best method for annealing brass

[Billy Budd]

Does anyone have a favorite, reasonably fast, method for annealing their brass (6BR)?

 

[geordiesniper]

I only use the Benchsource machine. Quick, repeatable and easy.
The other machine which seems very popular is the Giraud which stacks the cases and automatically drops them into the flame, whereas the Benchsource is singly fed on a rotating disc by hand.
The other way to anneal is by putting the cartridge case into a holder attachment on the end of a drill and holding in the flame, not exact, but works apparently and is the much cheaper option of the 3.

 

[SDDasher]

Tom Wilson : cartridgeanneal.com


Simple,efficient, affordable

 

[Area Man]

Is quenching in water not necessary?

 

[SDDasher]

It is not necessary. The brass will cool down in a few minutes all by itself.

 

[CaptainMal]

You got some great answers and welcome to the forum.

I never used one of those machines. Friend does and has to deal with the torch flame being consistent each time he uses it. Then, when switching from one style case to another, he has set-up issues.

With a bit of practice my cheap method of using a portable drill and socket works fine, especially for small-lot use.

 

[Shynloco]

You got some great answers and welcome to the forum.

I never used one of those machines. Friend does and has to deal with the torch flame being consistent each time he uses it. Then, when switching from one style case to another, he has set-up issues.

With a bit of practice my cheap method of using a portable drill and socket works fine, especially for small-lot use.

+1 - I prefer an electric screwdriver over a drill - spinning is slower and more reliable for even turning and heating.

 

[Raythemanroe]

You got some great answers and welcome to the forum.

I never used one of those machines. Friend does and has to deal with the torch flame being consistent each time he uses it. Then, when switching from one style case to another, he has set-up issues.

With a bit of practice my cheap method of using a portable drill and socket works fine, especially for small-lot use.

+1 - I prefer an electric screwdriver over a drill - spinning is slower and more reliable for even turning and heating.

I prefer my drill which has variable speed by the way and the ion battery keeps it ticking straight through a battery cycle.

 

[GSPV]

DJ's brass service. It's a lot less trouble.

 

[Area Man]

To me packing up and shipping the brass to a service would be a lot more trouble than DIY, not to mention the expense. If you have a whole lot to do, it might make sense, but for the hundred or so cases that I keep in rotation I can't see it if it can be done successfully at home.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

You got some great answers and welcome to the forum.

I never used one of those machines. Friend does and has to deal with the torch flame being consistent each time he uses it. Then, when switching from one style case to another, he has set-up issues.

With a bit of practice my cheap method of using a portable drill and socket works fine, especially for small-lot use.

Those issues are almost debilitating it takes less than five minutes if you're slow. Takes a little over an hour to do 1000 cases? I've used the drill method it is slow and inconsistant.

 

[GSPV]

I have a Ken Light annealer. I have a busy life. I'd rather put in the OT on my job and pay the brass service than worry that, in my haste, set up the torches wrong and didn't get a good anneal done.

Maybe now that the kids are in college, I'll feel different. Otoh, there is deer hunting. Speaking of, I'm going to hit the shower, get dressed and go hunt.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I just started annealing, maybe in the future I will be changing my methods.

 

[PALarson]

I recently purchased a Bench Source model, it's accurate, uses 2 torches which evenly heat the necks, it has a very unique feature which rotates the brass while in the flame. It has a solid state controller which allows the turntable to go faster or slower to properly heat the brass. Coating one or 2 cases with Templaq quickly gives the proper heat range. As has already been mentioned it is not necessary to quench the brass and actually better if you don't. Obviously there are other equal machines and methods, this one works well for me.
PA Larson

 

[Hoier]

I use a bench source machine and to get away from the flame inconsistencies I just do all of my match brass at the same time. This way if there is a inconsistency in the flame they will all be the same, I don't know if everyone does this but I adjust the timer each time which might take 5 minutes.

 

[Killshot]

Does anyone have a favorite, reasonably fast, method for annealing their brass

Send them to me......

I'll decap 'em, clean with Stainless Steel media and machine-anneal with a Bench-Source.
All for just .10/case plus return shipping.

48 hour turn-around guaranteed.

PM me for more info/references

 

[awesomeBLT]

Hey: I bought a Hornady annealing kit with the temperature paint. Painted a strip on several cases, mounted their tool in my cordless drill inserted a case and spun it while holding the neck in a propane torch flame until the paint burned off then dropped them in cold water so I didn't anneal the cases to far down. Did this to several cases while counting to myself until the paint burned off. From then on I spin the cases with the flame on the necks counting to myself, when finished I drop them in the water. Case closed (no pun intended).

8)