new to annealing . need help

savagehunter44

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 10, 2011
187
0
36
florida
want to start annealing my own brass , but not sure on what the best temp is , i cant realy spend a lot on a bunch of equement right now . midway has a annealing system for about 50.00 bucks, but iv never done this before, i need all the help i can get , thanks
 
Re: new to annealing . need help

No need for the Hornady "annealing system". Get a power screwdriver and some deep wall sockets. Drop your brass in the sockets and spin them in a propane flame, heating just below the shoulder. When the neck just starts to glow in a DARK room, drop the brass on a moist towel. Repeat as necessary. Don't touch the socket, it gets hot!
 
Re: new to annealing . need help

The simplist way is in a pan of water and a propane torch. Here is an article excerpt from Handloader magazine.

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

I use the drill/socket method. A deep socket will cover the body of the case.

Lol: Agree with above post, I use welding gloves, I think my socket has my fingerprints permanently etched into it.
 
Re: new to annealing . need help

The water pan and the propane torch method has worked for me for years. Just spin the brass in your fingers and when it gets to hot to touch you are done. Drop in the water pan. I am just to cheap to buy the right gear. Kinda crazy when I think about what I spend on rifles and optics.
 
Re: new to annealing . need help

Not very hard, I have used the deep well socket method in a slow speed drill and a torch, the hardest part is understanding the color it needs to be before taking the heat away, you can find several you tube videos that show you. I decided that the best way to see the color is to do the process in low light room and stop when it gets to a maroon color not cherry red. I do drop them in water even though I don't think it's necessary but I am worried about over heating the case body. Practice makes perfect in this case, a lot of old time bench rest shooters have done it by simple methods for years at very little cost. Good luck.
 
Re: new to annealing . need help

just need to find an old drill now and a new torch
smile.gif
very good articles thank guys
 
Re: new to annealing . need help

One of the mistakes I've seen people do is trying to judge whether the case is correctly annealed by using "color or color change" on the case alone as the goal.

Do yourself a favor and buy some Tempilac.
 
Re: new to annealing . need help

Like others have said, for on the cheap all you need is a drill/powered screwdriver, apex bit 1/4 adapter, deep well socket, torch/propane and 750 deg TEMPLAQ fluid.

Seriously use the templaq fluid to figure out your needed time. I never used water to cool the cases, just air cool.

Also be careful, don't burn the house down or hurt yourself, metal objects get hot!
wink.gif


Good luck......