DIY Brass Annealer

[tdogg]

I needed a winter project and have wanted to build an annealer so I made it happen.  It's an semi intelligent copy of other DIY annealers on the web.

There was a bit of trial and error on some of the case feed shelf angles getting the cases to feed correctly.  I had to redesign some of the 3D printed parts a couple of times.  It still wants to drop in the cases at an angle into the cake pan but it fairly quickly self corrects.  Drilling the center of the cake pan was the most challenging part.  I ended up having to print a oblong washer to correct the off center hole I drilled.

Wiring up the motors was also a slight pain.  The first inductive sensor I got died in about 5 minutes.  I had to wait for another and ended up adding a relay and separate switch to control the case drum motor.  In the end it is working great!  The second inductive sensor seems to be holding up.

I have two case drums, one for the smaller cases like the 5.56 and one for the larger magnum cases.  The torch is adjustable and the cake pan seems to be working for all the different case lengths thus far. 

I've been having too much fun 3D printing.  This was just another project that could utilize my new toy. 

https://rumble.com/vdepyr-diy-brass-annealer-with-3d-printed-parts.html

Cheers,
Toby

[DJK11]

Very professional looking build.  How do you check temperature at the case?  Just till it turns blue?

[Wobbly]

That is VERY ingenious. Thanks for sharing.

[double-d]

Great job

[painter]

Nice job!

[tdogg]

To verify your annealing to the proper temp,  you use tempilaq on the inside of the case mouth.  It melts at the temp listed on the bottle. I use 750F tempilaq.  You adjust the time the case is in the flame (using the speed control) till just after the tempilaq melts.

I need to also get some 400F tempilaq for the case body to ensure I'm not annealing down the case too far.  I'm sure I'm not but with the new process I should verify.

I've been annealing my brass using the socket and torch method but only for my premium cartridges.   I will anneal it all now.  This new unit is much faster and more consistent.

Cheers,
Toby

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[newageroman]

Congratulations sir! This is very impressive.
I'm not sure of the absolute accuracy, but HF has the handheld laser IR thermometers that may also work or get you in the ball park. I would think you could at least use that to confirm the bases are staying < 400. %20 off would be about $30. We use mine for cooking on the stove and checking manifold/radiator temps.

I've used tempeliaqu before to confirm time (about 4 seconds my memory). It seemed to work well enough. I then used that time to confirm/estimate the temperature by color in dim light with drill and socket it took about 3-4 secs for 30-06 and mapp gas.

[M1A4ME]

Building something like that is just awesome.  Most of us would probably never think to make something like that.  Buy it?  Yeah, maybe.  Make it?  Nope.

Great job.

[bobjd]

Excellent job. Thanks!! 

[Fuzzy Sights]

Cool project.  Just what i need for forming my 25-20 and 40-65 brass.

JW

[Dred]

LMBO ... been avoiding opening this thread 'cause I knew what was gonna happen.  I was right.

Awesome design.  The copy is now very proud near the top of my upcoming projects pile.  Bonus 'cause it starts with a new 3d printer.

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-X90F using Tapatalk

[david s]

I've annealed with a hand drill a socket and torch while using a music metronome to keep time in the past. This works but isn't a high speed set up. In the past I had looked at a set up similar to what you built but wondered how it would work with rimmed fast tapering cases like the 348 Winchester. By simple good fortune on our local CraigsList there was an Vertex Bench-Source annealer offered at about 2/3's the retail cost so I picked this one up. As of yet I haven't used this annealer. But with the way things seem to be going I'm betting this will see quite a bit of use annealing 17 Hornet, 17/221 Fireball, 17 Rem, 204Ruger, 222 Rem and 25-20, 218 Bee, 7mm Mauser and what ever other odd ball formed brass is needed that can't be found. Not to mention annealing to just extend brass life. Your annealer is definitely more creative.