A couple of annealing quesitons...

[Rangerat]

A couple of annealing questions...

I am starting to get some cases that are work hardening so want to start annealing. I have downloaded some good article on the techniques.

To monitor temperature I have ordered an IR thermometer. Have others used this and what are your comments?

I know the normal way is to heat using one or more propane torches. I have an electric heat gun that I have used to strip paint. It has tips to focus the heat. Has anyone tried this type of gun and will they get the brass hot enough. Where I can do annealing I would rather work with an electric heat gun rather than an open flame.
[Just tried this with my heat gun. Didn't get brass hot enough.]

Actually, the ideal way it seems to me, is to heat using an induction coil. Anyone have experience with this type of heating for annealing?

 

[Rflshootr]

I've used an induction machine. It works very well if you have a v-block type fixture with a stop to make sure you are centered and in the coil the same depth each time. If not , you get uneven heat around the case. The problem is getting the case out of the fixture and quenched before the heat travels far enough to burn your wittle fingers. I've been wanting to make a coil and a V-block on an angle with a stop pin at the rear of the case that can be removed so the case slides down the v and into a quench. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[snommittj]

I am new to annealing so I am just gonna post my procedure and hope someone either tells me it's good to go or tell's me that it needs rethinking. I have a Lee hand case trimmer with a shell holder that chucks into a drill. So my procedure starts with putting the case into the shell holder and spinning it very fast and trimming the case, then chamfering and deburring, then cleaning out case mouth with a brush, then polishing neck and finally spinning the case over the propane torch under very good light until I see the temper line drop just below the shoulder. Then when the faint white line runs below shoulder, dip the case in water neck first while the case is still in the shell holder that is still chucked into the drill and spinning. It usually takes about 8 seconds to get the temper line below the shoulder. I hold the tip of the flame in the center of the neck while it is spinning as fast as it will spin. So far, my results have looked good and consistent. I've only been to the range twice to test, so the jury is still out, but shooting out to 1K, my groups were good with only a few unexplained fliers. Like I said, I'm new to this, so please feel free to educate me on newere and better ideas. Thanks, JT

 

[bigdaddytacp]

I am new to annealing so I am just gonna post my procedure and hope someone either tells me it's good to go or tell's me that it needs rethinking. I have a Lee hand case trimmer with a shell holder that chucks into a drill. So my procedure starts with putting the case into the shell holder and spinning it very fast and trimming the case, then chamfering and deburring, then cleaning out case mouth with a brush, then polishing neck and finally spinning the case over the propane torch under very good light until I see the temper line drop just below the shoulder. Then when the faint white line runs below shoulder, dip the case in water neck first while the case is still in the shell holder that is still chucked into the drill and spinning. It usually takes about 8 seconds to get the temper line below the shoulder. I hold the tip of the flame in the center of the neck while it is spinning as fast as it will spin. So far, my results have looked good and consistent. I've only been to the range twice to test, so the jury is still out, but shooting out to 1K, my groups were good with only a few unexplained fliers. Like I said, I'm new to this, so please feel free to educate me on newere and better ideas. Thanks, JT

I hope that is a good procedure because except for using a temp stick for the first dozen cases it is the same way I do my cases.....I used a temp stick and clocked the time for the temp to get to the anneal the neck/shoulder area on a dozen cases and the time doesn't vary more than a second......8-9seconds on my small cases-propane tip and I use a moveable pointer to make sure I put the case in the same position in the flame and I use a electric screwdriver to get slow but steady revs in the flame and I don't have a plugged in electric drill dipping in water in case of a "oops".....the clean neck and inside makes the temp seem more even and makes sure all sizing lube is out of the neck........I use a old Sinclair case holder or the Lee version according to whether I have a heavy sinclair type to fit the case being done......hth...good luck and good shooting-loading!!

 

[dbridges]

I've used an induction machine. It works very well if you have a v-block type fixture with a stop to make sure you are centered and in the coil the same depth each time.

I have seen people asking about induction for annealing but you're the first person i've encountered who's doing it.

Are you able to provide any more info about your setup/equipment?

Do you think that induction could be used to do more than one at a time?