Case Anealing??

[THOMAST]

Hi,
I have heard of so many different variations regarding case neck anealing: some say standing the cases in a container with water covering the bases and heating up the neck with a gas flame untill the neck starts to glow a dirty red colour and then knock the case over into the water(the flame being applied from one sideof the neck and the brass conductivity spreading the heat right around the case).. others say let the case cool down while upright in the water..?
Yet another group advocates the case to be spun around while the flame is concentrated on the neck untill the desired colour change is reached and then dumped into water.. Shouldnt brass be allowed to cool down slowly?
I have ordered some gel which will indicate the temperature of the case and this will allow for consistant temperatures throughout the annealing proses, but would still like more info on what is considered to be the best technique for annealing,including the size and concentration of the flame.
Any help would really be appreciated /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Guest]

I've had good luck using a candle to anneal with.I hold the case just above the tip of the flame at the juncture of the neck and shoulder.When the case starts getting too hot to hold,I wipe it down with a wet rag.that lets the case cool rapidly,restoring the temper and also cleans the soot off the neck.Its not high tech but it is effective. Hope this helps.

 

[Centre Punch]

Hi THOMAST,
I use a mixture of what you described, firstly i made up a turntable using a "Lazy Susan" bearing screwed to a 5" dia piece of waste timber. I then put the case in a shallow filled tin about halfway up the case. The flame is then held on the neck/shoulder juncture and i rotate the turntable by hand. I do this at the back of the garage with door open and the lights off so i can see the dull cherry red colour appear.
Using long nose pliers i lift each case out and put it on the side to cool, i do not knock the case over in the water as all this will do is cool it too quickly and it will only be slightly softer then you started.
To anneal correctly the case must be allowed to cool slowly. The water in the tin is only present to stop the heat from conducting down the case and softening the case body. I change the water after each 10 cases.

Ian.

"I mean't to shoot the pike but the duck got in the way"