Long time listener, first time annealer

["HeysKSFirefighter]

Think it is time to anneal my Dasher cases which have 5 firings on them...but haven't done this before.

Watched Orkan's video on Youtube, he was using a Bench-Source and I would be using a simple propane hand torch and the drill/socket method but his fantastic tutorial on what "too long" looks like is well taken.

Based on what I've seen here, water quenching isn't necessary - I can simply drop the annealed cases on a cookie sheet to cool before then sizing & loading.

Curious for those who use this method, how long do you typically leave the brass on a single torch flame? I've got plenty of brass I can sacrifice to learn, but curious how others are doing it.

 

[pmclaine]

Thought about using templaq (sp) as your timer or is that stuff cost prohibitive.

 

[hic28]

Don’t fuck around with any of that, do yourself a favor and get an amp with amp mate and a Dillon case feeder. Set it up and do something else while it anneals for you. I did 1k the other night for a buddy and it was no sweat

 

[Supersubes]

Kinda depends on your flame, but about 5 seconds will do it. You could do a simple test with three batches, each a little longer(4,5 and 6 seconds). I use a metronome for timing(iPhone app). The machines are nice, I just haven’t gotten one yet for one reason or another.

 

[magtech]

I use the socket method. Once you do about 20 you'll get the hang of it pretty easily. It gives me something to do in my down time. Does it work ?. I still shoot 3/4 moa on the same brass. Brass is still over 10 firings. You won't know how it works for you u til you try

 

[Sheldon N]

Metronome app and about 5-6 seconds works. Just try to be consistent in both where in the flame you place the case and in the timing.

One thing you can do is try one case in a dark room and see how long it takes for the inside of the neck to just start to glow red faintly, then back off about a second from there. I bet it starts to glow at around 7 seconds.

 

[Kadams1563]

So my annealing experience. Got all set up and bought a modified Aneealeze with all the bells and whistles. It had a timer, upgraded regulator, and adjustable torch.

Set it all up and got some templaq thinking I was ready to go.

So I dim the lights, put on some soft music, light the flame, and let it run for about 10 minutes to get regulated. I set one case in and run it through. Not long enough. Run another one too long where it would glow. Find a middle ground and begin a few more at a time. Some began to glow and some wouldn’t.

So I finish the 100 rounds and at the end I feel like I just sacrificed all of them or didn’t do anything.

Feeling confused and defeated I went bought an AMP and haven’t looked back.

I now anneal every firing as it’s just part of the brass prep process it goes quick and no problems.

 

["HeysKSFirefighter]

Ran a few Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor cases through using a 12mm deep socket rotated slowly on an electric drill and a propane torch, with the left two cases getting 4 seconds per metronome, middle cases getting 5 seconds, and the right cases getting 6 seconds.



To my Youtube expert eye, both 5 and 6 seconds look okay but I think I'm inclined to go with five to ensure I'm not over-annealing the case.

Would you folks agree with that?

Also, propane flame ideally is right at the neck/shoulder junction right?

 

[Supersubes]

Your pics don’t show up for me. From your description, I’d do 5 too.

That’s where I aim the torch.

 

[TheGerman]

I got super sick of the 'too hot', 'not enough' bullshit and bought an AMP.

 

[black5.3]

I personally use the annealeez and did a few mods to it to get it how i like it... it is certainly no amp but it didn’t cost me 1k either. I have my brass in the flame just long enough until the flame coming off the brass starts to turn from blue to orange. As soon as it starts that transition it drops out of the flame. It helps to do it in a dark room so you can pick up the flame changing quicker.

 

[spife7980]

Just flame with no tempilaq inside the neck is basically just developing a process that nets you satisfactory results. It’s tougher to over anneal brass and make it useless than one would think. Keep it less than 8-9 seconds and I bet you don’t have an issue.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

You can also make your own induction annealer. There are instructions in the hide

 

[Danattherock]

Agree with Spife, it takes more work to over anneal brass than most people would think I would suspect. Sheldon gave some good advice above. Personally I bought the annealeez and I really enjoyed it the last couple years. I anneal every third firing because that's what my testing showed was required.