Benchsource annealing setting for Lapua 6.5 x 284 brass

[Steveb]

I was annealing some 6.5 x 284 brass this morning and found that I need a higher time setting than any of my other brass types to soften the brass. I use 2 - 1# bottles and set the inner blue flame cone away from the brass as required. I tried using Templac but am having problems seeing when it melts.

What are the rest of you using for a time setting if you don't mind. I am getting good results but the higher setting bothers me.

Thanks

 

[ShootDots]

I was annealing some 6.5 x 284 brass this morning and found that I need a higher time setting than any of my other brass types to soften the brass. I use 2 - 1# bottles and set the inner blue flame cone away from the brass as required. I tried using Templac but am having problems seeing when it melts.

What are the rest of you using for a time setting if you don't mind. I am getting good results but the higher setting bothers me.

Thanks

That will depend on 2 things: 1.) If you turn your necks, to what neck wall thickness have you turned it too. The more you take off, the thinner it gets, that would lead to less flame time; and 2.) How HOT are you setting your torch(s)?

 

[Steveb]

All true but looking for an average and then I can tweak from there.

 

[ShootDots]

OKay...

 

[22DASHER]

Nobody can give you an average time because there are too many variables…. Seriously.

Just turn the lights down really low in your room and try to set the timer to rotate as soon as you see the slightest red glow.

 

[Steveb]

That is what I am doing now but the times seems to be longer than my 308's and other similar sized cases.

 

[jlow]

Nobody can give you an average time because there are too many variables…. Seriously.

Just turn the lights down really low in your room and try to set the timer to rotate as soon as you see the slightest red glow.

This is correct. There are way too many variables and I will list a few obvious one:
1) Type of gas you are using - propane vs. MAPP.
2) How hot/long are you setting the flames.
3) The type of torches you are using.
4) which part of your flame are you putting on your brass.
5) Are you using one or two torches.
6) Which part of your brass you are pointing your flame at.
7) Neck thickness.
8) What you considered annealed.

It's not rocket science. Practice as per this poster is suggesting on some waste brass and graduate to the real stuff.

 

[Steveb]

Thanks to all the replies. I am annealing the brass well so I think I understand the science behind it but I was just curious what other people were using for the settings using the same Lapua brass and Benchsource machine. I am just curious why this brass seems to take longer than other brass makes I have and was curious if that result is a common experience.

 

[Mozella]

............ I need a higher time setting than any of my other brass types to soften the brass. .......... snip............

How are you measuring the hardness of your annealed brass? Almost nobody who anneals brass measures the hardness. What method do you use?
You go on to say you are annealing your brass well. How do you know?

 

[Das Capitolin]

I was annealing some 6.5 x 284 brass this morning and found that I need a higher time setting than any of my other brass types to soften the brass. I use 2 - 1# bottles and set the inner blue flame cone away from the brass as required. I tried using Templac but am having problems seeing when it melts.

What are the rest of you using for a time setting if you don't mind. I am getting good results but the higher setting bothers me.

Thanks

You're asking for a magic number that doesn't exist. Not only will your (unspecified) brass be very different from the next person's, so will your flame(s) heat. Not only that, but every time you anneal the setting will be different (because of torch difference and tank pressure). You need to research, and do it yourself.

If I was there, I would turn the lights off and use the setting that's just short of causing any glow.

 

[Steveb]

I have used the dull red in low light method and it works well but I also test the brass neck using a set of lightweight electrical needle nose pliers. As you get close to the right temp (timing duration) then the brass neck goes from hard to soft that you can feel when you squeeze the neck. This usually happens about the time the necks turn dull red. You can really feel the difference using the lightweight pliers.

All I was hoping to get is a timing number. With a number of people giving that number then the average should approximate the right duration regardless of the variations. The more people giving numbers then the average will be better.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[fourpower]

I was annealing some 6.5 x 284 brass this morning and found that I need a higher time setting than any of my other brass types to soften the brass. I use 2 - 1# bottles and set the inner blue flame cone away from the brass as required. I tried using Templac but am having problems seeing when it melts.

What are the rest of you using for a time setting if you don't mind. I am getting good results but the higher setting bothers me.

Thanks

like you I was having problems when using the small bottles. see video by 6.5 guys and got big propane bottle and 2 hoses and make sure that the flame is on the shoulder and man did that make a big differents.