OT - vacuuming gunpowder

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:35 pm

Anybody have ideas for cleaning up spilled gunpowder?

My reloading room is also my living room, and after a few sessions I do have some spilled gunpowder. I always picked up what I could with tape, but I'm sure there is still some in the carpet (especially with 2400 having such small granules).

I'm not talking about vacuuming up a pile of gunpowder, but to do a general cleaning of my carpet, I will have a few specks here and there coming in.

Any other methods out there?

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:55 pm

You should be fine with the vacuum as long as the bag is in front of the turbine that creates the vacuum. I was always more nervous of primers myself wondered if I'd wind up with a live one running through my old Kirby (didn't have the turbine after the bag) the dead ones made enough noise clanging through it. Most newer units don't use that method anymore.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:03 pm

I vacuumed up a case full( except what contaminated the action & caused a total dis-assembly) of RL-7 from a 300 Sav case I ejected that flung powder around on the carpet...had the bullet stick in the rifling when I thot I had the COAL corrected.. The vacuum has the revolving sweeper feature too..No ill effects..more than a few flakes I might add.. Good luck

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:07 pm

My reloading area used to be in the bedroom. Bedroom was carpeted. I vacuumed it up quite often. Never a lot of powder, but some always seemed to get spilled. I never had any problems with it at all.

However ...... my mom did vacuum up a live primer once. It went off in the vacuum. She about crapped her pants. Made me laugh. I'd warned her I had live primers in the carpet, don't vacuum till I found them all. She forgot.
She also NEVER vacuumed my room again.

Joe

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:20 pm

I'd hate to see whats in my 5 gal. shop vac. I keep a shop vac tucked away in a special spot with only the hose coming out. I suck up powder ALL the time. As I clean it out about twice a year, I bet there's a half pound in there when it comes to cleaning time. Buts its also mixed with all kinds of other stuff.

Don't sweat it. (unless its blackpowder) Smokeless powder takes a flame or an extremely strong "hit" like from a bullet to go off.------Sixgun

Jeeps · Post by **Jeeps** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:54 pm

I would say for a large spill (especially black powder) maybe an old squirt
bottle with water. Get it wet and it won't work like it's supposed to.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:56 pm

I always use the household vacume cleaner to vacume up my spilled powder. Done it for years. No problem. There ain't enough in the bag to blow 'ol Betsy to bits anyway.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:17 pm

Now that could be fun on the 4th of July. Throw the vacuum cleaner bag in the bonfire.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:02 pm

Modern vacume+smokeless powder spills.I had no problem cleaning up for 20 some years reloading.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:14 pm

KirkD wrote:I always use the household vacume cleaner to vacume up my spilled powder. Done it for years. No problem. There ain't enough in the bag to blow 'ol Betsy to bits anyway.

+1. Never had a problem nor a concern...

Now, 5 lbs at a time, that may change my mind!!!