Annealing brass - Water quench or air cool?

[supratt96]

Is it necessary to water quench or is it ok to allow brass to air cool?

 

[Threadcutter308]

Air cool is fine. Water means another trip through the drying oven. Flip side is that the excess salt should be washed off.......

 

[supercorndogs]

Water quenching is not necessary. I do mine onto a 2/3 ISPC target to sink the heat out of them faster. Then I can start sizing while the machine is still running. I have a couple of big aluminum trays I am going to try.

 

[spife7980]

If you’re doing salt then quench (really it’s to clean). If it’s anything else as soon as it’s removed from the flame/induction it starts cooling, heat migration down the case won’t be enough to cause issues after it’s no longer being heated.

 

[Darkside-Six]

Just let them co off by themselves. No need to put them in water. Just ads to the wait time.

 

[BearNaked]

I air dry mine as it runs through the annealeez. I have a try that I use under it and just keep moving it once the brass piles up on one side and by the time it is done, the brass from the start is already good to go and cooled off. if anything, it takes maybe 5 mins for brass to cool down or at least that is my experience. I usually go smoke after im done annealing and by the time I come back in, They are cool enough to start running through the press.

 

[Supersubes]

Brass doesn’t quench. At least nothing in its makeup changes when you do. You’d just be adding a drying step.