Thread: Shaved cordite

As above from many logical posts.

But DO NOT throw the stuff away.
I will safely dispose of it for a low fee.

Originally Posted by 40mm

As above from many logical posts.

But DO NOT throw the stuff away.
I will safely dispose of it for a low fee.

Have reflected on this, only way I'd re-use the growing jar of it on my desk would be laying it out on a tray somewhere dry but not hot, and let the nitroglycerine evaporate, should be OK after 2-3 weeks. Next I'd soak the sticks in a sodium bicarbonate to neutralise any dangerous acids that have developed from nitrocellulose breakdown, rinse and dry. Add a bit of chalk shake and mix, for a nice brick red flash, as well as added powder stability as it would neutralise acids formed. Then I'd have a clean-burning nitrocellulose "very-large-grain" powder.

To load I'd have to do it by weight for consistency, the sticks are of varying diameter between manufacturers, I have counted between 42 and 53 strands per tightly filled case. You'd have to go for a smaller load in practice and it's obviously never going to burn as hot as when originally loaded into a case. It's not going to be a low-ES powder, but probably acceptable accuracy within 200metres in a powder-shortage era.

Something else, judging by my lack of headache when handling the stuff, I wonder if not a lot of the nitroglycerine may already have slowly and safely evaporated away.

Originally Posted by Cordite

Have reflected on this, only way I'd re-use the growing jar of it on my desk would be laying it out on a tray somewhere dry but not hot, and let the nitroglycerine evaporate, should be OK after 2-3 weeks. Next I'd soak the sticks in a sodium bicarbonate to neutralise any dangerous acids that have developed from nitrocellulose breakdown, rinse and dry. Add a bit of chalk shake and mix, for a nice brick red flash, as well as added powder stability as it would neutralise acids formed. Then I'd have a clean-burning nitrocellulose "very-large-grain" powder.

To load I'd have to do it by weight for consistency, the sticks are of varying diameter between manufacturers, I have counted between 42 and 53 strands per tightly filled case. You'd have to go for a smaller load in practice and it's obviously never going to burn as hot as when originally loaded into a case. It's not going to be a low-ES powder, but probably acceptable accuracy within 200metres in a powder-shortage era.

Something else, judging by my lack of headache when handling the stuff, I wonder if not a lot of the nitroglycerine may already have slowly and safely evaporated away.

I just want to pile it all up and light it for a thrill. Need a rather large pile to make it interesting though..... Thinking a trailer load.

Originally Posted by 40mm

I just want to pile it all up and light it for a thrill. Need a rather large pile to make it interesting though..... Thinking a trailer load.

Our friends are waiting for us, 40mm. Come, let's go see them.

Originally Posted by Cordite

Our friends are waiting for us, 40mm. Come, let's go see them.

Attachment 190951

I pick the second room on the right.

Originally Posted by Cordite

Have reflected on this, only way I'd re-use the growing jar of it on my desk would be laying it out on a tray somewhere dry but not hot, and let the nitroglycerine evaporate, should be OK after 2-3 weeks. Next I'd soak the sticks in a sodium bicarbonate to neutralise any dangerous acids that have developed from nitrocellulose breakdown, rinse and dry. Add a bit of chalk shake and mix, for a nice brick red flash, as well as added powder stability as it would neutralise acids formed. Then I'd have a clean-burning nitrocellulose "very-large-grain" powder.

To load I'd have to do it by weight for consistency, the sticks are of varying diameter between manufacturers, I have counted between 42 and 53 strands per tightly filled case. You'd have to go for a smaller load in practice and it's obviously never going to burn as hot as when originally loaded into a case. It's not going to be a low-ES powder, but probably acceptable accuracy within 200metres in a powder-shortage era.

Something else, judging by my lack of headache when handling the stuff, I wonder if not a lot of the nitroglycerine may already have slowly and safely evaporated away.

I'm not so sure the nitroglycerin will evaporate, it's chemically bonded to the nitrocellulose and acts as a plasticiser.
To test if it does take the lid of your jar and have a good sniff, if your heart starts really racing there's a pounding in your ears and your head feels like someone is hitting it with a hammer from the inside then yes it's evaporating.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I'm not so sure the nitroglycerin will evaporate, it's chemically bonded to the nitrocellulose and acts as a plasticiser.
To test if it does take the lid of your jar and have a good sniff, if your heart starts really racing there's a pounding in your ears and your head feels like someone is hitting it with a hammer from the inside then yes it's evaporating.

It's not evaporating, it's gone. I did wash the cordite with dish soap and bicarb. No fizzing of the bicarb so I don't think there were any dangerous acid breakdown products present.

I'll leave it with a cloth over it for a few more weeks, nice ice cream container nearly full. Going to be a pain reloading with it as won't meter terribly well. It feels drier than before, probably also some of the vaseline phlegmatiser gone. Now not burning quite as vigorously as when fresh out of the cartridges so I think I'm on the right track.

it dissolves well in acetone if you want to re-form it into a really nasty trick cigi.

Reckon its a valid thread to discuss. Lots of new reloaders out there and most are curious. Ive seen a fair bit of dropped live 303 at the range so its good to get the message out not to mess about with cordite.