Powder sticking to funnel

[eflatminor]

I recently switched my XL650 from .45 to .40 caliber.  Everything is running perfectly with one exception:  Little bits of powder are sticking the to end of the powder funnel, which subsequently drop off on to the plate.  I'd like to eliminate or at least minimize this issue.  

 

My .40 cal loads are intended for IPSC:

• 180g Bear Creek Supply Flat Point
• 4.6g WST

 

I've tried two things to address the issue, with no luck:

1) I thought it might be a static charge that was causing the sticking.  I therefore cleaned the entire powder assembly and hit it with static guard.  I then attached copper wire to the base of the powder case as well as the frame, grounding those into an outlet.  Heck, I even tried wrapping an anti-static dryer sheet around the powder tube.  No change.

2) I then thought the tip of the powder funnel might be rough at a microscopic level, allowing particles of powder to stick.  I tried polishing the powder funnel in both walnut shells and corncob.  No change.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Farmer]

First, Remove that copper wire from the outlet. Possible big problems there. The best luck I’ve had is to take the offending piece and swirl it in a jug of powder and then try not to touch that area when re-assembling. Don’t know why but Alliant powders work the best. Maybe they have more graphite or anti static in them. Also make sure your not getting case lube on the tube. 

[eflatminor]

1 hour ago, Farmer said:

First, Remove that copper wire from the outlet. Possible big problems there. The best luck I’ve had is to take the offending piece and swirl it in a jug of powder and then try not to touch that area when re-assembling. Don’t know why but Alliant powders work the best. Maybe they have more graphite or anti static in them. Also make sure your not getting case lube on the tube. 

Appreciate the response Farmer.  Can you elaborate on your concerns regarding my grounding approach.  What problems do you foresee?  

 

I'll try out your suggestion to swirl the funnel in some Alliant.  I don't use case lube on .40cal, but maybe too much polishing compound in the tumbler?  I'll look at that as well.

 

Thanks!

[Farmer]

1 minute ago, eflatminor said:

Appreciate the response Farmer.  Can you elaborate on your concerns regarding my grounding approach.  What problems do you foresee?  

 

I'll try out your suggestion to swirl the funnel in some Alliant.  I don't use case lube on .40cal, but maybe too much polishing compound in the tumbler?  I'll look at that as well.

 

Thanks!

Have seen houses/buildings wired incorrectly and if something goes fritz everything goes to ground or is supposed to. Just wouldn’t want my press hooked to that circuit. There’s better ways to do it but I don’t think you need to get that extreme. 

[HesedTech]

I polish my powder funnels with a buffing wheel. Two reasons, helps not stick in brass, second no static cling. 
 

I have to ask this, how is your brass lubed and with what product? For one pass reloading I would only use One Shot, a very clean and non-transferring product. If you are using the common lanolin lubes then you  are probably leaving some on the funnel and it’s picking up some of the powder. 
 

 

[eflatminor]

On 11/19/2021 at 5:20 PM, HesedTech said:

I polish my powder funnels with a buffing wheel. Two reasons, helps not stick in brass, second no static cling. 
 

I have to ask this, how is your brass lubed and with what product? For one pass reloading I would only use One Shot, a very clean and non-transferring product. If you are using the common lanolin lubes then you  are probably leaving some on the funnel and it’s picking up some of the powder. 
 

 

I've never lubed pistol brass, at least not the .40 and .45 I load.  Absolutely when I load for rifle on a single stage press, but not pistol on the Dillon. 

 

Perhaps something I should consider, but with no lube, that couldn't be what is causing the sticking. 

 

I may invest in a buffing wheel and give that a try. 

[AHI]

Your issue is one of the reasons why I do not use WST.

[eflatminor]

2 hours ago, AHI said:

Your issue is one of the reasons why I do not use WST.

I wondered if there might be something 'clingy' about WST.  I have other powders I can try, but I'd I still have 6+ pounds of WST.

 

I tried something this morning that appears to have done the trick:  I dipped the end of the powder funnel into powdered graphite.  Just a touch did the trick.  No sticking.