So I bought a press and the powder hopper was full on the toolhead. The three pounds of powder it came with are all full ( 2 258 win ball and a blue dot). So I'm wondering what I do with the full hopper of powder because I have no idea what kind it is. Thanks.
What to do with unknown powder
- Thread starter sookie_69
- Start date
Unknown powder on the press: disperse it on the lawn as fertilizer or light it off in small batches (at your own risk and responsibility!).
The three pounds: If the containers have been opened, I'd visually compare it to the same powders from a known source to make sure it looks like what it is supposed to look like. If I acquired powder from someone and I had any doubts about what they may have put in the cans or bottles, I'd be very, very cautious about it.
For example: if I acquired the powder from an old guy who's getting out of the hobby because he can no longer see or remember where he put things, I'd be very suspicious of any open containers of powder. I'd likely toss them.
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
Every reloading manual on the planet will tell you to dispose of it, and this is the best advice.
That said, logically you can you ask the person you bought the equipment from. IF you are 100% certain it is one of those two powders, you should be able to tell the difference visually.
Personally, there isn't a brand of powder on the planet that is so precious that a hopper full is worth the potential consequences of getting it wrong.
That said, logically you can you ask the person you bought the equipment from. IF you are 100% certain it is one of those two powders, you should be able to tell the difference visually.
Personally, there isn't a brand of powder on the planet that is so precious that a hopper full is worth the potential consequences of getting it wrong.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Had a similar situation when I was clearing out Dad's stuff. Found a large pickle jar full of powder with a piece of tape with "H4831" written on it stuck to the lid. I know that it wasn't powder that the Old Man had, must have picked it up from someone around the farm. And I know that H4831 was sold by the paper bag out of barrels in the old days, but I couldn't trust it to be what it might have been so out into the dumpster it went. mom wasn't keen of watching me light it on fire so I allowed self-control to get the better of me.
That may be. I said what I would do. I did not suggest that others do the same.
It all depends on how big the quantity. I found a 45 pound drum of powder that was labeled 4895. I could see that it was not. I had a vague memory (at my age I have a lot of those...) of a drum of powder being damaged and decanting the powder into an empty drum. I assumed my label had fallen off.
The powder looked like 4350 or 4831. Since I only had Bofors and Expro powders in large drums, my best guess it was an Expro powder and 4831 or 4350.
I made up a load on the assumption it was 4350 and fired across a Chrony. If velocity was low, I would try a 4831 load. But velocity was about right, so I decanted the powder into milk jugs and labelled it.
I think most guys here would think long and hard before tossing 45 pounds of powder.
I recall getting a PM from a guy who had found 100 pounds of unidentified powder in an estate. he asked me how he could test it. I suggested he send it to me, and I would test.
He did. I immediately noticed it was very dense. Then I noted it was gritty. Then I concluded it was sandblasting grit.
I still have it. One day I will find a use for it.
Thank you! It would be perfect for that, and I do tend to have ice problems.
One thought I had was to paint the wooden stairs and sprinkle some grit on the wet paint to make it grippy.
dirtycurty
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Alberta
Fertilizer
