Annealing

[Stevos758]

I am just trying on some old pieces of brass holding in the flame for 6-7 seconds. When I drop it out of the holder the case head is pretty warm almost too warm to hold. How does it look from the pictures? Am I doing something wrong or does it look fine. M]nd you a few of them were practice.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Annealing

I insert mine for about 6 to 6.5 seconds in a single flame propane torch in the light blue part of the flame. This gets it just right. From left to right, #5-7 look good.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: Annealing

unfortunately no one can determine if your cases have been properly annealed by looking at them.

 

[Stevos758]

Re: Annealing

I can see the blue line moving and I stop as soon as it gets past the shoulder. I was just wondering since some articles I have read say you should be able to handle the brass/it shouldn't be hot near the casehead.

 

[Stevos758]

Re: Annealing

I am waiting for my 650 temlaq to dry as we speak. I will see what that does with my procedure. Any other ways to check and see if they are annealed properly.

 

[Stevos758]

Re: Annealing

OK I tried again with the 650 templaq and it turned black/melted around 4-5seconds. Here is a cleaner case with a bullet seated. Do I necessarily need to see the blue color?

 

[Stevos758]

Re: Annealing

Bump for more criticism.

 

[Stevos758]

Re: Annealing

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After watching this it appears my first ones are correct. The last one I did in my most recent pic in this thresd with the bullet seated seems it just went through the first color change. I think my 650 templaq was just turning black and not melting. What are your thoughts?

 

[jsthntn247]

Re: Annealing

6-7 seconds is usually right. Think you had it right at first. If you want to check it, put the tempilaq on the inside of the neck and keep it in the flame until it melts. I would add one second to that because 750 degrees is the sweet spot.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Annealing

If you are going to practice. Use a few brand new cases and a pair of pliers. Pay attention and squeeze the necks and notice the spring back of the case. Now anneal to not enough and way to much and notice how the spring back changes.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Annealing

I never leave 308 cases in the flame for more than 4.6 seconds. The Tempelaq should melt away. It is best practice, IMHO, to use two different temp ratings with the lower one (around 450 degrees) used on the case head. It should never turn black or melt. That would mean you are getting the cases too hot.

 

[roggom]

Re: Annealing

Do not get too hung up on the exterior color of the brass. The guy in the vid has found a happy medium because his spin speed is a constant.

If the speed of the drill was slower the brass would heat up too much before you reach that color.


Variables:
-Part of flame you heat the neck
-length of time in flame
-speed of drill

Visual indicators:

Brass temperature: Templaq, or monitor the case mouth for it to barely glow (best in a dimly lit room)

Brass exterior color change: speed of drill vs time in flame.

My point: unless your drill is going the same speed as the video, exterior color may not be indicitive of a proper anneal.


As mechanic suggested, get some scrap and practice. Heat it up till it is cherry red and see how it glows, and the after effect of soft brass. Play with the variables until you find the right mix for your setup.

Confused yet?

 

[QuiggyB]

Re: Annealing

In a dark room, do you want to take it out just before or just after it begins to glow a deep red? There is a moment when it will strike that color. Some articles say that any glow is bad. Others say that is the perfect point.

With tempilaq paint a stripe of the low temp stuff from the case head half way up the body. Paint the high temp stuff from the neck down and also inside the case mouth.

 

[roggom]

Re: Annealing

I have always gone to the point where it just changes to red. In this article, they call it "worm red". Handloader mag pg 43

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl276partial.pdf

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Annealing

The instruction manual from Bench-Source has a very well laid out primer on annealing. This annealer is a great machine. No, I don't work for the company, just a very satisfied user.

 

[Stevos758]

Re: Annealing

Excellent info guys. I am going to test some with the vice grip spring back method tonight. I think I am going to stick with my 4-5 second count. It seems to be working. I will report back. Feel free to chime in.

 

[tolnep]

Re: Annealing

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stevos758</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Excellent info guys. I am going to test some with the vice grip spring back method tonight. I think I am going to stick with my 4-5 second count. It seems to be working. I will report back. Feel free to chime in. </div></div>

good luck with that test. i could not figure out the 'knack' and gave up after destroying a few cases.

 

[Stevos758]

Re: Annealing

Ordered some 450 templaq for the outside of the case. Going to try that next week.