Annealeez Aluminum Wheels

[BallisticExpansion]

Hi All. I'm considering manufacturing and selling machined aluminum wheels for the annealeez. I'm making this post to gauge interest/demand to determine if the job will be worth running. How many of you would be interested or know someone who would be interested in purchasing a set?? I'm planning for a price point of ~$50 shipped per set.

I'd like to get feedback on how many would be interested in buying a set. What sizes would you want? I was thinking a large set and small set would cover all caliber needs, offering a standard and large case cut on the standard wheel for those doing SSMs and such. The large set will do as small as 6.5CM case length. With the wheels being aluminum you can run the flame quite close to the wheel for 10-20min before things really heat up. This is helpful if say you are using large wheels to do 300PRC/338LM etc and want to anneal on smaller cases for a quick run. Other benefits are doing short cases such as 300BLK without melting the wheels.

I already have a prototype set of large and small wheels and am in the testing phase now with them. I may even change the approach from aluminum to a high temp composite. This is simply to avoid the heat sink of the aluminum wheels with short cases.

Curious to get everyone's input and any questions.

Thanks!

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

You won't need two complete sets. The large top wheel can be used for both large and small cases and the one supplied with the annealer can be used as it is not close enough to the flame to cause any problem. One of each size should do the trick. Save money and time

 

[fatelvis]

If you used an aggressive knurling on the wheel to guarantee case spinning and eliminating the need for the sandpaper covering, I’m in for a set of the 6BR size and 308 size.

 

[mdram]

interested and following

 

[Ranger188]

Great idea. I think thats one of the Annealeez biggest problem, wheels
getting too hot with short cases. Can't always aim the torch just the way you'd like it.
Wouldn't the aluminum wheels conduct heat rapidly and be an issue?
The wheels are too thick, (not diameter) for the shorter cases like 6br. A thinner wheel would
still work for cases even up to the 308. That way they would be a little more out of the flame.
Or use one set of wheels with a removable insert for multiple sizes.

 

[BallisticExpansion]

You won't need two complete sets. The large top wheel can be used for both large and small cases and the one supplied with the annealer can be used as it is not close enough to the flame to cause any problem. One of each size should do the trick. Save money and time

Thanks for the input. The top wheel actually absorbs more heat during operation.

 

[BallisticExpansion]

If you used an aggressive knurling on the wheel to guarantee case spinning and eliminating the need for the sandpaper covering, I’m in for a set of the 6BR size and 308 size.

Agreed! That was actually my first plan. The knurling tool used on the prototype didn't cut aggressive enough to spin the case. Currently I am using high temp RTV and also plan to try silicone stripping. However, knurling was my 1st choice. Any tips on a knurler for a lathe that would provide the proper aggressive texture?

 

[BallisticExpansion]

Great idea. I think thats one of the Annealeez biggest problem, wheels
getting too hot with short cases. Can't always aim the torch just the way you'd like it.
Wouldn't the aluminum wheels conduct heat rapidly and be an issue?
The wheels are too thick, (not diameter) for the shorter cases like 6br. A thinner wheel would
still work for cases even up to the 308. That way they would be a little more out of the flame.
Or use one set of wheels with a removable insert for multiple sizes.

With a short case on a big wheel they do get warm, but I am working on a solution to shield the back of the wheel. The main concern is melting the slip fit gear that the motor spins.

Great idea on the insert for the case cut out. I have been brainstorming on that as well. It might be tricky as it would have to be something that had spring so it would pop in and stay yet be removable.

 

[Ranger188]

Spring steel in the shape of a horse shoe. Would fit into the case slot
and have "clip" the would slide into slots on either side of the opening.

So you have to make the wheel from something that wouldn't melt or
transfer heat to the machine.
I've had the wheel material get so hot, it melted on to the case.
Nasty stuff to remove.
Shaved the wheel down and adjusted the flame enough now, not
having that problem after that first time.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Thanks for the input. The top wheel actually absorbs more heat during operation.

Have you ever seen the top wheel start to melt. I have annealed several thousand cases through mine and the top wheel has no signs of heat.

 

[fatelvis]

Great idea. I think thats one of the Annealeez biggest problem, wheels
getting too hot with short cases. Can't always aim the torch just the way you'd like it.
The wheels are too thick, (not diameter) for the shorter cases like 6br. A thinner wheel would
still work for cases even up to the 308.

Actually, I called them and ordered wheels for the 6BR, and they do make appropriate sized ones that you won’t melt the face of. But still, there is the issue of sandpaper stuck on the edges.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

The outside slot for the case requires a 1/2 in drill. Make sure you use a short drill. I used a regular size drill bit in my drill press and it canted a slight bit. That's after drilling a pilot hole. I was lucky in that I had more stock and had no problem with the shorter drill

 

[BallisticExpansion]

The outside slot for the case requires a 1/2 in drill. Make sure you use a short drill. I used a regular size drill bit in my drill press and it canted a slight bit. That's after drilling a pilot hole. I was lucky in that I had more stock and had no problem with the shorter drill

I'm not sure if I will use a standard bit. We used a ball mill bit, can't remember size off top of my head, but it matches the factory cut perfectly. Yea that's a lot of meat to remove for a drill press! If I put these into production they will be made on a mill. My original plan was to shop the job out. I may still do that. but I'd like to use this job as a way to get into my own milling equipment to use as I grow my FFL business.

 

[BallisticExpansion]

Have you ever seen the top wheel start to melt. I have annealed several thousand cases through mine and the top wheel has no signs of heat.

Yea but only using cases on wheels they aren't meant for. Like 6.5CM on the large wheels. I'm testing to see what benefits the aluminum provides in that regard. I hear lots of complaints of 223/300blk users melting wheels even on the small wheel.

 

[mdram]

Yea but only using cases on wheels they aren't meant for. Like 6.5CM on the large wheels. I'm testing to see what benefits the aluminum provides in that regard. I hear lots of complaints of 223/300blk users melting wheels even on the small wheel.

wheels can be melted using grendel as well, gotta be careful how many you run

 

[divingin]

I may even change the approach from aluminum to a high temp composite. This is simply to avoid the heat sink of the aluminum wheels with short cases.

I'm not sure the heatsink effect is a bad thing (assuming you don't affect other stuff.) You want to heat the neck and shoulder, and not the body. Having the wheel draw heat from the case body would be an asset. Once the wheel heats up, though, we'd be talking the other way, I suppose.

 

[Rook 6]

Don’t have one anymore, but if I did, I would buy your wheels. Great idea and improvement!

 

[The boogalorian]

I could use some for 6.5 Grendel/ 6mm arc.

 

[123openup]

Hi All. I'm considering manufacturing and selling machined aluminum wheels for the annealeez. I'm making this post to gauge interest/demand to determine if the job will be worth running. How many of you would be interested or know someone who would be interested in purchasing a set?? I'm planning for a price point of ~$50 shipped per set.

I'd like to get feedback on how many would be interested in buying a set. What sizes would you want? I was thinking a large set and small set would cover all caliber needs, offering a standard and large case cut on the standard wheel for those doing SSMs and such. The large set will do as small as 6.5CM case length. With the wheels being aluminum you can run the flame quite close to the wheel for 10-20min before things really heat up. This is helpful if say you are using large wheels to do 300PRC/338LM etc and want to anneal on smaller cases for a quick run. Other benefits are doing short cases such as 300BLK without melting the wheels.

I already have a prototype set of large and small wheels and am in the testing phase now with them. I may even change the approach from aluminum to a high temp composite. This is simply to avoid the heat sink of the aluminum wheels with short cases.

Curious to get everyone's input and any questions.

Thanks!

Did you ever start making the aluminum wheels. If so I would like to buy them. Thanks Robert Tice. 661-964-7730 roberttice308@yahoo.com

 

[5698k]

I’m interested as well.