Reloading Kaboom Yesterday - Please Learn From This

[Cokebottle]

Seriously guys... The ground rod will give you a good ground, but the problem is static discharge.

Unless EVERYTHING in the proximity of the equipment is at the same potential, you risk an ESD event that can create a spark.

When you are standing on a wet concrete floor wearing Nikes, your hand is NOT at the same potential as the bench that is resting in that water until you touch it.

JUST grounding your bench can create an even worse situation. I was working in Victorville in a bucket 30ft up, about 70ft below the HVAC lines crossing the desert from Hoover Dam to Fontana.

I was getting "bit" from the traffic signal gear.
The pole was obviously grounded... but my body was not. I was standing in a fiberglas bucket 30ft above the ground.

I touched the signal pole with my fingertip and slowly drew it back. I was able to produce and HOLD an arc almost an inch long.

[NoJoke]

Ok....

I need links to parts to buy online and I need a schematic drawing of how to put the parts together.

Seriously....

I've never heard of a wrist strap.
I've never had to do this bench top static discharge thing.
I hear your words but they're just a few inches over my head.
So, point me in a direction - then draw me a picture.

Will I be standing on a mat?
Will I have some sort of mat on my bench top (I would prefer NOT).
Do I wire the wrist thing, the floor and the bench together?
I dunno, maybe just the titanium tube or the dillon rf-100 is the way to go cuz all this other stuff is a bit daunting.

I googled "grounding myself" and came up with this gem - not what I really wanted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pTj-gtwIq0

[HighLander51]

Seriously guys...
I touched the signal pole with my fingertip and slowly drew it back. I was able to produce and HOLD an arc almost an inch long.

And that is an active source, now you know what ground faults/voltage leaks mean, in terms of human contact. Good thing the amperage was low enough

[grant22]

Ok....

I need links to parts to buy online and I need a schematic drawing of how to put the parts together.

Seriously....

I've never heard of a wrist strap.
I've never had to do this bench top static discharge thing.
I hear your words but they're just a few inches over my head.
So, point me in a direction - then draw me a picture.

Will I be standing on a mat?
Will I have some sort of mat on my bench top (I would prefer NOT).
Do I wire the wrist thing, the floor and the bench together?
I dunno, maybe just the titanium tube or the dillon rf-100 is the way to go cuz all this other stuff is a bit daunting.

I googled "grounding myself" and came up with this gem - not what I really wanted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pTj-gtwIq0

My opinion:

If you ground the machine, it'll be good enough. The mat and even the wrist strap might be a little redundant. If your machine is grounded, all you have to do is touch the machine to get rid of the static on you.......making the wrist thing redundant.

I'll take pictures later of how I plan on doing this.

[HighLander51]

Here is a fairly good explanation of static discharge. Notice that potential is decreased 20 fold by going from 15%RH to 75%RH.

Means of static generation RH 10-20% RH 65-90%
Walking across a carpet 35,000 V 1,500 V

http://www.minicircuits.com/app/AN40-005.pdf

[NoJoke]

Here is a fairly good explanation of static discharge. Notice that potential is decreased 20 fold by going from 15%RH to 75%RH.

Means of static generation RH 10-20% RH 65-90%
Walking across a carpet 35,000 V 1,500 V

http://www.minicircuits.com/app/AN40-005.pdf

I like the diagram in the middle. That's EZ to interpret.
Question: is wood with polyurethane coating good at conducting?
Could I screw down one of those connection points into the wood workbench (in attition to the press and floor)? I hate the idea of working off a mat now.

[One78Shovel]

OK, one process question that may help all of us...

When I pick up primers in tubes, the last one always gets stuck in the little plastic fingers. Up until this post I have always carefully used my finger or thumb nail to both spread the plastic fingers and push on the edge of the primer so it falls into the tube. Large is pretty easy, small can be kinda tight.

Am I OK or AFU? Anybody got a better plan?

I use the black primer plastic follower you use for visual monitor of primers in tube. Its a back-up to the audio alarm.

-178S

[bussda]

To keep it simple: Touch bare metal (dies are good) on the press with one hand before and while touching the primer tube to the press. After the primer tube touches the press, you can let go of the bare metal.

Ok....

I need links to parts to buy online and I need a schematic drawing of how to put the parts together.

Seriously....

I've never heard of a wrist strap.
I've never had to do this bench top static discharge thing.
I hear your words but they're just a few inches over my head.
So, point me in a direction - then draw me a picture.

Will I be standing on a mat?
Will I have some sort of mat on my bench top (I would prefer NOT).
Do I wire the wrist thing, the floor and the bench together?
I dunno, maybe just the titanium tube or the dillon rf-100 is the way to go cuz all this other stuff is a bit daunting.

I googled "grounding myself" and came up with this gem - not what I really wanted.

[1in9twist]

Good to hear the OP is in (relatively) good shape after the incident. Thanks for taking the time to post and raise awareness.

[problemchild]

Anyone but me worried the cheap Chinese safety glasses might not do their job if this type of thing happens?

Maybe we could link to a safety glass comparison or review?

http://www.gunnersalley.com/category/articles.shootingglasses/

U.S. Military - The U.S. Military uses a testing standard called MIL-V-43511C, which is a .22 caliber ballistics impact test. U.S. Military eyewear must pass this standard before being issued to any U.S. military personnel.

We'd suggest choosing shooting glasses with lens that meet or exceed all three standards. If not all three, at least two. We wouldn't take a chance with any less.

[hayaku]

i listen to jesse on safety glasses..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsOgQXRLSAw

around 1:12 mark

[Justintoxicated]

my hornady LNL press does not even have a metal outer tube that goes over the primer feed tube. The primer feed tube is insert right into the aluminum block that has a retension spring to hold the primers in the tube.

http://www.precisionreloading.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/085001_lnl_classic_rs.jpg

This means if somethign exploded the shrapnel would shoot right into my neck ahd face I guess. I always thought the feed tueb would jsut explode into the ceiling or some such thing.

Also I can't simply gound my press as my house is not grounded.

[grant22]

i listen to jesse on safety glasses..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsOgQXRLSAw

around 1:12 mark

Who's she trying to fool? She's been shot in the face a few times, I'm sure.

[Lead Waster]

Yeah, pulling the pin on that primer tube is always scary! I wear ear pro as well when I do this!

[Cokebottle]

And that is an active source, now you know what ground faults/voltage leaks mean, in terms of human contact. Good thing the amperage was low enough

It was induced... not a ground fault.
My body was the "antenna" picking up the HVAC out of the air under those power lines.

The humidity was so low that even standing on the ground (wearing EH rated boots, meaning well insulated) we'd get bit if we brushed against a grounded item.

It happens all the time, but that was the only time I've been able to draw a visible arc. Normally, as soon as I feel a "bite", I'll use a key or a tool to ground myself, then lay the inside of my arm against the grounded item to maintain equal potential.