Salt Bath Annealing

Discussions covering the components and techniques of reloading for your long gun.
Post Reply
User avatar
buckeye43210
250 Shots
250 Shots
Posts: 253
Joined: 20 Dec 2014 09:47
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: TPA
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 131 times

Salt Bath Annealing

Post by buckeye43210 »

Found a video on salt bath annealing. The salt is a eutectic mixture of 45% Potasium Nitate (KNO3), 45% Sodium Nitrite (NaNO2), and 10% Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3).

[youtube][/youtube]

Spectracide stump remover is one source for KNO3, I've also discovered a mail order bio diesel supply house that stocks all three chemicals...

Potasium Nitrate
Sodium Nitrate
Sodium Nitrite
Last edited by buckeye43210 on 12 Apr 2017 08:27, edited 6 times in total.
User avatar
akuser47
Moderator & Supporter
Moderator & Supporter
Posts: 1397
Joined: 30 Jun 2013 09:16
My Press Choice: Single Stage
Location: ohio
Has thanked: 666 times
Been thanked: 266 times

Re: Salt Bath Annealing

Post by akuser47 »

I've never heard of this before. Interesting though +corn
Image
Live Free,Ride Free, Or Die Fighting, For The Right, To do So!
User avatar
Ranch Dog
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 6456
Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Inez, TX
Has thanked: 1616 times
Been thanked: 2850 times

Re: Salt Bath Annealing

Post by Ranch Dog »

Unfortunately, this fellow doesn't seem to have a website that offers the components used in his video.
Michael
Image
User avatar
Fyodor
Founding Member & Supporter
Founding Member & Supporter
Posts: 1512
Joined: 04 Jan 2014 05:45
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Gernsbach, Germany
Has thanked: 794 times
Been thanked: 504 times

Re: Salt Bath Annealing

Post by Fyodor »

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
- Evelyn Beatrice Hall, often misattributed to Voltaire

I think I'm thinking, therefore I may possibly be.
User avatar
buckeye43210
250 Shots
250 Shots
Posts: 253
Joined: 20 Dec 2014 09:47
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: TPA
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 131 times

Re: Salt Bath Annealing

Post by buckeye43210 »

Ranch Dog wrote:Unfortunately, this fellow doesn't seem to have a website that offers the components used in his video.
As Fyodor already pointed out, he has a web site at ballisticcreattions.ca.

You should already have a melting pot, of course you may want to find a used one to dedicate to this process.

I plan on making my own brackets. There's a long discussion and some plans over on the 65 Creedmore site. I've also made up my own set of drawings.

The temperature probe and digital thermometer can be ordered from the usual places. I plan on using one of my boolit casting thermometers for now...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
buckeye43210
250 Shots
250 Shots
Posts: 253
Joined: 20 Dec 2014 09:47
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: TPA
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 131 times

Re: Salt Bath Annealing

Post by buckeye43210 »

Found another salt bath annealing thread over on the AR15 fourms.
After years of reloading, I just started annealing after getting into long range shooting with my Ruger Precision Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor.

I tried the 'case in the deepwell socket and torch' method, but I just couldn't get repeatable results and I ended up over-temping and ruining just as many cases as I successfully annealed so I abandoned that technique. I couldn't afford one of those fancy annealing machines so I went another direction that was inexpensive, works perfectly, it's easy, and absolutely repeatable for me.

Following in the footsteps of fellow arfcomer (BattleRife), I built a salt bath annealing station following pictures of his from years ago. I now anneal my cases after every firing. When I come home from the range I use a universal decapper to de-prime the cases, then I anneal each case in a 500°C salt bath for 5 seconds.
After that the cases go into my ultra-sonic cleaner, then resized, trimmed de-burred and chamfered, and then they are ready to reload.
Post Reply

Return to “Rifle Reloading”