Annealing? Or thinking about it. Check this out... (Video)

[mysticplayer]

If you want the best, most consistent brass for competition or LR precision shooting, just invest in a top tier annealer. My choice - Bench Source.

I have tried the manual and simplier methods. Results were irratic and inconsistent. So, I created as many problems as I tried to resolve.

With the BS annealer, I can control flame (location and heat) and dwell very precisely. I have found this is necessary for best results.

Colour does not work... use a temp indicator like Tempilac. Some brass turn that beautiful colours, some don't show any visible change.

Different brands and lots of brass will react and look differently and need different treat schedules.

Also, number of times you fire a batch of brass before you anneal WILL affect the appropriate schedule. Just keep things consistent.

The goal is not to make exactly like factory (maybe you can). It is to make it consistent from firing to firing.

Unfortunately, annealing IS very complicated and demands the right tools to do it well. Most brass manf will show you every part of their manf EXCEPT their annealing process.... Why?

YMMV.

Jerry

 

[jvw2008]

+1

 

[Greyfox]

If you want the best, most consistent brass for competition or LR precision shooting, just invest in a top tier annealer. My choice - Bench Source.

I have tried the manual and simplier methods. Results were irratic and inconsistent. So, I created as many problems as I tried to resolve.

With the BS annealer, I can control flame (location and heat) and dwell very precisely. I have found this is necessary for best results.

Colour does not work... use a temp indicator like Tempilac. Some brass turn that beautiful colours, some don't show any visible change.

Different brands and lots of brass will react and look differently and need different treat schedules.

Also, number of times you fire a batch of brass before you anneal WILL affect the appropriate schedule. Just keep things consistent.

The goal is not to make exactly like factory (maybe you can). It is to make it consistent from firing to firing.

Unfortunately, annealing IS very complicated and demands the right tools to do it well. Most brass manf will show you every part of their manf EXCEPT their annealing process.... Why?

YMMV.

Jerry

Jerry,
This is arguably the best explanation I've seen as to why an automated annealer should be used. I wish I'd said this.

Rick

 

[BoydAllen]

I disagree with the just like factory thought. Brass that I have machine annealed, and that my friend has done with the metronome and Hornady kit, felt much more uniform than factory when seating bullets. In the case of the machine annealing, we were addressing a shoulder bump uniformity issue, with brass that had only been fired twice, and solved that problem with properly set up machine annealing. In short, your annealing can be better than factory.

 

[TC260]

Unfortunately, annealing IS very complicated and demands the right tools to do it well. Most brass manf will show you every part of their manf EXCEPT their annealing process.... Why?

YMMV.

Jerry

If you dig around on youtube you can find segments of cartridge manufacturing vids where they show their annealing process. Gas flames for a few seconds, not much different than what we do.

 

[snakepit]

For timing when annealing go to www.a.bestmetronome.com click on Accessible option, select 60 beats per minute, click on START and turn your volume up.

 

[BoydAllen]

TC260,
Have you done much annealing? My friend has gotten excellent results with less than a hundred dollars worth of additional equipment, beyond the cordless drill that he already had. I would agree that some serious reading is in order, give that there is so much bad info out there, but published on paper and on the internet.

 

[Danattherock]

TC260,
My friend has gotten excellent results with less than a hundred dollars worth of additional equipment, beyond the cordless drill that he already had.

Same thing the former FCSA 1000 yard world champion told me. He can afford anything he wants, but chose a drill with a bolt that fits 50 BMG primer pocket with a flat washer.

While I can appreciate the varying views, and I too admire the Bench-Source and such, it's hard to discount something that comes straight from the horses mouth.

To me, the Anneal-Rite is kind of in the middle between using a drill and an automatic machine. A cheap experiment if nothing else. I'm eager to see what kind of results I may get.


Dan

 

[Ledd Slinger]

None of us are saying that the "drill-in-hand-standing-around-all-day-not-being-able-to-do-anything-else" ( ) method won't work as well as anything else when done correctly. Just saying that you can never get the convenience that the machine provides. Some folks don't mind sitting around listening to timers go off every so many seconds or counting 1-one thousand, 2-one thousand, 3-one thosand... while listening to the whine of a drill with the heat of a torch in their face. And that's fine. To each his own.

Now me? I can't stand annealing by hand. Did it that way for a long time and hated every minute of it. Now with the Bench Source, I kind of look forward to the next time I get to anneal because its a pleasurable and relaxing experience. But that's just me.

 

[TC260]

TC260,
Have you done much annealing? My friend has gotten excellent results with less than a hundred dollars worth of additional equipment, beyond the cordless drill that he already had. I would agree that some serious reading is in order, give that there is so much bad info out there, but published on paper and on the internet.

I think you meant to respond to somebody else. I only commented to mystic about there being videos of brass manufacturers annealing on youtube.

FWIW though I do anneal by hand. Laptop metronome at 120bpm for a little finer timing. 700F Tempilaq instead of 750 and a low flame setting to account for being a little less precise than a machine. I agree about the quality of information floating around. I have a materials science textbook and access to materials engineers that I rely on for information more so than reloading forums.

 

[BoydAllen]

Ya got me ;-) I get in too big of a hurry sometimes. I incorrectly associated the quote that you were responding to with you. Sorry about that.
Boyd

 

[snakepit]

Now with the Bench Source, I kind of look forward to the next time I get to anneal because its a pleasurable and relaxing experience.

Your definition of a "pleasurable and relaxing experience " is a lot different than mine which does not include annealing by any method.

Although this does sound like the basis for a new thread, "The Top Ten Most Pleasurable And Relaxing Steps In Reloading".

 

[1066]

Just thought you might like to see my homemade machine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv75-9p9yFA

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Now with the Bench Source, I kind of look forward to the next time I get to anneal because its a pleasurable and relaxing experience.

Your definition of a "pleasurable and relaxing experience " is a lot different than mine which does not include annealing by any method.

Although this does sound like the basis for a new thread, "The Top Ten Most Pleasurable And Relaxing Steps In Reloading".

I should start roasting marshmallows on a stick while the machine anneals the brass