Annealing Temp and Soak time poll

[kweidner]

Seems we all do things slightly different. I just recently had some free funds to pick up a lee 20lb pot just for annealing. Wow what a difference! I learned real quick to watch it close. With the setting at "8" the inside climbed to 1000f in a matter of 5 minutes. Had to crack the foil on top a little to let cool a bit so as not to melt my brass :shock: I ended up stabilizing at 875 and soaking for 10 minutes. 15 minutes from plug in to cool off! They are super soft. I was just curious what temp and how long you guys are using for 22rf to .224 jackets.

Oven my behind. I bet I get less fold overs if any. If you are sitting on the fence with this, you just spent 800+ on the dies, what is a little bit more for them to be annealed correctly?

Thanks BT and Duke!

Ken

[Cane_man]

i use a PID on my Lee 4-20 and i set the temp at 825F for 1 hour... the temp swings from 775F to 850F as the PID is working so i set it a little higher... i wrap the cases in foil, then place some 1" thick ceramic insulation on top of it... after the hour is over, i remove the top insulation and just let it cool for a few hours...

i do this for 22LR to .224, 9mm to 10mm/40SW, and so far for the 9mm to 30 Cal

[MOcaster]

Set the forge on full blast with charcoal if I don't have very many to do, coal if I do, then put a couple hundred 9mm brass in a pan and leave it for ten minutes. Don't ask me how hot it is, I haven't a clue. Hot enought to melt steel and anneal brass, so it's all I want it to be.

[ReloaderFred]

There is a video of Starline brass being made on youtube and in it they cover annealing. I've been using their temperature of 1,130 degrees F since I acquired my ceramics kiln, and it works great.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ssMmD_tXE

Hope this helps.

Fred

[MarkP]

4/10th of melting point is a general rule of thumb for Recrystallization temperature, so above 700 F should work. I do my rifle necks in lead at 800 F and it works very well.

Interstage annealing of cartridge cases also increases grain size, req'd soak or dwell time is reduced as temp increases. (such as 1,130 F Starline example above)

[fredj338]

I use a small Lee 4# pot, foil lid, set on 6, leave it for 5-6min, then stir & another 5-6min. The brass seems soft enough. I have had the occasional wrinkled nose though. I usually just take the foil off & let the pot cool down. I tried also dumping them into the lemishine mix, but I ss pin tumble them anyway, so not sure I gain anything there.

[Zymurgy50]

Many years ago I did yard work for an older couple for 20+years. One day they had me come in the house for a sit down conversation. To make a long story short, They gave me a "tip" of $25,000. I purchased Corbin equipment, including a heat treat oven. 22lr brass gets annealed at 900f for 15 minutes, then dumped into a bucket of water and lemishine. I can anneal +/- 1000 empty cases at once, I estimate I can anneal 4k cases in an hour and a half, including warm up time.

[Cane_man]

LOL, and i thought i was a good tipper :)

[Theditchman]

I have a muffle oven like the one Corbin sells and I put about 3000 22lr cases in at 1000 for about 15 mins...I use a stainless chip frying basket that I made smaller to fit the oven....my wife aint missed it yet

[kweidner]

There is a video of Starline brass being made on youtube and in it they cover annealing. I've been using their temperature of 1,130 degrees F since I acquired my ceramics kiln, and it works great.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ssMmD_tXE

Hope this helps.

Fred

Wow talk about equipment envy. I just want to make my own jackets eventually. ahhhhhh to dream.

[sprinkintime]

I am using a Thermolyne Furnace, I do approx. 1000 at once, set on 1000 degrees for 20 to 30 mins, never had a problem.
Sprink]

[a.squibload]

I don't do as many cases at a time, but my equipment
is much simpler.
Run a propane torch flame on each case head 'til it
just starts to glow (a few seconds), move to the next.
The heat conducts and anneals the whole case.

[kweidner]

Went up to 960 this AM on a batch of 600ish? Let soak for 25 minutes. They are in ss media now. Sure as heck are soft. Can squish whole jacket with fingers all the way to base.

[Lizard333]

I throw my brass in a Dutch oven and cook it over a turkey fryer burner for 15 minutes. I get between 800 and 900 degrees. I can do a LOT of brass in a hurry.

I also core bond my 40's, 44's, and 45's this way, except with just a single layer. Saves me having to seat the cores as well.