Winter Project - DYI Case Annealer

[brxbrad]

I'm sorry about the title.....It is supposed to be DIY Duh
Anyway...I was looking for alternatives to spending $20/100 to get my cases annealed and got the idea from another shooter and after watching some YouTube videos, I decided to build one like this one.

I have approximately $125.00 in this project. I purchased the hardware, fasteners, and wood from TSC, Lowes, and Hobby Lobby. The electronics were purchased from Amazon.
It took approximately 36hrs from drawing and working out the details to completion.

The power supply and motors took approximately 3 weeks for delivery and the controllers took 3 months. They literally came on a slow boat from China. The motors are BQLZR High Torque 12V DC 25 RPM Gear-Box Stabilivolt Electric Motor Replacements. The Controllers ar 6V 12V 24V Digital Display LED DC Motor Speed Controller PWM Stepless Speed Control Switch HHO Driver. The power supply is a eTopxizu 12v Dc 30a 360w Regulated Switching Power Supply. The large drum is a 6" cake pan and the case pickup is a 2" dowel rod. The propane torch holder is made from 1/2" x 2" x 6" flat stock cut to size. It was relatively easy to build.
Fabrication required a table saw, miter box, drill press, jib saw, drill, hack saw, sander, drill bits, tape measure, a couple of feet of wire, and fasteners.
Not only was it fun to build, but it works like a champ, and didn't cost $500 +.

 

[Lapua40X]

I built one similar but without the hopper. So I have to hand feed it. But it cost me less than $35 so I don't mind that. Heck, I'm gonna be standing along side of it anyhow. Wondering what system you use to synchronize the two motors when you set up the auto feed apparatus.

Build your own. There are dozens of DIY videos on the web. I built this one for under $35 ... works just fine. Used a cabinet and aluminum pan from a thrift shop and a few odds and ends I had around the house, coupled with about $10 worth of parts off of ebay. (The cabinet is actually an old metal file box I turned over)



View attachment 992841 View attachment 992842

 

[brxbrad]

The use of a optic sensor as shown here looks like a better idea. I looked for one after ordering the electronics but couldn't find one.

 

[Lapua40X]

... I looked for one after ordering the electronics but couldn't find one.

http://www.fargocontrols.com/sensors/inductive_op.html

https://www.automationdirect.com/ad...oduct-search&gclid=CImL7Oet49ECFUSSfgodJ7kG0w

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/282316399981?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

 

[brxbrad]

That's what I need,
Thanks

 

[Bill Koepke]

That's what I need,
Thanks

Wow I need to build one of those. What was final cost

 

[Ron Blain]

Really nice job and the Sam Adams bottle is a nice touch.

Ron

 

[sjoliat]

I built one of these two years ago, using the dual-speed controllers. The setup works well but at some point I will switch to the proximity sensor. I have done several thousand pieces now, and keeping the two motors in sync is virtually impossible. This leads to a dual-feed into the big drum, which dumps two pieces into the catch pan that have been improperly heated. Rather large PITA, though the system as a whole works pretty well.

 

[Tucker65]

These are the proximity sensors I used on mine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5Pcs-NC-LJ...245404?hash=item4644c18adc:g:3Q0AAOSweuxWStrj

 

[Mozella]

Start here: https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/DIY_Annealing_Machine/42-434088/
It will answer ALL your questions.

It's the very long post on the AR-15 forum. Some of it is a waste of time, but much of the information is VERY good stuff. It gives you plans, dimensions, suppliers, parts lists, do's/don't's, tips, and tricks.

You'll see some information about how to deal with sync issue between the two motors. I used a proximity sensor on mine and it works great.

By the way, I used thin 6mm plywood which is plenty strong. My box is put together with glue and a few small brads, but it requires 3/8"X3/8" corner strips to provide sufficient gluing surface. I also put every component on the front face so that I could remove the face and have ALL the components and wires out in the open. The back is a 5 sided box with nothing mounted to it other than the carrying handle.

 

[chop house]

So I have to hand feed it. But it cost me less than $35 so I don't mind that.

i challenged myself to build one in a weekend, out of s-crap and junk from the parts bins already laying around the garage. No trips to hardware store allowed. Cost me $00.00, except for the band saw and coffee pot electric . Hill-billy meets steam punk. yes, that is an old foley belsaw key machine driving it... and a just as old dremel speed control for 'fine tuning'.

 

[spitfire_er]

I've had the parts for one of these sitting around for a year. I should finally get to it and put it together. I have a proximity switch for the case feeder. Had too much to time to think about how it want to build it in the past year.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I have a deep well socket. It works great. It is also very portable.

 

[Bill Koepke]

Just bought all of the electrical component. Now I'll have to sit and wait for the slow boat from China

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Annealeze is a great machine, almost always in stock, and comes complete including priority mail shipping for $275.

So by my calculations, instead of buying the turn key Annealeze (and having it at your house in 3-5 days ready to rock) and after subtracting $125 for parts, your 36 hours of time to assemble a lesser quality machine was worth $4.16 per hour . Was probably even less than that if you add in all the time to order and/or go to the hardware store to get parts.

I'm sorry, but when you factor in the amount of time it takes to research and acquire the parts, then build one, I just dont see the value in making these backyard a annealing machines.

 

[spife7980]

A project doesnt always have to be profitable to provide a sense of accomplishment. I like seeing these in spite of the financials

 

[Ledd Slinger]

A project doesnt always have to be profitable to provide a sense of accomplishment. I like seeing these in spite of the financials

I can see that. There are many things i like to do myself for the sense of accomplishment. Especially if it saves me money. Making an annealing machine is definitely not one of them.

I personally like to get my cases annealed. I probably could have annealed every case for every rifle owned by every member in this thread in a lot less than the 36 hours it took to build that machine.

 

[Bill Koepke]

Annealeze is a great machine, almost always in stock, and comes complete including priority mail shipping for $275.

So by my calculations, instead of buying the turn key Annealeze (and having it at your house in 3-5 days ready to rock) and after subtracting $125 for parts, your 36 hours of time to assemble a lesser quality machine was worth $4.16 per hour . Was probably even less than that if you add in all the time to order and/or go to the hardware store to get parts.

I'm sorry, but when you factor in the amount of time it takes to research and acquire the parts, then build one, I just dont see the value in making these backyard a annealing machines.

You buy one I'll build one because I can and want to not to save money. Thanks for your input

 

[Ledd Slinger]

You buy one I'll build one because I can and want to not to save money. Thanks for your input

My point is that with all these threads, the OP's always state how little money they have in the project and how much they saved over buying a machine. In this thread, the OP stated the total for parts was $125 then boasted about how it didn't cost $500+ like other machines.

Well it didn't cost $500 because the quality is nowhere near a $500+ machine.

AND if a person wants to brag abut the money they saved, they should also account for their time.

If you wanna show your builds and show people how to do it, that's great! I actually enjoy seeing the different contraptions. Pretty cool really. But don't start bashing other more expensive machines for sale on the market by stating how much "money I saved vs. buying one of those" when they fail to account for over 36 man hours to complete the home made machine

 

[sharps618]

Oh my gosh, you guys are killing me.....another project on my to do list......will be gather materials like a beaver building a new home now, then wait for a snow storm....