DIY case annealing machine - FUN!

Hey fellow barrel-nuts!

Just wanted to post some pics and kinda brag on my pops for this new toy he made me...

http://i50.tinypic.com/6glo2w.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/1zdbrfc.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BALv64gKDcM



Nice to have a Dad with a machine shop in his detached garage! I have relayed some "tweaks" to him on the next one - but he got this prototype pretty much spot on (and he dosen't handload or have any real exposure to reloading or much shooting for that matter).

Some intial “specs”, etc….

? Runs at 1.5 – 4.5 RPM
? Can use single or double torch
? Automatically rotates the brass so that the flame/heat is evenly distributed around the case neck
? Fully adjustable flame tip – up/down/right/left/in/out (albeit we need to tweak that just a bit more)

Anyway... just wanted to brag a bit. ;D

[Added June 23rd, 2012 7:53pm]
I just got word from my Dad that he will be taking pre-orders for the annealer. He can be contacted at delbert.helmuth@hotmail.com.

All the best,
Jim

Can he adopt me? ;D

Sure... we always had strays ;D

Oh.....Goody Goody!! http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ORK-AMMO-b.jpg

Just for clarification, does it rotate the brass within disc or just the entire disc rotates?

Very Very cool project.

Thanks for posting it.

I happen to have a low speed gearmotor and several aluminum discs suitable for a copy of this too.

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Originally Posted by nsaqam

I happen to have a low speed gearmotor and several aluminum discs suitable for a copy of this too.

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Showoff. :-\

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nsaqam

Just for clarification, does it rotate the brass within disc or just the entire disc rotates?

Very Very cool project.

Thanks for posting it.

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Rotates the brass within the disc (and - of course - the entire disc rotates as well).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nsaqam

I happen to have a low speed gearmotor and several aluminum discs suitable for a copy of this too.

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Make sure to get your final gearing down to about 1 RPM, and it needs to be variable as well (so you can time the cartridge-to-flame duration).

NICE!

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Originally Posted by jhelmuth

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nsaqam

Just for clarification, does it rotate the brass within disc or just the entire disc rotates?

Very Very cool project.

Thanks for posting it.

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Rotates the brass within the disc (and - of course - the entire disc rotates as well).

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Thank you.

If anyone would like to try this I have several spare discs suitable for this project that I'd send you for the price of shipping them.

...added a video link on the machine in operation!

Very well done video!

Love "Brass in Pocket" by the Pretenders too.

Do you have a spare for "sale"?

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Originally Posted by Dennis

Do you have a spare for "sale"?

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(assuming you were serious...)

No... at least not at this time. My Dad is thinking about making these in very small quantities and runs, so he is trying to source the motors so that he could streamline the design and produce them without having to spend alot of time re-fabricating for each unique motor. I'm also helping him to tweak this to be better.

Maybe some time off in the near future he'll be offering to make these for a very reasaonable price, but once we have those other things worked out and we find out what he has to do to offer them on the shooting forums, then we'll post something about it.

If you want me to KIT with you on it, send me a PM so I an refer back to it later...

You mean I've been burning my fingertips all this time for NUTHIN?....

That looks to be a pretty good design there, Mr. Jhelmuth.

Judging by the way the brass looks, I'd say you have the "cook time" set pretty good. I've been using the "Propane torch & finger" method if I have less than 10 to 15 pieces. More than that & I break out the drill & use the "count to 10 for Rem, 8 for Fed, and so on" method.

Which brings me to a question. Do you use that machine often? I 'spose what I mean is - is it worth setting up for a few pieces or do you save them up & do a bunch at a time?

Just curious..... ??? ??? ??? ???

Frank in Fla

Well... I haven't had it that long. But... I have used it and I find it works well for small or large runs (the most I've done in one sitting is 200 pieces). Set up takes no time at all and I spend lees time either way when compared to my old days of using the 12mm and the drill).

What I LOVE about this method is the consistency. They all come out identical, and that seems to be the core to consistent and accurate competion loads. I'm not doing this to save the brass (albeit that is a nice benny). I'm doing this to tighten up the groups and that is mostly about consistent neck tension (and least that is what I am discovering for myself). I'm not bashing anyone for using other methods - but this IS THE WAY to do it (in my opinion - of coourse thats esy to say since I now have a machine). 8)

Well since you have the good fortune of having an annealing machine at your disposal, enjoy it. I hope it does everything you expect of it & I hope it saves plenty of time, which could be used for more productive things... Like shooting to make more spent brass so you can clean & anneal it.

Just remember...

The rest of us hate you. :P

Nobody likes a guy that rubs it in :P

Otherwise, have fun & enjoy your new gadget.

Frank in Fla. :P

Frank....


Send me a box of your brass and I'll anneal away... ;)

By the way....
Speaking of annealing - I used to anneal after each firing. I stopped doing it that often & only anneal after 2 to 3 firings. I notice a better consistancy with the tighter neck fit. I'm wondering if maybe I wasn't making the brass necks a little too soft.

The most noticeable difference is in how much pressure is needed to seat the bullets. Now that you can anneal brass to death, you may want to consider that frequency you cook your cases.

Do you shoot competition? How often do you heat treat? What kind of consistancy do you notice?

Off to hit the proverbial rack. Busy day tomorrow.

Later y'all

Frank in fla

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Originally Posted by fgw_in_fla

By the way....
Speaking of annealing - I used to anneal after each firing. I stopped doing it that often & only anneal after 2 to 3 firings. I notice a better consistancy with the tighter neck fit. I'm wondering if maybe I wasn't making the brass necks a little too soft.

The most noticeable difference is in how much pressure is needed to seat the bullets. Now that you can anneal brass to death, you may want to consider that frequency you cook your cases.

Do you shoot competition? How often do you heat treat? What kind of consistancy do you notice?

Off to hit the proverbial rack. Busy day tomorrow.

Later y'all

Frank in fla

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Working on it (competitions). I've got my rifles sorted, and practice has been good. Loading has been a big focus, since I need the tools to do thier best (since I'm such a slug noob).

I'll probably anneal every other firing now that I have the new machine. Previously I'd do it on 4th or 5th firing, but I was not able to be consistent with the drill/socket method. I can't say yet on the new machine, but I can't imagine the results will be disapointing...

Nice work thank you for sharing.

Very cool. I wish I had the aptitude and the ability to come up with something like that. Guess I am stuck doin it the old fashioned way.

VERY cool indeed ! You're a lucky guy to have such a great Dad :) NICE video also. Please keep us posted on new developements. ....... I'm sure I could find some $ in my piggy bank to buy that old broken down prototype ;D

I just got word from my Dad that he will be taking pre-orders for the annealer. He can be contacted at delbert.helmuth@hotmail.com.

All the best,

Jim

jhelmuth,

That machine is just awesome. Thanks for sharing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c62J_gMi74E



Thanks... Pops got the final machines finished. Thought I'd post a link to some video on it...


> Runs at 0 – 4.5 RPM forward or reverse
> single or double torch setup
> Lighter weight (all aircraft naluminum) and compact makes for easier storage and setup
> Automatically rotates the brass so that the flame/heat is evenly distributed around the case neck
> Fully adjustable flame tip – up/down/right/left/in/out (albeit we need to tweak that just a bit more)

Are they "For Sale" as we speak? Possible buyer here.

Dennis... I'll PM you my Dad's email. I believe he is using eaby, but moving that to Amazon as we speak. He is selling thses too cheap in my opinion (helluva deal)...

where on Amazon are they listed? I can't seem to find them.
thanks Mark

Mark... I guess Pops hasn't completed the switch to Amazon (that's just him and is a generation issue if you know what I mean). I do believe he's still doing the ebay thing, but if you'd like to get intouch with him and find out more about these, I can give you all the contact info for him.

Jim?...
Are you still rubbing this into everyone's butt? We get it.
Your Dad's better at building annealing machines than ours.... You don't have to repeatedly rub it in.

I guess I need to put up a few pictures of MY annealing machine. It's waaayyyyyy better than yours. But, before I take any pics, I'll need to wash my hands & get a manicure. They're a critical part of the machine...
Frank in Fla

Hey my friend... sorry - just trying to help. I'm sure you have a better one, but I like the one I got. Would love to see pics of yours...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fgw_in_fla

Jim?...
Are you still rubbing this into everyone's butt? We get it.
Your Dad's better at building annealing machines than ours.... You don't have to repeatedly rub it in.

I guess I need to put up a few pictures of MY annealing machine. It's waaayyyyyy better than yours. But, before I take any pics, I'll need to wash my hands & get a manicure. They're a critical part of the machine...
Frank in Fla

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You can see it in the stock repair article I did. It's my fingers....

I thought I'd get a manicure before shooting any close ups of me twirling a brass case in the fire.

By the way, that is a pretty nice gadget he made. I just watched the vid.

Just think, someday we'll have alot of extra time to invent & build gadgets when we get to that retirement stage.


Got to get ready for tomorrow. Hitting the range early tomorrow.
Later.
Frank in Fla

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fgw_in_fla

Jim?...
Are you still rubbing this into everyone's butt? We get it.
Your Dad's better at building annealing machines than ours.... You don't have to repeatedly rub it in.

I guess I need to put up a few pictures of MY annealing machine. It's waaayyyyyy better than yours. But, before I take any pics, I'll need to wash my hands & get a manicure. They're a critical part of the machine...
Frank in Fla

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zzz

Hummm I know someone that gets a bonus in a couple days.

He is selling them for 300, which is an excellent price. This looks very similar to the Bench Source model for 200 dollars cheaper. Wish I had a place to put one.

Just FYI... the price will have to be increased to $330 (could be effective any day, but probably on Nov. 1st). Unfortunately, materials increases and his very low profit margin (which is why he's doing these $200 less than Bench Source) force the price increase. I am not sure, but if you were to contact him now, you may be able to save the $30...

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Originally Posted by jsthntn247

He is selling them for 300, which is an excellent price. This looks very similar to the Bench Source model for 200 dollars cheaper. Wish I had a place to put one.

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The new one I just received. It works very well! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3191576425.jpg

I see I can get extra plates drilled as I want for $60- Going to have to do that for the large runs of .308 as there is to much dead air time when doing 300+ cases the same size.

I sent him an email about getting one. Is the previous email you posted still good?

Delbert.Helmuth@GMail.com

I'll PM you with his contact info....

Hey Jim...
How's the mechanised auto-annealer doing?

Still working OK? I assume yours was a proto-type of sort.

What kind of use are you getting out of it? I know... when will I run out of stoopid questions...
Now that I'm reloading for several calibers one of those mechanical gadgets might come in handy. It takes me a little over an hour to do 50 cases by hand.
By then my feet are tired from standing & my fingers need a good burn relief cream....
Frank in Fla

It is boringly easy to do a few hundred! Sit down job and only have to pay enough attention to put the next one in after a space opens. I use blue avengers once in a while.