Hellgate #3302 L Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 Like most reloaders I am always scrounging for components. Occasionally I strike "gold" in the form of bargain priced lead shot that someone has had laying around for years and now wants to get rid of it. Some of this stuff has a fine coating of dust (oxide?) that when poured or agitated while running it through the shotshell loader (Mec 600 jr) produces a fine cloud of airborn lead dust that wafts about my loading area. I don't want to breathe it or get it on me or my stuff. I hold my breath when pouring the shot and walk away for a few minutes til it dissipates but that still leaves residue about my man cave. I thought of adding a trace of oil to the shot to settle the dust but realize that could cake onto the walls of the loading press channels or eventually leach into the powder upon storage after loading. I can't always run outside to fill a shot bottle and maybe ought to, but the shot rattling through the loader still dislodges it from the pellets. Any suggestions on eliminating the shot dust? Tumbling in something?
Michigan Slim Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 Try running it in a brass tumbler with paper towels or used dryer sheets first. No media, just shot. The oxide will be caught on the sheets. Change them out until your shot is clean.
slate mike sass#29204 Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 I'd be wearing one of those paper filter things you use when spray painting or doing it outside.
Fast Enuff Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 Maybe wash all of it at once, let it dry and regraphite it all so it won't oxidize and will go through the loader easier.
Half Moon Hobo Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 Washing sounds good. Wear a respirater with p100 filters. HH
Hellgate #3302 L Posted June 21, 2013 Author Posted June 21, 2013 I like the idea of tumbling it and washing it in a strainer then drying. What about tumbling it with a bit of liquid car wax to coat it and let it dry (and maybe tumbling it again to polish)?
Snakebite Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 I would not tumble it... it is too soft and will just load up your material. I would put a screen in the bottom of a bucket, put in enough water, with soap, and then put the shot into it. I would rubber gloves and a stirring stick to agitate it. I would then lift it out of the water using the screen. Take it from someone who knows first hand... lead poisoning can do more damage to you than you might think. Snakebite
Flush Draw Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 I usually spray my reclaimed shot with some sort of lubricant like WD40 or LPS#2. Put the shot in a small bucket, spray it and stir with your hand. Spray more if need be. The lubricant helps with dust control and helps it to move through the loader.
Cowboy Rick, SASS #49739L Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 Lead particles require a NIOSH N100 approved respirator. Lead particles are small, and a paper mask does little to help. Inhalation and ingestion are the two main ways we accumulate lead into our systems. Wash your hands often, and wear this style respirator while working with your tumbler and lead shot. Probably a good idea to wear it while de-oxidizing your old lead. Surgical type gloves also are helpful. Don't eat, smoke, or touch your face after handling lead until you wash. Don't do things that create dust without wearing a respirator. Take a good shower and wash the clothes you were wearing if you've been in a lead dust heavy environment. Sounds intimidating, but it's not that hard to take the necessary precautions. CR
Hellgate #3302 L Posted June 21, 2013 Author Posted June 21, 2013 Thanks, Guys, I think I'll do all my shot rehab outside and stand upwind. No more pouring indoors. I'm gonna put a strainer over a bucket and hose the shot to knock off the dust then dry it in the sun (whenever we get any here in western Orygun). I think I will also put the tiniest amount of WD-40 on it to retard further oxidation but not enough to make the pellets oily.
Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 Posted June 21, 2013 Posted June 21, 2013 The P100 respirators are supposed to be fit tested to make sure they seal properly. Having said that the poor mans fit test we used for protective masks in the army was cover the air inlets with our hand and breathe in. If you could it leaked. this was done of course after first clearing the mask by covering exhaust opening and breathing out vigorously thus blowing agent out of the mask.
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