annealing machines ?

[Frankr]

I searched articles for annealing machines and found nothing but do remember seeing a few.

I was wondering about any info anyone can give me on them and where to buy one.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

A few months ago, I bought an annealing machine from Doug Giraud and I have processed four batches of 100 cases each. The last batch took all of about 25 minutes from the time I picked up the machine from the shelf until I put it back.

http://www.giraudtool.com/annealer1.htm

My cases look very much like the ones on the left when they are processed.

The way I do it is I set up the machine at the edge of a table, plug it in and start it up. Then I light the torch and adjust the flame to what I think is correct. I take 10 cases and load them up quickly in the machine. As they start to cycle through, I catch the processed brass in a big cardboad box set under the table. I keep loading the cases until all 100 pieces are in the tray, and by that time, a couple dozen will have been processed already. Then I just monitor the machine as it does its work and I shake the big cardboard bux I use to catch the brass. Once the last case goes through the machine, I shake the large cardboard box some more to make sure there are no clumps and I put the machine away. Then I start picking up the cases from the box and put them back in their box and they are ready for resizing.

The only thing that would make it easier would be for the cases to load themselves in the tray and fall in the assigned slots in the box once processed.

 

[ridgeway]

The most economical, bernzomatic torch, scocket and extension to hold case, drill to spin the holder and dim your lights.

IMO, best machine is Benchsource. Its extremely simple, compact, fast, easy to set up and works perfect. No cons here.

 

[40X Guy]

I bought my Benchsource after much study and browsing here onsite from Graf's. I paid 499 at the time with free shipping (last fall). Expensive machine but very well worth it Like the old saying goes "Buy once and only cry once"

Frank

 

[jdb]

I just bought this annealer from Ken Light Manufacturing & used it for the first time this afternoon, an absolutely wonderful piece of machinery, The following info. is from his website,. John BC 1000
Automatic Case Annealer

Automatically anneals 1,000 case necks per hour. Increases brass life and improves accuracy. Ensures proper chamber seal. A must for forming wildcat cartridges. Comes complete with one cartridge head wheel. Additional wheels available, .22 Hornet to .50 cal. BMG.


$400.00

 

[Leaddog]

After struggling with the one at a time chucked in a drill, I bought a Benchsource. Every piece of brass is now consistently annealed and perfect. A 100 cases now only takes a few minutes. Highly recommended.

 

[TheSnake]

Got my Bench Source machine from Graf and Son (www.grafs.com). Very well built machine and will pay for itself many times over with money saved on brass.

 

[Frankr]

ok Thanks guys

 

[walker2713]

Interesting thread....I'm thinking about get one as well....

I've got one of Todd Kindler's annealing tools, and have used the "tip 'em over in the water" pan program, but don't think there's any where near the consistency thats required.

Anyone familiar with these folks??

http://www.annealingmachines.com/

George

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

ok Thanks guys

I think any of the machines listed here will do well for you; they present cartridges in turn and rotate them in front of the flame and move them on at a set time. The only difference I see is how you load the cartridges into the machine. On the turntable models, you have to constantly feed the machine; on the hopper style machines you can load them up and then just monitor.

Also, there are 3600 seconds in an hour; in order to be able to anneal 1000 cases per hour, each case will be exposed to the torch for under 3 seconds. I'm not sure if you can achieve proper annealing in that time frame and you will also be very busy for one hour loading a case every 3.6 seconds for one hour. Good luck with that.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Anyone familiar with these folks??

http://www.annealingmachines.com/

George

I have the model 400 and it is a very nice machine. They were also very responsive and great to deal with.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I have the Benchsource annealer, exremely pleased with machine and customer service!

 

[Greyfox]

ok Thanks guys

I think any of the machines listed here will do well for you; they present cartridges in turn and rotate them in front of the flame and move them on at a set time. The only difference I see is how you load the cartridges into the machine. On the turntable models, you have to constantly feed the machine; on the hopper style machines you can load them up and then just monitor.

Also, there are 3600 seconds in an hour; in order to be able to anneal 1000 cases per hour, each case will be exposed to the torch for under 3 seconds. I'm not sure if you can achieve proper annealing in that time frame and you will also be very busy for one hour loading a case every 3.6 seconds for one hour. Good luck with that.

I do agree that the better mahcines will all do a good job. It is correct that to do 1000 cases per hour with a Ken Light you will be very busy. I don't think I've ever done quite that many in an hour, but I think it's probably doable or at least close. I did want to comment on the 3 seconds per minute thought. The Ken Light uses two torches and cases rotate through each one in sequence. A case will be in the flame for a little more than 6 seconds and the intensity depends on how and where you place the flame. It is very reasonable to get desired results in the allotted time frame. It is also possible to overanneal if one gets too enthusiastic with the intensity of the flame.

Rick

 

[Leaddog]

With the Benchsource, I find that 4 seconds in the fire with both tips of the blue flame about 1/2" from the case (Lapua) is perfect.

After annealing, I use 0000 steel wool on the outside of the neck and a nylon brush on the inside. There is just enough 'roughness' from the annealing that should be smoothed prior to resizing and loading.

Annealing is so easy with this machine that I anneal after each firing for consistency.

 

[DennisH]

Charlie, why not a bronze brush instead of a nylon brush on the inside of the necks?

Just wondering, Dennis

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I can tell you why I don't use a bronze brush and use nylon brushes instead. A bronze brush will have its bristtles work harden very quicky and will scratch the metal. The nylon brushes do not do that and also they are cheap and I keep a good supply of them since I brush the neck of every case I load before seating the bullet.

 

[bozo699]

I can tell you why I don't use a bronze brush and use nylon brushes instead. A bronze brush will have its bristtles work harden very quicky and will scratch the metal. The nylon brushes do not do that and also they are cheap and I keep a good supply of them since I brush the neck of every case I load before seating the bullet.

Sound advice.
Wayne.

 

[Leaddog]

Charlie, why not a bronze brush instead of a nylon brush on the inside of the necks?

Just wondering, Dennis

Bronze brushes will scratch the inside of the neck.

I mount a drill in a vise on my bench with a nylon brush (I like the Montana Extreme Nylon bore brush) and can do alot of cases in a very short time. If you anneal, you must brush the inside of the case necks, otherwise they are a bit rough. I like my bullet seating butter smooth.

 

[Trevor60]

Here is one more alternative annealler that i like. couple reasons it has a much larger heat sink and it is depth adjustable

http://www.grizzlygunworks.com/GRIZZLY_CASE_ANNEALER.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uldy8tQ0oII&feature=youtube_gdata

thanks
Trevor

 

[ReedG]

I also think any of the rotating machines with properly adjusted torches will do the job. I only have experience with the Ken Light machine and it is one fine piece of equipment. It will, indeed, do 1,000 cases an hour if you keep inserting them into the rotating wheel. The thing Ken's machine has that's different is that the center of the wheel is filled with hot water to help preheat the cases and act as a heatsink to keep the body and base of the cases from overheating. I've done somewhere in the area of 12,000 cases in it, some of them many times, and heartily endorse it.