Primer disposal

[T748]

The results are in for the first test.....
Primers were soaked for a total of 9 days. From there they were placed face down on paper towels and had a 1 day dryout. One primer was loaded into an empty case from each sample and test fired.
Soft soap and Simple Green both left the primer with a white puffy "growth" around the primer's anvil.

A non firing primer is noted as N/F. Sucsessful ignition noted as Fire!

AeroKroil N/F
WD40 N/F
Hoppe's #9 N/F
Rotella 15-40 NF
Water Fire!
Simple Green Fire!
Soft soap N/F

I'll try again in a week to see if a longer dryout changes anything.-Tom

[cpatbay]

Wonderful work, Tom! Can't wait to see if more dry time makes a difference to your results. Keep up the good work!

[Paper Boy]

Nice, Good info here Tom

[xrMike]

Primer compounds are shipped in water to the end users.

I can vouch for that. A company I worked for years ago manufactured various explosive products for the military and auto industries, and we received lead styphnate in 1 pound blocks wrapped in burlap, stacked in 55 gallon drums filled with water. And you know who we bought the styphnate from? The Winchester Arms company.

Primer compound is safe to handle when damp with water, but as soon as it dries out, boom!

[T748]

The results are in for the first test.....
Primers were soaked for a total of 9 days. From there they were placed face down on paper towels and had a 1 day dryout. One primer was loaded into an empty case from each sample and test fired.
Soft soap and Simple Green both left the primer with a white puffy "growth" around the primer's anvil.

A non firing primer is noted as N/F. Sucsessful ignition noted as Fire!

AeroKroil N/F
WD40 N/F
Hoppe's #9 N/F
Rotella 15-40 NF
Water Fire!
Simple Green Fire!
Soft soap N/F

I'll try again in a week to see if a longer dryout changes anything.-Tom

It's been a week of dryout time and there was only one change it what worked and what did not.
A non firing primer is noted as N/F. Sucsessful ignition noted as Fire!

AeroKroil N/F
WD40 N/F
Hoppe's #9 N/F
Rotella 15-40 NF
Water Fire!
Simple Green Fire!
Soft soap Fire!

Soft soap fired this time even though it still looked "soapy" inside. I'll let the next batch dry for two more weeks (3 weeks total) and that will finish up the test.
-Tom.

[T748]

It's been a week of dryout time and there was only one change it what worked and what did not.
A non firing primer is noted as N/F. Sucsessful ignition noted as Fire!

AeroKroil N/F
WD40 N/F
Hoppe's #9 N/F
Rotella 15-40 NF
Water Fire!
Simple Green Fire!
Soft soap Fire!

Soft soap fired this time even though it still looked "soapy" inside. I'll let the next batch dry for two more weeks (3 weeks total) and that will finish up the test.
-Tom.

The last (and final) batch sat for 3 more weeks of dry out time. There were no changes from the last test. Aerokroil, WD40, Hoppe's #9 and motor oil worked. Water, Simple green and Soft soap did not. Testing is now complete. -Tom.

[bumpo628]

Thanks for the great test & write up.

[thomashoward]

Just load the primers up in some cases, fire 'em off at the range, and have some noise-makin' fun!

Primers fired in a revolver will back up and bind the cylinder, unless the flash hole is bored out a little

[Fishslayer]

I am a reloader. The primers are a mix of every type and brand all mixed up in a jar. -Tom.

I'd be vewy vewy careful handling a jar of old primers. See thread re reloading kaboom.

[Fishslayer]

The last (and final) batch sat for 3 more weeks of dry out time. There were no changes from the last test. Aerokroil, WD40, Hoppe's #9 and motor oil worked. Water, Simple green and Soft soap did not. Testing is now complete. -Tom.

Thanks for taking the time to do that. Very informative. I always have WD-40 and AeroKroil around the shop so if I ever need to deactivate some primers...

...it'll be WD-40. That AeroKroil is some pricey stuff!

[Coyotegunner]

I put them in a milk jug with water and put it in the trash.