returning powder to orginal container

peddler

Should a person use a plastic or a metal funnel when pouring powder back into the orginal container? Thanks

Green Weenie

To my knowledge, plastic or a non-sparking metal.

charliemeyer007

Wipe with a dryer sheet to help with static cling.

MG1890

I've poured lots of Dupont IMR powder OUT of metal cans... Never blew up. I don't think it matters.

JustC

don't stand on the carpet, and static shouldn't be a problem. But then again, it never was even when I didn't know any better, and had my loading bench in a carpeted room.

Ditto on the dryer sheet trick,..works every time.

sandwarrior

Always good to reduce spark potential as much as possible.
While we all probably unloaded powder from a metal can, there are reasons why the industry went to "non-static" plastic.

Use "non-static" funnels if you need to use a funnel.

One other thing, keep yourself grounded to what ever you are pouring into.

I really saw how badly this could go when I was draining extra gasoline out of a plane I was working on and putting it in our fuel buffalo. Even though I grounded myself, I could feel the static electricity going from my feet to the buffalo's foot ramp. Through rubber soled shoes even. I took some extra safety wire and connected it from the bucket to the buffalo.

11b6r

Strangely enough, to prevent static from building up, use a funnel that is CONDUCTIVE, but non sparking. Aluminum or conductive plastic. That way static is bled off as it builds up. Same reason you used the bonding cable on the fuel system on the aircraft.

sandwarrior

I should have said non-sparking. Like, as you said, conductive. Not non-conductive.
It's counter intuitive, but true.