Reloading Kaboom Yesterday - Please Learn From This

[Cokebottle]

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)?

No.

Polyurethane is an insulator.
Dry wood is an insulator.
Damp/wet wood is a poor conductor, but it'll still bite you.

[HighLander51]

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.
.

Anytime you are near HVAC, there is a huge electromagnetic field, and unfortunately, humans are fairly good capacitors...

In general, I meant EMF or ground faults, the point is both are dangerous.

Again, humidity is a real factor.

[Kerplow]

FWIW, Red Wings sells anti static shoes that are designed to discharge any static buildup with every step.

When i worked in an electronics environment we had ground 8' ground rods (not tied to the building electrical system) driven near all the benches and the benches were bonded to the rods. we wore anti static smocks and an anti static deal that wrapped around our shoes. we were technically supposed to wear a wrist bracelet that bonded us to the table but no one ever did.

I would avoid bonding yourself to the grounding conductors of your household electrical system for reasons stated already by cokebottle. The ground conductors at your house are actually tied into the neutral conductor of the system (which carries current) and though the grounding conductor should not carry any current in a proper installation, you never know what bubba did.

[vwynn]

im scared of reloading now :|

[grant22]

I told you guys I'd give an update after seeing the specialist. I don't mean this in a negative way, but he didn't do anything and isn't going to do anything.

He decided it would be best to leave in the foreign bodies in (2 primer bodies), leave the stitching as is, and not add any skin. He said he'd rather let everything run it's course and if the foreign bodies create problems later, then to go in and surgically remove them. He said there is too good a chance that'll it'll be fine to justify going in after them now, potentially causing more harm (neuro-wise).

Both fingers are numb at the tips and he said that may or may not change.

He said due to my type of job, I shouldn't go back for 3-4 weeks (rough estimate.) He said 2-3 weeks if I had a less 'hands on' type of job.

Thank god for sick time! And thanks to you gentlemen for the support.

[Lead Waster]

Anytime you are near HVAC, there is a huge electromagnetic field, and unfortunately, humans are fairly good capacitors...

In general, I meant EMF or ground faults, the point is both are dangerous.

Again, humidity is a real factor.

Thos ultrasonic Humidifiers are pretty cheap, quiet and make a very fine mist if you want to. Would it be wise to turn one on for an hour or so in your reloading room? I doubt it would affect your powder but could make the reloading room less likely to give of static sparks when you touch stuff?

[Lead Waster]

Ouch, I just saw the pics. OK, next time I'm loading primers, I'll be wearing my "Mechanix" work gloves, eye-pro (as usual) and ear pro (as usual). Maybe we need to wear face shields!

[HighLander51]

Thos ultrasonic Humidifiers are pretty cheap, quiet and make a very fine mist if you want to. Would it be wise to turn one on for an hour or so in your reloading room? I doubt it would affect your powder but could make the reloading room less likely to give of static sparks when you touch stuff?

If your reloading room already has enough humidity, you don't need to do anything. I reload in my laundry room, which is between the house and the garage, and the %RH never gets below about %50. All my powder and primers are stored in the same room.

[HighLander51]

He said due to my type of job, I shouldn't go back for 3-4 weeks (rough estimate.) He said 2-3 weeks if I had a less 'hands on' type of job..

Did the surgeon give you a follow up appointment?

[Justintoxicated]

I think you need to be sure of the problem before trying to find a solution.

Are you sure it was static electricity?

Is there a way you can test this theory? BBQ igniter maybe?

If it's certainly static why don't they just make anti ESD plastic primer tubes? Seems simple enough.

[RazzB7]

I think you need to be sure of the problem before trying to find a solution.

Are you sure it was static electricity?

Is there a way you can test this theory? BBQ igniter maybe?

If it's certainly static why don't they just make anti ESD plastic primer tubes? Seems simple enough.

Plastic would not be the solution. Plastic would be more conducive to electro-static buildup and discharge.

[Justintoxicated]

Plastic would not be the solution. Plastic would be more conducive to electro-static buildup and discharge.

I'm pretty sure there is some kinds of plastic that are ESD safe. Often called ESD safe plastic. if if plastic would not have enough integrity, then simply line the inner tube with the protective stuff.

[Kerplow]

No.

Polyurethane is an insulator.
Dry wood is an insulator.
Damp/wet wood is a poor conductor, but it'll still bite you.

I'm gonna go ahead and be the technical nazi that points out that voltage overcomes resistance, therefore, with enough voltage anything becomes a conductor.

[joefreas]

...

Are you sure it was static electricity?

Is there a way you can test this theory? BBQ igniter maybe? ...

I'm going to take a stun baton and zap primers of various makes to see if I can get one to go off. I will be wearing welding gloves, face shield, and whatever protective material I can think of. I'll report back in a day or so and let you guys know if they go off.

[Cokebottle]

I'm gonna go ahead and be the technical nazi that points out that voltage overcomes resistance, therefore, with enough voltage anything becomes a conductor.

Technically, no.
With enough voltage, any dielectric or insulator can be perforated or bypassed.

But an insulator will never actually conduct. Electricity follows the path of least resistance, which could be the air surrounding the insulator, a conductive contaminant within the insulator, or by perforating the insulator and arcing through.