Ken Light annealing machine

[killahog]

Alright after looking at one of these units for a year or so I am finally going to break down and buy one next week, The question that I have is can anyone offer and proof that the annealing process has improved there accuracy?.

 

[Forum Boss]

"Smokin Joe" Entrekin won the score nationals a while back with brass that had been reloaded OVER 40 Times. Joe anneals his cases very often, starting with annealing right after the initial neck-turning of his 30BR brass.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I don't know how anyone could prove to you that annealing will improve your accuracy. I have annealed for years & can confidently say that annealing periodically (you have to work the period out for your rifle & your brass) will make your brass last much, much longer in a bolt gun, makes neck tension more uniform, and makes shoulder bumping more uniform. If those things are important to you, then I assure you that annealing will improve your game. What is your game, BTW? Hope this helps a little, Joe

 

[killahog]

Thanks for the reply Joe I sent you a PM.

 

[Scott Harris]

You should also check this one out: http://www.annealingmachines.com/model_360 I owned the Ken Light model but prefer this one (with 3 torches).

 

[Trevor60]

ok if we are giving alternatives my money is going toward this annealer i like the thicker plates to avoid over heating of the case.
http://www.grizzlygunworks.com/GRIZZLY_CASE_ANNEALER.php

take care
Trevor

 

[flatlander]

I bought one of Ken's annealing machines a year or so ago, and have used it on all of my BR, Dasher, 6x47, & 308 match brass. There are a couple of things that make me wish I'd have waited and bought a different machine.

One, the only way to adjust how much heat you apply is by adjusting the position of the torches & the individual torch valves. A couple of the other machines have an adjustable dwell time feature.

Two, it gets expensive buying different wheels for different headsize cases. I shoot 223, 6 RAT, 6BR&Dasher, 6&6.5x47, 6.5x55AI, 284, & 308. I bought my machine with the reg. & short #22 wheels, but still need three more wheels to cover the 223, 6 RAT, & 284.

 

[Mark S in NM]

I bought one of Ken's annealing machines a year or so ago, and have used it on all of my BR, Dasher, 6x47, & 308 match brass. There are a couple of things that make me wish I'd have waited and bought a different machine.

One, the only way to adjust how much heat you apply is by adjusting the position of the torches & the individual torch valves. A couple of the other machines have an adjustable dwell time feature.

Two, it gets expensive buying different wheels for different headsize cases. I shoot 223, 6 RAT, 6BR&Dasher, 6&6.5x47, 6.5x55AI, 284, & 308. I bought my machine with the reg. & short #22 wheels, but still need three more wheels to cover the 223, 6 RAT, & 284.

So if you had waited your choice would be?

 

[epmn]

The problem that I have with all of the ones that I have seen on the market is in torch adjustment for different case heights. These days I anneal 6 different cases. I bought a brass-o-matic (pretty much the same as the ballistic edge) a few years ago. After the first time using it (switching from .223 to .308 in the same sitting) I completely rebuilt the torch holding section. Trying to adjust the threaded rods was just too much work. I ended up mounting the torch holders to a vertical slide. All I have to do now is turn a knob to set the height. The reality is adding what I did would make the product too expensive. If I had to do it again I would have just built the whole thing from scratch.

epmn

 

[Elwood]

I agree with flatlander.

The Kenlight is a good machine ( I own one ) but I think there are better out there now.

The torch adjustments for the Kenlight are at best crude, functional yes, but could have been done so much better.
The main problem I find is that I have to place a case in every third space, otherwise the case that is being annealed is taking up the heat source for one that is just coming up to the heat, if that makes sense? So A wheel that should hold 20 cases now only holds 5.

If I were to buy another it would be the Bench source system. This system would appear to give 100% consistency.
http://www.bench-source.com/id81.html

 

[lightman]

I plan to buy an annealing machine,this year,so I'm watching this thread too.Thanks for the replys,any other opinions are also welcome. Lightman

 

[ridgeway]

The best machine I saw so far is the Benchsource unit. The feature that I think is useful is its ability to spin each case in the flame. I saw the unit work in person and it works awesome. The unit quality is top notch and well worth the $$.

 

[mackr]

The Ken Light machine spins the case in the flame; also flame angle and height is adjustable.
Mack

 

[Steve Blair]

The problem that I have with all of the ones that I have seen on the market is in torch adjustment for different case heights.

I took a cruder, more direct approach, cutting wood scraps to the right height for each case. One scrap provides two heights and it just takes a minute to adjust. My routine is to anneal every three firings, tumbling first in stainless steel media with Lemi-Shine. That leaves the case shiny and easy to see the results.

All the automated machines are likely do a good annealing job when adjusted properly. The choices are about convenience.

 

[Melvin]

The best machine I saw so far is the Benchsource unit. The feature that I think is useful is its ability to spin each case in the flame. I saw the unit work in person and it works awesome. The unit quality is top notch and well worth the $$.

How much are the Benchsource units?? When you click on his link to price, it comes up an email inquiry page??
MC

 

[guidom]

melvin, they are about 500.00 and look like a good machine

 

[Waskawood]

I think mine was $519 shipped.

 

[ridgeway]

Yep, $499.95 plus $19.95 shipping.

 

[Dakota_Mike]

It's $505 shipped from Graf's, that's where I picked mine up

 

[DHD]

I have had the Benchsource for a month or so. Problem is, it's so fast I have to shoot more so I can have more cases to anneal. Set up was quick, and after a few measurements on torch height and dwell time, results are repeatable.

It costs a bunch so a shooting buddy and I bought it together.

Don't forget the Tempilac and some extra cases for the initial set up.

I did not notice much difference between case brands (except for some Rem URBR cases I have) so that was not a problem.

I do ultrasonic clean and tumble before annealing fwiw. I went by the Tempilac, not case color.

I had my son load cases in the machine. He was sort of bummed out that there were not more cases to anneal. He did about 500 in 45 minutes.