Static cling in the powder die - Unique

[SLT223]

My powder die makes one heck of a mess with Unique, and Unique only. I'm thinking it's static? Anyone else having this problem with Unique? Has anyone run a ground wire to the powder funnel from a baseboard heating pipe? The problem is the powder continues to fall as the case is pulled off the powder die. Unique is the only propellant that does this on my set up. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Maximumbob54]

Wipe the inside with a dryer sheet before each use. Sounds silly but it works.

 

[Ballistic147]

I was having issues with Power Pistol doing the same thing. Mostly happened during the winter when it was cold and the air was dry. Don't really have a static problem during our hot, humid summers here in NC. Drove a ground rod about 3 feet deep behind the shop and ran a ground wire and clamped it to the powder drop on my Hornady LNL AP. Definitely helped a lot. Haven't had this problem with any of the other powders I use.

 

[johnnyflake]

I live in Southern Nevada and it's dry here all the time, especially in the winter months. I was having the same type of problems when I first moved here about 15 years ago. To solve the issue, I purchased a room size Vaporizer from Walgreen's. When I am going to do some loading, I turn it on about a half hour before I start and bingo, no static problems of any kind. The small Vaporizer puts enough humidity in the room to stop any kind of static activity.

 

[SLT223]

I'll give the dryer sheet a whirl. Thanks again guys!

By the way this seems to happen with Unique not matter the season or weather. Dunno, maybe my house is just super dry.

 

[growr]

Since 1974 I have used Unique almost exclusively, and have NEVER had this as a problem...

Randy

 

[DIYguy]

Interesting timing as I was having the exact same problem with Power Pistol powder over the week end. It was like electrostatic charged powder jumping 6" to the metal body. Grounding rod is a bit extreme but the dryer sheet sounds interesting.

 

[824tsv]

The dryer sheet works like a charm!
I wipe the inside of my powder measure with a used dryer sheet before filling it. No more static cling.

 

[glenwolde]

The dryer sheet works like a charm!
I wipe the inside of my powder measure with a used dryer sheet before filling it. No more static cling.

I just keep a dryer sheet stored in the empty powder measure when I'm not using it.

 

[Wishoot]

Scented? Unscented? Snuggles? Bounce?

Need Chrony testing on all of them.

 

[kenjen]

A dryer sheet also works in your media tumber, cut into strips about 1'' by the width and toss them in when you tumble, they suck up a lot of the dust.

 

[johngalt]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but I think you are supposed to use a USED dryer sheet, not a new one.

I don't use much Unique, I don't remember having such problems. Bullseye - YES! It sticks to everything.

The problem is much reduced after running several lbs of powder through - everything gets coated in graphite which has mostly solved the static cling issue.

 

[Ballistic147]

Interesting timing as I was having the exact same problem with Power Pistol powder over the week end. It was like electrostatic charged powder jumping 6" to the metal body. Grounding rod is a bit extreme but the dryer sheet sounds interesting.

Actually the grounding rod wasn't a big issue for me. I already had the rod and a roll of 14 gauge wire. My shop is insulated and the inside is finished out but it only took a small drill bit to make a hole just big enough to pass the wire through and attach it to the ground. Took all of 20 minutes to do plus I grounded my all steel work bench that would shock the **** out of me sometimes.
The work bench hasn't shocked me since!

Now if your reloading is done in a spare room in the house I could see it being a lot more trouble.

I tried the dryer sheet trick and it worked good for a hundred rounds or so but the static would come back. The ground wire stopped that. During the winter I heat my shop with a kerosene heater which also dries the air and thus causes more static.