Quenching brass after annealing?

[Ccrider]

No

Not arguing or beating the dead horse. However, I have used salt bath, flame and an AMP II. I obtained the same result with es and on the target using each method. For me, the only difference is that the AMP is about 10x faster. If you are going to anneal, and value your time, the AMP will pay for itself pretty quick.

 

[searcher]

This post brings to mind the first instructions I had ever read regarding annealing - and how to do it. I'm sure it came from one of my reloading manuals (early 70'S - maybe Speer?) that described best way was to sit brass in a shallow pan like a cookie sheet, fill pan with water to height covering the base of the brass, then anneal with torch - then flip brass over into water. I did this up until I bought an annealing machine - but few guys that annealed had these machines till around 15 - 20 years ago. I think this is probably how most other people did it as well. Getting cases wet does no harm - dunking in water does no harm. I tend to let mine air cool just so I don't have to go through the drying process - though I recently bought a Lyman brass dryer so that may change again - no need to upset the lady of the house with "inappropriate" use of the oven.

 

[Chiquita]

Guys need to learn to use the search tool. It will bring up every post on the subject. It usually only takes a few minutes to find what you want if it's a subject that has a real answer and not personal opinions.

I totally agree about the search tool and I am guilty of it my self.

 

[Intheshop]

I annealed a small batch today. Usually drop in water,but didn't this time.

Here's the logic. With my torch setup,it's easier to drop in water for the sole reason that with enough water depth,the cases aren't banging into each other on that part of the cycle. They hit the water and then slowly descend to the bttm.

But,the wet cases just suck. I blow them out with shop air but still,wait a day for any further processing. Today on this small batch I carefully placed each hot case into a loading block. Finished,then went right to processing.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I annealed a small batch today. Usually drop in water,but didn't this time.

Here's the logic. With my torch setup,it's easier to drop in water for the sole reason that with enough water depth,the cases aren't banging into each other on that part of the cycle. They hit the water and then slowly descend to the bttm.

But,the wet cases just suck. I blow them out with shop air but still,wait a day for any further processing. Today on this small batch I carefully placed each hot case into a loading block. Finished,then went right to processing.

Another approach is to let them roll out/down into a glass baking dish. I use a little cardboard ramp to catch the cases coming out of my Giraud annealer, which then roll gently right into the baking dish. If the resistance of the table/support underneath the baking dish to heat is questionable, a couple pieces of cardboard will insulate it just fine. Once enough cases accumulate in the baking dish and have cooled slightly, I gently remove them with a pair of kitchen tongs to another tray.

The key for the OP as has already been noted above is that brass cannot be quenched by immersion in water as some other metals can. They can be more rapidly cooled in this manner, but it will not affect the grain structure or hardness of the brass. Further, you then need to dry the cases in some way, which requires more time and effort, so I prefer just letting them air cool in a baking dish as described.