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allan1066
10-23-2014, 08:28 AM
It's been a while since in posted here but thought you guys might be interested to have a look at my annealing machine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/allan1066/th_3a52d45c-df11-4aa6-9923-9ffb4363f185_zps46a46eaf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/allan1066/media/3a52d45c-df11-4aa6-9923-9ffb4363f185_zps46a46eaf.jpg.html)

See it in action here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv75-9p9yFA

missed
10-23-2014, 10:24 AM
Nice looks like a Giraurd, I need to get mine finished up bad I just can't get the time.

scope eye
10-23-2014, 10:37 AM
Can it do long action cases?

Dean

allan1066
10-23-2014, 10:55 AM
Can it do long action cases?

Dean

It handles anything from 6mmbr/ppc to 7mm x284, that's the largest I shoot at the moment.

BillPa
10-23-2014, 11:46 AM
Do you offer senior citizen discounts? :p

jhelmuth
10-23-2014, 12:20 PM
It's been a while since in posted here but thought you guys might be interested to have a look at my annealing machine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/allan1066/th_3a52d45c-df11-4aa6-9923-9ffb4363f185_zps46a46eaf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/allan1066/media/3a52d45c-df11-4aa6-9923-9ffb4363f185_zps46a46eaf.jpg.html)

See it in action here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv75-9p9yFA

Allan...

That is a really sweet machine - very nice!

My Dad made one for me some time back, and I've been using it ever since. I believe that this was a really important improvement in my reloading as I do think my neck tensions are more consistent with annealing.

If I may be so bold to ask... what was your cost in putting that together?

snowgetter1
10-23-2014, 01:27 PM
I am impressed! Great work!

03mossy
10-23-2014, 01:55 PM
Wow that is pretty darn cool!

allan1066
10-23-2014, 02:36 PM
Allan...

That is a really sweet machine - very nice!

My Dad made one for me some time back, and I've been using it ever since. I believe that this was a really important improvement in my reloading as I do think my neck tensions are more consistent with annealing.

If I may be so bold to ask... what was your cost in putting that together?

Thanks for the comments guys. The actual cost of materials was, at a guess, about £60 ($100'ish) but a lot of work and about 6 months of trial and error and a few blind alleys.

This is my Mk 3 annealer, I'm well pleased with the result and it does every thing I need. A Bench source annealer cost around $1,000 by the time it gets to the UK and the Giraud is unobtainable as they will not export to the UK at any price.

I'm a committed annealer and now just consider it part of routine case prep. I've been reloading since the 1970's, at that time anyone who worried about neck tension would have been considered a bit odd.

Now, I think we just expect so much more when it comes to accuracy. Not many years ago a rifle that could shoot 1 moa was considered an accurate rifle, now we pretty much expect it, even with a standard factory rifle, given it's fed suitable ammo.

eddiesindian
10-23-2014, 08:43 PM
propane or map gas?

allan1066
10-24-2014, 02:06 AM
propane or map gas?
This ones running on camping gas, a butane/propane mix.
I've tried it with MAP and also with twin burners but for most consistent results I just use the single burner.

This standard burner cycles a .308 in around 7 secs. MAP gas takes around 5.5 secs and twin burners with MAP takes around 3.3 secs but its easy to get it wrong at that speed.

This burner is made up from the gas hose and valve from Chinese camping stove and a Burneze pencil burner.

DrThunder88
10-24-2014, 05:36 AM
Very cool! Excellent workmanship.

eddiesindian
10-24-2014, 08:34 PM
well done!.......Ive invisioned making annealing gadgets for sometime now but none as well designed as yours.

missed
10-24-2014, 09:34 PM
well done!.......Ive invisioned making annealing gadgets for sometime now but none as well designed as yours.
I've been working on a Ferris wheel style controlled by Ardiuno. Mine will end up with a case feeder on it also. I want to evolve mine to a automated resize and anneal!

The original posters setup is slick. Being over seas gets you around a potential patient infringement also.

eddiesindian
10-29-2014, 09:13 PM
This ones running on camping gas, a butane/propane mix.
I've tried it with MAP and also with twin burners but for most consistent results I just use the single burner.

This standard burner cycles a .308 in around 7 secs. MAP gas takes around 5.5 secs and twin burners with MAP takes around 3.3 secs but its easy to get it wrong at that speed.

This burner is made up from the gas hose and valve from Chinese camping stove and a Burneze pencil burner.

what temp are you getting the case,s to?

allan1066
10-30-2014, 07:46 AM
what temp are you getting the case,s to?

I aim for about 750F.

There's a host of information about annealing temperatures for cases, with many conflicting ideas.

Here's my take.

Virtually nothing happens to standard cartridge brass (70/30 Copper/zinc) below 550F, unless kept at that temperature for an extended period. There is then quite a rapid change in the structure of the brass until around the 700F mark, after that there is a more gradual change up to around the 1000F range.

If we allow the case to get to the 1,000F glowing red stage we have gone too far and the case neck may be too soft and the case ruined.

So somewhere between 700 - 900F is about where most people are.

If you see a case in the annealer flame you will see a point where the flame changes from a blue to a yellow colour. This is the point where the zinc content of the case starts to vaporise as the zinc reaches its melting point (765F). A case that has been heated past this point will look a dull copper colour even when cool as the zinc has burnt off the surface and left the copper.

This colour change of the flame is a good indication as it always happens at 765F no matter if we have one or two burners or MAP gas, it just takes a different time to get there.

We know we can get a good anneal at 700F, so the method I use is to watch for the colour change then back off the time it takes by 10%. So if it takes 8.4 seconds to the colour change I back off the timer .84 seconds to about 7.5 seconds.

We also don't want to take too long to get up to temperature because of the risk of allowing the temperature of the case body to rise too far.

There's no advantage of water quenching.

I'm no expert, just the way I do it.

missed
10-30-2014, 08:24 AM
That is pretty close to how I do it too. I also have a contact pyrometer that I have double checked my 700 degree target with.

Nandy
10-30-2014, 06:52 PM
awesome job!

eddiesindian
11-02-2014, 11:03 PM
Great info. Ive been inquistive on temps.

toasty
11-05-2014, 08:51 PM
Awesome setup, way better than a torch and hand drill.