Spilled Powder

[Orange Dust]

I load a lot of both centerfire and shotshells on progressive loaders. Yesterday I was watching a Youtube video on changing a collet on a MEC 9000. Afterward another one came on. It supposedly explained how to clear a missed primer. The guy used a hand vac to suck the powder out of the machine. Excellent way to get killed. The only proper way I know of is to dig out with a paint brush, and blow the rest with canned air. If that doesn't get it, disassemble the machine. I've been doing that on MEC's and Dillions forever. Progressives are by nature dirty. They spill small amounts of everything and over time they do create hazards if both the machines and the area around them are not kept clean. My tools are canned air, paint brushes, and 409 cleaner. All this got me thinking. Am I too old school and missing out? I would pay good money for an explosion proof Vacuum. Does anyone know if such a thing exists? Have one? Who has a better way to deal with this problem than I do? This does create stoppages that are both time consuming and frustrating. I'm sure one of you guys have invented a safe way to deal with all this. You have sent way too many pictures of spotless reloading rooms.

 

[Matt_C]

While I commend you on keeping your equipment and gear clean and tidy around your work area, more of us should do that, I'm not sure a vacuum cleaner is a bad idea. Gunpowder is flammable yes, but under pressure it definitely is extremely dangerous! With the size of the suction tube or hose and it being dumped into a large space I wouldn't think it would not explode or burn, but don't take my word for it!!!!! I'm just speculating and trying to think this through. There are lots of folks on this board who are more experienced and smarter than I. Hopefully they'll chime in and educate us.

 

[Orange Dust]

While I commend you on keeping your equipment and gear clean and tidy around your work area, more of us should do that, I"m not sure a vacuum cleaner is a bad idea. Gunpowder is flammable yes, but under pressure it definitely is dangerous! With the size of the suction tube or hose and it being dumped into a large space I wouldn't think it would explode, but don't take my word for it!!!!! I"m just speculating and trying to think this through. There are lots of folks on this board who are more experienced and smarter than I. Hopefully they'll chime in and educate us.

Static electricity thing I am told. I come from an Industrial Distribution background. some kinds of dust are even worse. They make everything explosion proof for those environments, but I don't ever remember seeing a vacuum.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

this one's all relative... sucking up a bit of spilled powder into an empty vac. probably isn't going to cause any issues, especially if it's a metal tub like my shop vac.. sucking a half pound spilled powder in while there's a bunch of combustible stuff in there might be very interesting. it's a lot better to use canned air or the vac's blower function and sweep.

 

[Carlos88]

Suck up a few live primers in a vacuum cleaner and see what happens. Sounds like an M80.

 

[Ol' Red]

I have used a vacuum cleaner for powder in the past. I sweep most of spilled powder up and save for fire starter, but always get some on the floor. That gets vacuumed up along with old primers that miss the primer catcher. I rarely use cleaner on the bench, just wipe down with damp cloth.

 

[Orange Dust]

OK, I got to looking. There is such of a thing. Explosion proof shop vac. The cheapest one os a 2 gal. Here is a link: https://www.larsonelectronics.com/category/12640/explosion-proof-vacuums?pagenum=1
Too pricey for me. I think I might be in for $1k, but not 3. I'm going to keep looking though. I do like the idea.

 

[RidgeTop]

I vacuum spilled power around balance and press and also stuff on the floor which probably has an occasional live primers in it. No problems. Old powder (lots of orange smoke in container) gets sprinkled on the lawn. The white mat under the shell holders is a anti static mat that has a wire that goes to a ground. I think they were used for computers? I am particularly careful in the winter when humidity in the house is low.

 

[Orange Dust]

Grainger has an anti static (might work?) vacuum with a .33 qt capacity for $250. Their explosion proof are $14k. I'm pretty anal about this kind of thing. I had a good friend die a slow terrible death from powder burns due to static electricity. I haven't an accident loading for almost 50 years. general house cleaning has always worked with no vacuum out there. I am looking for a safe way to clear powder spills in progressive loaders that may not be economically realistic.

 

[HSmithTX]

Like you I blow off the machines and sweep. I know a guy that blew a vacuum to hell with powder and a live primer, his ears rang for days. Never used a vacuum again LOL. I've worn completely out a MEC 9000G in 12 and 20 and a Dillon 650 and a 550 too, with progressive machines you will have some amount of spilled powder and a primer dropped/flipped out and no way to stop it. I will stick with compressed air and sweeping.....

 

[Orange Dust]

Like you I blow off the machines and sweep. I know a guy that blew a vacuum to hell with powder and a live primer, his ears rang for days. Never used a vacuum again LOL. I've worn completely out a MEC 9000G in 12 and 20 and a Dillon 650 and a 550 too, with progressive machines you will have some amount of spilled powder and a primer dropped/flipped out and no way to stop it. I will stick with compressed air and sweeping.....

There is a need. Dillon or somebody could make some money!!

 

[Montana'eer]

I use a paint brush / dustpan / brush. Spilt crud goes outside on the lawn.

 

[Mallardhammer]

Spilled powder is no biggie once you've spilled 1 1/8 of shot or more. That will make you question your existence lol if you load on a 9000, you know.

 

[Orange Dust]

Spilled powder is no biggie once you've spilled 1 1/8 of shot or more. That will make you question your existence lol if you load on a 9000, you know.

I load mostly 8-1/2's and 9's so I know. You think 1-1/8oz is bad... Try 1/2oz. My fingers just don't fit in the holes. LOL. Guess while we are getting our explosion proof vacuum they might as well build it powerful enough to pick up lead shot.