On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 09:44:06 -0500, Matt Whiting
wrote:

John Clonts wrote:
wrote in message oups.com...

Jon A. wrote:


And you're posting this during a discussion of the question whether or

not an owner can change their own plugs.

Horse - - - Cart
Cart - - - Horse

So that means that means that wheher the gaskets are annealed or
reused without annealing is irrelevant? That the owner wouldn't benefit
by knowing about using new or annealed gaskets? Come on.

Dan



Well, I have learned from elsewhere in this thread that NEW gaskets are DEFINITELY the way to go since there is
debate as to whether the proper treatment of used gaskets is to include cold water quenching or ambient air
cooling...

Debate aside, the fact is that annealing non-ferrous metals is different
than ferrous metals. Heating and quenching is the way to go for
non-ferrous metals. I have several loading manuals that show this
technique for annealing brass cases (which is mostly copper). You stand
them upright in a tray of water, heat them with a torch and then tip
them over into the water.

Search around on your own and you will find this to be true.

Matt

Matt is right on that one. You stand rifle cases in a pan of water.
The water keeps the bottom of the case at a lower temp so the bottom
doesn't heat/soften. You heat the neck and shoulders of the case with
a torch and then tip them over into the water. It softens the neck
and shoulders without changing the hardness of the base (which has to
be hard to contain the pressure).

Chuck