Timed Induction Case Annealing

[10winger]

My concern - will the Mini Ductor handle hundreds of short cycles? Doesn't the coil get hot after many cycles? Most induction applications require water cooled coils.

[techapoe]

@10winger

I've annealed up to 200 cases in one sitting, and yes, that coil gets very hot. A water cooled coil would be far superior for this application. I've switched heaters though so I'm no longer using the mini-ductor. I'm also about to switch away from the work coil in favor of a new piece of technology (still non-contact induction heating, but no work coil)

[cbrsigsauer]

You could also rig it to automatically drop the brass into a water bath once it's heated. I know it's not strictly necessary but I like it as an insurance policy.

[mysyn]

Brilliant! Looks like a much more uniform solution than my torch-based frankenrig

[ranterbul]

if your not quenching the brass after you heat it, you are wasting your time and just softening the brass.

[2253glen]

@ranterbul From my research on the net, brass does not react like steel when quenched and softening the brass is the whole point of annealing. Reaching about 640 degrees F. changes the molecular structure just enough to allow reloading stress without splitting. Overheating can result in too soft brass, too low a temp. and you don't accomplish any softening. Cooling time, fast in water or slow in air, does not have the same effect as on steel. This according to metalurgist's comments on the web.

[2253glen]

@2253glen The advantage of dropping the cases in water is to prevent the lower part of the case from getting too hot. A very bad thing. If the head of the case, the part closest to the primer, becomes too soft, the pressure could become too high in the chamber.

[techapoe]

I'm working on it. When it's all said and done you will load the cases into it, set the height, and dial in the time. everything else will be fully automatic.

[mckay5858]

I think thats awesome. if you could get it looking a little neater and more automatic you would have a real marketable product.