My attempt at a primer tube filler

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gregj

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Sep 9, 2008
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After being tired of stabbing primers, and inspired by the many different homemade primer tube fillers out there, I decided to make my own.

Parts:
Paint spray can handle from hardware store, I think about $3.95
Lee Safety Primer Tray, PN PT1005B, $2.60
Lee Primer Tray cover, $1.99

Total in parts (minus shipping) less than $10 (and not counting primer tube).

I used a tube cutter to cut the tube about 1/4" back from the plastic insert, just far enough to get past the shoulder that the insert sits in. I used a lot of hot glue to glue the motor to the tube and primer tray, and a zip tie to make sure it all stays together.

So far primers load in about 10 sec.

Here's the final result. If I make a Version 2, I'll clean the wires up, and find a better motor setup.
IMG_1956.jpg


Here's the donor. It's a spring loaded/activated hand held massager I found laying in one of the closets. I used the switch and motor from it.
IMG_1949.jpg

Here's the "handle", with the switch, and a pic with it opened up. I dont know how long the batteries will last, but they should do ok. This handle worked very well with the Lee tray. The tray has a vertical tab that fit nicely into the slot in the handle where the trigger used to be. This helped to keep the tray secured to the handle.
IMG_1950.jpg
IMG_1951.jpg

Here's the motor. I slid it into a piece of PVC pipe to protect the rotating weighted end, and to make it easier to mount. I had to cut the PVC pipe so that the motor would fit. This slot was perfect as it gave a more secure place for the motor to rest against the primer tube.
IMG_1954.jpg

I cut a piece of the same PVC pipe to use as a shim/spacer under the primer tube. The drill bit is to make sure the hole in the tube and the tray lined up.
IMG_1952.jpg

I cut another piece of the same PVC pipe to use as a shim/spacer on top of the tube, to make a snug fit to the "handle". Again, note the drill bit to make sure the primer tube and the primer tray stay lined up.
IMG_1953.jpg

This pic is not very good, but I was trying to show the small plastic piece over the top of the primer channel, to keep the primers from bouncing out. I cut it out of a plastic top of a soda cup, and superglued it on.
IMG_1957.jpg
 
Although I don't have to use primer tubes anymore....if I did I'd jump on your idea! Excellent!

You were questioning battery longevity. An old phone power supply could be made to work. If you found one you could take it to Radio Shack and find the female plug that fits and replace the batteries with the plug.
The plug could be mounted just like your switch, but at the bottom of the handle. Not cordless of course.
 
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Thanks guys!

GW Staar, that's a great idea to add a power block. That might get incorporated into V2. :D
 
One caution

I don't know how much impact it takes to set off a primer, but if the one that goes in first gets hit hard enough by the one that follows (striking the parts of the anvil that stick up from the cup), you could get a pop. If it happens when there are 20 primers already in the tube, you could get a LOT of pops.

Load up a primer in an empty case, chamber it and fire it off. You will get an idea of how load a pop you can get and if you put a folded paper towel over the muzzle, an idea of the power involved.

If you tilt the whole assembly to keep the primer tube at a shallow angle, you will reduce the speed of the primers dropping down the tube.

In any event, you are wearing eye protection, right? ANY time you handle primers.

Nice work.

Lost Sheep
 
I found a thread for a similar set up on Brian Enos' forum. I built the large filler first and noticed two problems, first some of the primer tip over as they fall into the hole before they get to the filler tube. Also it seemed like some of the primers were jamming on the little shoulder on the inside of the tube.

On the small tube I cut the top of the tube off and deburred it so that problem's solved but the primers tip over sideways as they fall into the hole. I'm still fiddling with it.
 
I don't know how much impact it takes to set off a primer
obviously
Do you imagine that it CANNOT happen?

I do not want to be alarmist, nor engage in a debate. I have never had a primer go off accidentally, but I have read credible reports that primers have gone off in primer loading tubes during normal press operation.

I figured, better safe than sorry and forewarned is forearmed.

Lost Sheep
 
That's not going to happen via a primer dropping down a primer tube. Just no where near enough momentum. I've had primers go off in presses before. (Well, just one.) It took a lot of pressure and energy. (The press crushed it and it popped.)

I don't think a human could THROW a primer against a hard object with enough force to light it off (just no mass to build up the energy needed). Having it waft down a 14" or so tube is orders of magnitude away from the level of energy needed.

Don't worry about it.
 
Do you imagine that it CANNOT happen?

it's not gonna happen just by dropping down the tube like you said

primers going off in tubes are almost always caused by the press operator forcing something that's jammed.
 
gregj,

i am impressed. Nice idea, good execution. Version 2 should be better.

I have a handful of Lee round trays if I ever decide to go back to using primer tubes.
 
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