Sensitivity of Black Powder to Static Discharge

[Kurt]

I think this static video thing for setting off black powder has been floating around for a long time. I don't think I would do something that could create a discharge. But there is a big difference in sparks be it static, RF. or heat. I know I have had all three bite me from sparkplug wires, RF from a 2500 volt plate choke at 2 amps and red sparks from welding or grinding. I know the RF will smoke going through flesh, it did on my hand, as well as the red heat sparks. It takes heat to set off black powder and I think the white or blue spark from static might or might not set off black powder. I don't want to find out myself. I been around my Ham Radio hobby long enough that I have static discharge mats in the floor at my station when I work with electronics repairing or building my equipment so it would be a good idea to have a mat on the floor by the reloading stuff maybe. Static builds up walking on synthetic carpet or clothing and it will discharge through the finger nails when grounding through a dry air gap with out a lead to ground.