Annealers?

Ridge_Runner

Handloader
Sep 29, 2006
1,509
973
How long should it take to anneal a PRC case using map gas? I ask because I read somewhere that you had to do it in 4-6 seconds or heat traveled too far down the case body rendering it too soft. I am just starting to use a burstfire annealing machine with results I am unsure about. The cases pictured were spun for 12 & 14 seconds respectively one with the tip of the blue flame on the neck/shoulder junction 1000005524.jpg
And this one for 14 seconds with the tip of the flame on the datum line
1000005523.jpg
Does either one look acceptable?
Thanks
 
I would keep the tip of the flame on the neck top of the shoulder. As for the time, that I do not know. I haven’t used a flame annealer for a long time now, but I would look into other people, respectable people that you can find on YouTube or places like that that can describe that.
There is a crayon or a liquid stick that you can take, and it will melt when you get to a certain temperature, and that’s what I would use to judge how long for the flame to be on the rotating case.
 
I use and have used a Burstfire for some time now. The amount of time varies by the brass itself and to some extent the cartridge. I use to test mine with some form of heat mark, either in a stick or a fingernail polish like material. I would sacrifice some cases and look for that 400 degree heat mark to be just above the midway point on the case itself. You do not want that heat transfer going much further down than that. My burstfire setting using map gas and using propane isn't vastly different. Today, with Map most all of my cases the setting is somewhere between 32 and 36 which is roughly half of what you are doing. I've found my results are acceptable here and no case stress or fatigue lines have formed.
 
Hit it with Tempilaq and get it dialed in. Both cases look fine to me, but tempilaq is too easy to use and get it nailed down.
 
That 14 second one looks like it was in way too long.
I use the Bench Source, which has 2 torches, and go 4 seconds each case, give or take a little bit.

Tempilaq can be hard to find, but is not difficult to use. Buy a few different temp ranges to test.
 
Timely, I was just going to ask for recommendations. Not interested in spending $1100.00 and was thinking Annealeez might be a great compromise. I know there are past threads on the subject just can’t get my computer to search effectively.
Thoughts on the Annealeez system? I”m kinda figuring I’ll want to anneal 257 roberts to fireform to improved. May as well do everything else while I’m at it.
 
I use a bench source and set the flames so 1 is at the bottom of the shoulder and 1 at the top. As for time it depends on the brand of brass. Takes about 4 seconds to do a 6.5 prc case.
 
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