I also agree that the standard measures should be avoided. I just had similar discussion with another poster who said that all the stuff about not using standard measures was just internet bunk. Personally I don't believe that. I have a close friend that works in a goverment explosives development program and his cans of black powder at home all have a ground strap on them. I think that might just be a little much; but this guy seems to be pretty knowledgeable and works with explosives for a living. I try to be very careful about static electricity around real black powder. The synthetics are a lot less sensitive but caution is always nice. I remember taking caps apart as a young experimenter (to make fireworks) and when using an exacto knife to remove the cap "powder" I managed to set off the pile I had been accumulating. Didn't have any eyebrows for a while. I am a lot more cautious now.