DIY case annealing machine - FUN!

[jhelmuth]

Hey fellow barrel-nuts!

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









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

[davemuzz]

Can he adopt me? ;D

[jhelmuth]

Sure... we always had strays ;D

[davemuzz]

Oh.....Goody Goody!!

[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.

[nsaqam]

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

[davemuzz]

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

Showoff. :-\

[jhelmuth]

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

Very Very cool project.

Thanks for posting it.

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

[jhelmuth]

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

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).

[teele1]

NICE!

[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.

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

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.

[jhelmuth]

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

[nsaqam]

Very well done video!

Love "Brass in Pocket" by the Pretenders too.

[Dennis]

Do you have a spare for "sale"?

[jhelmuth]

Do you have a spare for "sale"?

(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...

[fgw_in_fla]

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

[jhelmuth]

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)

[fgw_in_fla]

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

[jhelmuth]

Frank....


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

[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

[jhelmuth]

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

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...

[btm_54]

Nice work thank you for sharing.

[VA Bigbore]

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.

[gotcha]

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

[jhelmuth]

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