Is it safe to vacuum up powder with a shop vac?

maillemaker · December 31, 2010, 05:03 PM

So I was using my Lee Pro-1000 to deprime my brass, and I had the charging die and the crimp die still in the stations.

I had twisted the powder flask to the off position, but the jostling of all the depriming made it twist to the on position, and out dropped some powder and I got a little bit on my work area. Not much, not even a single charge worth, but it's sprinkled around like tiny confetti.

Can I vacuum this stuff up with my shop vac?

Steve

the_right_reverend · December 31, 2010, 05:18 PM

Yes its fine but the wifes fancy one will work a whole lot better

hogcowboy · December 31, 2010, 05:43 PM

Yup. Do it all the time. Seems like I'm always spillin some. Just empty it afterwords. You don't want to accumulate a bunch. At least that's what I do.

dlb435 · December 31, 2010, 05:52 PM

Ditto - I vac up small amounts of powder all the time.

Crosshair · December 31, 2010, 06:30 PM

Yup, motors in modern vacuums are isolated from the bag. This is done to prevent dust explosions. (Kinda interesting to talk to your chemistry teacher after class and the subject move to dust, flour, non-dairy creamer, and other mundane substances as a fuel-air explosive.)

Rifleman1776 · December 31, 2010, 08:02 PM

Probably OK with modern powders. I wouldn't do it with genuine black powder.

Jim243 · January 1, 2011, 01:46 AM

Yes use a shop vac, just put a half an inch of water inside before starting.

Jim

Clark · January 1, 2011, 03:40 AM

I have been using the shop vac in the shop.

I use the brushed vac in the house. I have been trying for 13 years to get the right combination of live primers and spilled powder to ignite when those brushes sweep the carpet.

So far no luck.

WESHOOT2 · January 1, 2011, 04:32 AM

I take a handkerchief and place it over the nozzle. Then I poke my finger into the nozzle. Then I rubber-band the kerchief to the nozzle.
Then I vacuum.

My production benchtop is carpeted; not moot (and not making up the 'jet engine' effect......)

jmorris · January 1, 2011, 09:52 AM

I don't, I have had primers go off from being vacuumed up…

riggins_83 · January 1, 2011, 09:53 AM

A friend was vacuuming with an old steel blade vacuum cleaner.. ran over a 22LR cartridge and set it off.

Powder I'd say you're fine with.

WESHOOT2 · January 1, 2011, 06:16 PM

It's the static charge that can build up and ignite the powder; that's the legitimate concern vacuumers should consider.....

Sid · January 1, 2011, 07:33 PM

I have been picking up spilled powder with a vacuum for many years and have never had any problems. Lately I have been using a DustBuster and this works equally well.

Clark · January 2, 2011, 02:31 AM

My worry in my quest for a primer-powder vacuum reaction, is that I will get a false positive, like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6tRM...eature=channel

Usertag · January 2, 2011, 04:27 AM

Yes you certainly can. Nothing wrong will happen. If you want to feel more safe, Sweep the majority of it up or You can pour 1 Inch of Water in the Vacuum Tank. Then Get it up. You can pick One of these Options or Just Do them all together. Hope I Helped.

Rifleman1776 · January 2, 2011, 09:10 AM

Static charges are not hot enough to ignite the powder.
This has been proven many times in controlled tests. Google it.

HawkeyeNRAlifer · January 2, 2011, 11:44 AM

I can make a mess reloading, or just about doing anything, just ask my wife. 20 years of using a shop vac on powder, old primers and probably a few live primers haven't cause a problem.

WESHOOT2 · January 5, 2011, 02:55 AM

Frankly, I don't believe that there isn't enough static to ignite powder.
Primers, too.

Or maybe it really WAS a jet engine.....

slammedsi · January 5, 2011, 08:06 AM

Ive seen first hand what happens when you suck up powder and a live primer.

Crosshair · January 5, 2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Ive seen first hand what happens when you suck up powder and a live primer.

I know how that goes. You spend 20 minutes digging that $.03 primer out of the vac because you want to "save money".

slammedsi · January 6, 2011, 09:21 AM

Done that too. But i have seen more then once someone use a vac to suck up powder and get a live primer at the same time, setting off the primer and Blowing the small vac up.

Doyle · January 6, 2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Static charges are not hot enough to ignite the powder.
This has been proven many times in controlled tests. Google it.

This needs some qualification. Static charges generated by a home-vacuum or dust-collection system aren't enough to ignite powder (or saw dust). However, heavy commercial vacuum systems in large woodworking shops, sugar mills, etc. have indeed had static discharge fires. Some of these fires have been huge and resulted in large property damage and loss of life.

So yes, vacuum all you want with your humble shop vac.

maillemaker · January 6, 2011, 10:57 AM

LOL, I can just see having vacuumed up a bit of powder and then suck up a live primer and have it go off. Shop vac goes BOOM!

Probably would not hurt much but sure would scare the poop out of you.

Steve

slammedsi · January 6, 2011, 12:08 PM

Makes a hell of a mess. And it will make ya leave skid marks on them new britches.

brickeyee · January 6, 2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

LOL, I can just see having vacuumed up a bit of powder and then suck up a live primer and have it go off. Shop vac goes BOOM!

While some conventional vacuums put debris through the impeller, shop vacs do not.
The primer is just going to fall to the bottom of the container, it is not going to get near the impeller used to move the air (unless you leave the filter off, and them everything is going to be sprayed all over the place).

December 31, 2010, 05:03 PM	#1
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Is it safe to vacuum up powder with a shop vac? So I was using my Lee Pro-1000 to deprime my brass, and I had the charging die and the crimp die still in the stations. I had twisted the powder flask to the off position, but the jostling of all the depriming made it twist to the on position, and out dropped some powder and I got a little bit on my work area. Not much, not even a single charge worth, but it's sprinkled around like tiny confetti. Can I vacuum this stuff up with my shop vac? Steve

December 31, 2010, 05:18 PM	#2
the_right_reverend Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2008 Location: Sneads Ferry, Nc Posts: 232	Yes its fine but the wifes fancy one will work a whole lot better __________________ It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men....

December 31, 2010, 05:43 PM	#3
hogcowboy Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2010 Location: N33 32.941 W 97 53.546 Texas Posts: 231	Yup. Do it all the time. Seems like I'm always spillin some. Just empty it afterwords. You don't want to accumulate a bunch. At least that's what I do. __________________ Do things as if your life depends on it. It COULD! American Legion Rider

December 31, 2010, 06:30 PM	#5
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	Yup, motors in modern vacuums are isolated from the bag. This is done to prevent dust explosions. (Kinda interesting to talk to your chemistry teacher after class and the subject move to dust, flour, non-dairy creamer, and other mundane substances as a fuel-air explosive.) __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

January 1, 2011, 01:46 AM	#7
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Yes use a shop vac, just put a half an inch of water inside before starting. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

December 31, 2010, 05:52 PM	#4
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	Ditto - I vac up small amounts of powder all the time.

December 31, 2010, 08:02 PM	#6
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Probably OK with modern powders. I wouldn't do it with genuine black powder.

January 1, 2011, 03:40 AM	#8
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have been using the shop vac in the shop. I use the brushed vac in the house. I have been trying for 13 years to get the right combination of live primers and spilled powder to ignite when those brushes sweep the carpet. So far no luck.

January 1, 2011, 04:32 AM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	since I hate jet engines in my shop.... I take a handkerchief and place it over the nozzle. Then I poke my finger into the nozzle. Then I rubber-band the kerchief to the nozzle. Then I vacuum. My production benchtop is carpeted; not moot (and not making up the 'jet engine' effect......) __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 1, 2011, 09:52 AM	#10
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	I don't, I have had primers go off from being vacuumed up…

January 1, 2011, 09:53 AM	#11
riggins_83 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Wherever I may roam Posts: 1,505	A friend was vacuuming with an old steel blade vacuum cleaner.. ran over a 22LR cartridge and set it off. Powder I'd say you're fine with. __________________ l've heard police work is dangerous. Yes, that's why l carry a big gun. Couldn't it go off accidentally? l used to have that problem. What did you do about it? l just think about baseball. -Leslie Nielsen

January 1, 2011, 06:16 PM	#12
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	"yet" It's the static charge that can build up and ignite the powder; that's the legitimate concern vacuumers should consider..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 1, 2011, 07:33 PM	#13
Sid Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2009 Posts: 362	I have been picking up spilled powder with a vacuum for many years and have never had any problems. Lately I have been using a DustBuster and this works equally well.

January 2, 2011, 02:31 AM	#14
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	My worry in my quest for a primer-powder vacuum reaction, is that I will get a false positive, like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6tRM...eature=channel

January 2, 2011, 04:27 AM	#15
Usertag Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2011 Location: Louisville Posts: 261	Vacuum Yes you certainly can. Nothing wrong will happen. If you want to feel more safe, Sweep the majority of it up or You can pour 1 Inch of Water in the Vacuum Tank. Then Get it up. You can pick One of these Options or Just Do them all together. Hope I Helped.

January 2, 2011, 09:10 AM	#16
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Static charges are not hot enough to ignite the powder. This has been proven many times in controlled tests. Google it.

January 2, 2011, 11:44 AM	#17
HawkeyeNRAlifer Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 316	I can make a mess reloading, or just about doing anything, just ask my wife. 20 years of using a shop vac on powder, old primers and probably a few live primers haven't cause a problem.

January 5, 2011, 02:55 AM	#18
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I'm laughing about googling Frankly, I don't believe that there isn't enough static to ignite powder. Primers, too. Or maybe it really WAS a jet engine..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo" Last edited by WESHOOT2; January 5, 2011 at 02:55 AM. Reason: ASK ME WHY I'M A DOUBTER

January 6, 2011, 10:57 AM	#23
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	LOL, I can just see having vacuumed up a bit of powder and then suck up a live primer and have it go off. Shop vac goes BOOM! Probably would not hurt much but sure would scare the poop out of you. Steve