Vacuuming Smokeless Powder

[Muleshoe Slick]

When reloading, I always seem to get a small amount of powder on my reloading bench. (I've been reloading for 30+ years without any kind of accident.)
Up to now I've used a old draftman's brush to sweep off the powder into the trash.
My bench is pretty crowded with bullets, dies, etc and its hard to get it free of powder. I was wondering about a small handheld vacuum cleaner to by vacuuming up the stuff.
Most use cyclone technology instead of bags and they are all plastic.
I worry about static discharge in the vacuum setting of a small explosion. I have a dust collection system that I provide a static drain to to prevent static buildup.(believe me dust particles can create a static discharge.)
Has anyone had experience with what I talking about good or bad?

[runfiverun]

plastic is very good at creating static elec.
if you look at black powder tools they are brass because of past explosions caused by static sparks.
like you i use a brush for powder spills etc.

i remember one time my dad knocked some shotgun primers off the bench on his way to work. mom figured she'd clean the reloading area for him and run the vacuumn through there.
i still remember the sound of those going off in the shop vac.
and putting duct tape over the holes for her so it would keep on working.
last time she ever went into the reloading room too.

a shop vac with the motor separated and filtered could work to pick up powder, but anything where the powder was close to the motor i would stay away from.
something that used water or a wet vac with water in it would be my first [and is my] choice.

[kodiak1]

I usually grab the shop vac once a month and what ever crumbs are around suck them up.
I don't think one has to worry to much with the small amounts you are talking about. On the other hand if one spilt 1/2 a pound then I would seriously consider the dustpan and brush method.
I even suck up the black powder kernels too.
One thing that scare the shat out of you is rolling the wheel of a chair over a primer that will startel the bjeebers out of you fast.......Yes that is how I know.

Ken.

[geargnasher]

I vacuum smokeless powder all the time, even if it did light off in the turbine what's it going to do without being contained? Ever light off a pile of mixed or questionable smokeless powder? Not very spectacular.

Primers are a different story, I totalled a cordless handheld with what I think was a Federal LP magnum or two, don't ask.

I know nothing of BP, but like R5R said they make BP-handling equipment out of conductive metal for a reason.

Gear

[chris112]

I know nothing of BP, but like R5R said they make BP-handling equipment out of conductive metal for a reason.

Gear

I believe you mean non-conductive, ie won't carry an electrical charge; where conductive will.

[bumpo628]

Non-conductive items like plastic would build up static. Conductive metal items will not.

I just use a little compress air to blow it on the ground and then sweep it up.

[firefly 1957]

With the issue of brass For powder measure it is not static it is steel will make friction spark brass will not as it is softer. I have witnessed a lot of static in my shop vacuum in the plastic hose when using it to pickup dry sawdust . However I have tried with small amounts of both black powder and smokeless to ignite them with static without success. I would not temp fate use a hair brush to remove powder then do not put smokeless powder in yard as it does not breakdown very well. Black powder will be destroyed next time it gets wet as the nitrates will dissolve but smokeless is more like auto lacquer paint in composition and will last a long time.
I burn my spilled powder do not save it up just burn the small amount you spill in a safe place in a thin long line to reduce heat. Another problem you may have with a vacuum is some models have the material going though a high speed fan blade.(A bad idea)
What happens if you burn to much powder? I bought a old Mec 400 at a yard sale and with it was a can of Alcan AL-5 powder this can was filled to the top and was mixed powders of many types. I put it in wet lawn away from any building ran a piece of tape to it as a fuse. Upon lighting it started slow than went poof with a very hot flash and a fireball that went 25 feet in the air. The grass was killed from the heat 5 feet away and at thirty feet I was startled by heat blast. There is a lot of energy in powder do not under estimate it .

[GH1]

I use a can of dust remover that is sold for cleaning computer keyboards to get the powder off my bench. Then I just vacuum. There's usually very little.
GH1