpan and a broom myself.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
use a can of compressed air or a compressor to blow it out of the wierd spots and sweep it up after.
I have had a powder fire in the carpet of the loading room. It was a ##### to put out. I now sweep up after each session.
I have my own dedicated dust pan, a medium broom and a hand broom for the bench and equipment. Sweep crap off bench onto the floor, then sweep the floor. takes about 2 minutes.
The floor is now painted concrete. Easy to clean and no trapped powder.
Another time, an electrican was working on the panel, mounted on the wall near my Dillon press. I was out for a bit, and was not there to see him test the booze in my bar before getting around to working. He ignored/forgot my warning about smoking in the loading room. He dropped his smoke into the Dillon. About a pound of pistol powder went up like a Roman candle. Burned through the ceiling tiles and started the beams on fire.
Just about then my wife came home and put the fire out. A loading room fire is no joke. Powder fires are very hot.
I recall a powder hopper on a shot shell machine (about 20 pounds of powder) going off once. It high ordered. Parts of the steel frame of the enclosure were found a half mile away.
I have my own dedicated dust pan, a medium broom and a hand broom for the bench and equipment. Sweep crap off bench onto the floor, then sweep the floor. takes about 2 minutes.
The floor is now painted concrete. Easy to clean and no trapped powder.
Another time, an electrican was working on the panel, mounted on the wall near my Dillon press. I was out for a bit, and was not there to see him test the booze in my bar before getting around to working. He ignored/forgot my warning about smoking in the loading room. He dropped his smoke into the Dillon. About a pound of pistol powder went up like a Roman candle. Burned through the ceiling tiles and started the beams on fire.
Just about then my wife came home and put the fire out. A loading room fire is no joke. Powder fires are very hot.
I recall a powder hopper on a shot shell machine (about 20 pounds of powder) going off once. It high ordered. Parts of the steel frame of the enclosure were found a half mile away.
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- Location
- In the middle of gopher country
X2
What would ignite the powder?
If whatever it was did, then your vacuum with the dust and such in would likely explode without the powder.
x3 I use a vacuum regularly. Never a problem. There are videos out there of running electrical arcs through smokeless powder, no problem. One of the purposes of the carbon coating is to reduce the issues of static electricity.
A cat, a balloon and some bandaids. Hold cat firmly and use tail to brush around turret, then inflate balloon, rub cat briskly with balloon and use it to pick up powder from floor. When all of the powder is on it, dip it ( the balloon or the cat - which ever you used ) in water to remove powder. Alternate disposal method includes feeding powder to cat ( the glycerine content may help to calm down what is likely a rather hyperactive kitty by now.) Apply bandaids. Note: be careful to avoid popping balloon while holding cat.
Quote: "A cat, a balloon and some bandaids. Hold cat firmly and use tail to brush around turret, then inflate balloon, rub cat briskly with balloon and use it to pick up powder from floor. When all of the powder is on it, dip it ( the balloon or the cat - which ever you used ) in water to remove powder. Alternate disposal method includes feeding powder to cat ( the glycerine content may help to calm down what is likely a rather hyperactive kitty by now.) Apply bandaids. Note: be careful to avoid popping balloon while holding cat."
Got a You Tube on that??
Got a You Tube on that??
