First attempt at annealing - please comment

BLACKBRIAR

BLACKBRIAR

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I've taken another step down the reloading path and decided to anneal my brass. Here is a pic of my first attempt. Let me know what you think. If the pic doesnt capture what you need to see let me know and I'll take another.

My method is propane torch with the brass in a socket on a drill, then dropped in water.
Annealed.jpg
 
Hard to say from the pictures
are they 308?
not a expert
I would say a bit too hot / too long

Better to under do than to over do

Did you do it in the dark?

I have found the best time to do it is before a resize

1)Aneal
2)clean-polish
3) resize
4) trim if needed
5)clean-polish
6)reload

How long was the flame on your torch try with a 3/4 to 1inch flame

Try doing it with your fingers holding the brass in the dark
if it is too hot to hold drop it in the water
 
Are you sure the bases didn't heat up?
I presume you are using the drill chuck as a heat sink, but with the amount of heat shown on the uppper case, I think there is a danger that the base got hot enough to anneal.
 
Thanks guys I appreciate the advice. I realize that an analysis is difficult with pics. They are .223 These were already prepped before the annealing. I thought they looked a little well done. I tried the finger method after on a couple holding at the base they don't look as blue more of a dull brass I'm not sure if I held on long enough.

I used a drill with a 3/8 deep socket. I will probably chuck those ones then if there is a concern. Fortunately my supply of .223 is virtually unlimited so I can practice until I get it right.
 
Looks OK to me just based on color, mind you it is really difficult to judge by the photos. if these are scrap practice cases then do a pinch test with a vise grip. If the brass doesn't give any resistance and just collapse then it's to soft, if the case provides some resistance then it's done right. Good luck you've got the right idea.
 
Not sure if it will help or not because I have never attempted annealing but I know you can buy "heat markers" for metal working, most welding shops sell them. You mark the metal with the marker its like wax, and it wont melt until it hits the temp. it was made for. Might make for an extra cleaning but could help your heat issue.
 
Given the advice I've received here I don't think I'm ready to "eye-ball anneal" I read the article on 6mmbr and although I not ready to dive into the cost of an automatic annealer I've decided to go with the Tempilstick method to get me started.

Any other advice is appreciated.
 
I use the temp stick, torch and drill method. I found the heat needs to be set to melt the temp stick mark in about 5 seconds. Apply a mark about 1/8 " below the shoulder. My first attempt did not work well as I was using to low of a flame, and the temp stick mark would not melt for about 10-12 seconds. Thats too long.
 
The third case from the left in your photo shows the worst overheating. See how the surface has gone totally dull?.

What works for me;
In a dark room, rotate the shoulder area of the case in the tip of the torch's inner, bright blue flame.
The flame will wrap around the case and rejoin behind the neck, watch that flame colour behind the neck carefully. As the brass reaches proper annealing temp, the blue flame colour will just start to show a thin yellow'ish tone. Stop right there.

It takes an attentive eye, and a bit of practice, however once mastered consistent results will follow.

Tried the Tempilac, didn't like it. Hard to see that thin line on the rotating case. Too touchy to see where it first starts melting, and then so quickly turns black. Especially if the flame touch's it.
 
You used too much heat but cases should be still usable.Torch placement looks fine too.

Whatever you are doing do it again(on other cases) just cut heat down few seconds.

It should be bang on.
 
BLACKBRIAR said:
I've taken another step down the reloading path and decided to anneal my brass. Here is a pic of my first attempt. Let me know what you think. If the pic doesnt capture what you need to see let me know and I'll take another.

My method is propane torch with the brass in a socket on a drill, then dropped in water.
Annealed.jpg
Click to expand...

Colours.jpg


Looks to me like they got pretty hot, especially the 3 on the left and 1 on the right that have dull-looking necks. The colour change stops well short of the head, so I wouldn't worry that you might have annealed the head.


Why are you dropping into water? A damp towel is less messy and the cases will be ready to load without having to wait for them to dry.
 
Rory McCanuck said:
You won't overheat the base, but you can overheat the neck.
Must be difficult to get the heat even all around the neck, too.
Not sure how you would stop hot spots?
Click to expand...

Annealing changes the grains structure of the metal to make it softer. That's not a bad thing with the neck (indeed, it is why we do it in the first place) but could be catastrophic in the head. It would take a great deal of heat to ruin the neck, I think.
 
BattleRife said:
Colours.jpg


Looks to me like they got pretty hot, especially the 3 on the left and 1 on the right that have dull-looking necks. The colour change stops well short of the head, so I wouldn't worry that you might have annealed the head.


Why are you dropping into water? A damp towel is less messy and the cases will be ready to load without having to wait for them to dry.
Click to expand...

Nice visual with the temp progression. What is your annealing process. By hand or automated? Since this was my first attempt at annealing it seemed easier to drop them in water since I wasn't intending on reloading them immediately and wasn't sure if i had done it correctly to begin with. I have taken a pause to rethink my approach to this. Its something I would like to learn to do properly just unsure how to proceed.
 
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