annealing 308 brass jackets in Wood stove and clean with a Citric acid bath
I begin by cutting used 5.7x28 cases to the length I need.
I use a Mini-chop saw from Harbor freight to cut.
I touch the blade with some beeswax boolit lube
about every 6 cuts for easier cutting.
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The cases, just cut, go into a stainless collander.
Do not over fill the collander, one layer is just right.
about 100 cases, it goes quick...4 or 5 minutes.
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I arrange the red coals, then add a small piece of wood.
I found the flame anneals them quicker, but a large flame
will melt them. Watch closely.
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there will be hot spots, stir them around to rearrange the cases,
so they all get to glowing at some point.
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Once they are fully annealed, let them cool-fast or slow, it doesn't matter.
For safety reasons, I drop them in cold water.
Then I put them into a nylon laundry bag and put that into a old
crock pot with my Citric acid bath cooking away.
(3 tblsp pure citric acid powder into 1 gallon water).
I leave them in there for 5 minutes.
then I rinse them at least twice.
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Then I partly dry them on a towel.
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I dry them the rest of the way on the wood stove,
or outside in the sun if it's summertime.
or an oven works too.
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Just thought I'd throw this in...
Probably should not anneal cases with a torch in the sunlight,
hard to see when they turn red.
Propane does get hot enough to melt brass...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_6...ed9mmbrass.JPG