Note to self.

[DRNewcomb]

Usually I like to learn by reading, asking questions, etc. Yesterday I taught myself a lesson in annealing, the hard way. Only anneal perfectly clean brass! I thought the brass was pretty clean but it seems maybe not so much. If the brass has any lube left, it migrates to the mid-line of the case where it forms a baked-on ring that won't tumble off (at least not with corncob). I'm now faced with the prospect of hand scrubbing a bunch of brass with steel wool. :/

P.S. On second thought, it probably has more to do with a slight misadjustment of the Annealeez's torch. That's probably rubber from the wheels. Lesson still learned.

 

[357Mag]

DRN -

Howdy !

Try #0000 steel wool.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[F Class John]

That’s really interesting to see. I can tell you that I have annealed shot brass without cleaning it and never seen anything like that happen.

I’m making some assumptions so forgive me but I’m curious if you are annealing after sizing? If there is that much lube on it, does that means that you did your sizing before you annealed and if so it should be the opposite way. Annealing will help uniform your sizing process. It would also prevent this from happening if that’s the case.

On a sidenote if you’re trying to get a lot of brass clean that has that problem you might see if you have a friend who uses stainless tumbling and throw them in there as it will knock all of that off without any effort on your part.

 

[DRNewcomb]

That’s really interesting to see. I can tell you that I have annealed shot brass without cleaning it and never seen anything like that happen.....

I realized that since the last time I annealed brass, the torch had bumped inward just 1/8" and/or I had the flame a bit higher and that's actually little bits of rubber from the Annealezz's rollers.

 

[DRNewcomb]

...Try #0000 steel wool...

For the worst cases scraping with a razor blade knife followed by chucking in a collet and spinning with #0000 steel wool.

 

[jghoghunter]

For the worst cases scraping with a razor blade knife followed by chucking in a collet and spinning with #0000 steel wool.

This is what I would do minus the razor and I use a green scotch Brite pad.

 

[D-4297]

Been there and done that , too . As others suggested , clean the crud off with some #0000 steel wool , and chuck them up and use Never Dull . They'll come out prettier than brand new . Ask me how I know this ?

 

[divingin]

P.S. On second thought, it probably has more to do with a slight misadjustment of the Annealeez's torch. That's probably rubber from the wheels. Lesson still learned.

My Annealeez started slipping; not rotating the case as it sat in the flame. I ended up peeling off the blue rubber stuff they use and contact cementing a strip of 220 grit sandpaper onto the wheel (rough up the nylon wheel before applying cement.) No more slipping, and no melting of rubber.

 

[DRNewcomb]

My Annealeez started slipping; not rotating the case as it sat in the flame. I ended up peeling off the blue rubber stuff they use and contact cementing a strip of 220 grit sandpaper onto the wheel (rough up the nylon wheel before applying cement.) No more slipping, and no melting of rubber.

The same day as I annealed those cases, the wheels came loose on my Annealeez and it roasted a .303 Brit case. It was the first time I ever annealed .303 Brit and .30-40 Govt. rimmed cases. I think the case rims might have had something to do with it. Maybe? I'll always double check the tightness of the wheels in the future.