What to do with spilled powder

Boltcarrier

Boltcarrier

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Inadvertently some powder would be spilled or dropped onto the table during reloading, I use a paint brush to sweep the powder back into the container, is this a wise move, there could be impurities from the table like small wood dust, generally around 1%, would that affect the performance of the powder.
 
I do not do that - if it spilled, always too much crap on my bench - gets swept into a container - spread very thin on a steel plate and burn it - a couple (at most) tablespoons at a time. I would not put "sweepings" back into the powder jug. Since you are apparently not in any way assuring that your contaminant is evenly distributed through out your powder, no doubt some loads are going to end up with more "crap" than others. May or may not matter to you??

Maybe I am too fussy? Even "good" powder from when I pull bullets from loads that are not working out, gets dumped into a freezer Zip-loc bag and labeled - I do not put it back into the original container. And I do re-use that powder (and bullets) from pulled loads, but I know when I am using from pulled loads, versus "fresh" stuff.
 
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This depends on what your bench top looks like. If it's clean and there is no chance of cross contamination, by all means put it back in the original container. You should only have one powder container on your bench at a time anyway. If it's a very small amount, say less than 1/2 teaspoon I brush it into the waste basket, it gets disposed of. Tiny amounts get cleaned up with my hand vac. It's not rocket science, don't over think it.
 
If it is less than a teaspoon worth, I just throw it into the garbage (I have a steel wastepaper can in the shop) Otherwise I scoop it up and throw it on the lawn. If it is significantly more than just a slight spill, after I have a good cry, I will organize a burial with full military honours.
 
I generally keep a clean bench so I reclaim it. Depends on the powder to I guess. If it’s extruded then the kernels are pretty defined so I’m less likely to contaminate. If it’s spherical then that’s a different matter and I’m more likely to clean and dispose.

If it hits the floor then it’s clean and dispose.
 
I usually dump it back in the powder measure if there is not much mixed in, it's common I spill a bit of powder no matter how hard I try not to, I'd waste lots if I threw it out everytime. I will throw it out if it gets mixed with other powder, brass shavings ECT but a trace of wood dust wouldn't bother me at all.
 
Clean bench, keep it, no reason not too.

Ammo isn't manufactured in hermetically sealed environments.
 
In small quantities just throw it in your regular garbage, or compost. It's not poison, or damaging to the environment, and it just decomposes over a few years. It's basically slow release nitrogen fertilizer.
 
OP mentions wood dust for sure in sweepings, but never actually mentioned what quantities - a teaspoon full spilled and swept up, or a cup full? From a one pound jug or an 8 pound jug? In the end - to me - would not matter - I would assess if usable as swept up - worth keeping or not? - a teaspoon full is not, regardless what it looks like, but a cupful might be - but I would not put that back into the original jug - I would want to keep that separate from "fresh" stuff.
 
I sweep it all up and put it in my can of mixed powder :) I'm saving that for a project ;)

I go the can in a box of miscellaneous reloading tools at an auction and it looked like a mix of black powder and extruded powder with a little ball powder thrown in the mix.

now it has everything in it, when I pull the odd loads that I get I dump that powder in the can too.
 
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