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Thread: Question regarding annealing copper

  1. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Dufour View Post
    Copper is annealed by heating to dull red heat. Then it is allowed to cool. The rate of cooling makes no difference so quench or air cool is the same result. Iron the cooling rate makes a huge difference.
    PS: AFAIK gold is the only metal that does not work harden.
    Bill D
    This post struck the nail right on the head!!! Copper or brass can be quenched or allowed to air cool and the end result is the same. When it comes to brass cartridge cases it matters how long they are heated and also to what temperature. If too long or too hot they will become dead soft and the neck wont have the required tension {memory} to properly hold the bullet.
    As to the discoloration, I would suggest you try a small piece in some acidic water and see. White vinegar will lower it enough if you test it with a ph kit. You don't need it too low either. I haven't annealed a lot of bare pure copper, I mostly did steel prior to heat treating, but what I have seen is that it will discolor some. As suggested, what I saw turned bright pink, definitely not darker.

    Edit: you might want to make sure the copper is perfectly clean before you heat it up too. "Lemi-shine" will clean it up nice and might not work too bad as you pickle quench additive. Cheap enough to try.
    Last edited by Martin Siebert; 03-24-2019 at 11:04 PM.

  2. #17
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    Thanks everyone.
    I tried vinegar tonight and it didn't work so well. But I had mixed it 50/50 with water. So I dumped more in and it did a better job.
    White distilled, 5%.
    Tomorrow I'll use 100%.

    What are some entry level tools to buy?
    I've been using various methods with hammers not specific to copper, but I am making my own anvil from a section of RR track.
    Most fitting. My dad was a 3rd generation railroader, as were 2 of his brothers.
    All 3 retired from The Burlington Northern (CB&Q, then Burlington, then Burlington Northern, then I lost track) my dad an engineer.
    Me?
    The day after graduating HS, my dad took me down to the office. I was pretty much granteed a job.
    Nope! Colorblind.
    The head man said I'd never work on the railroad , aside from section gang.

  3. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Dufour View Post
    Copper is annealed by heating to dull red heat. Then it is allowed to cool. The rate of cooling makes no difference so quench or air cool is the same result. Iron the cooling rate makes a huge difference.
    PS: AFAIK gold is the only metal that does not work harden.
    Bill D
    Spinners like pewter because it doesn't work harden. 1011 aluminum doesn't work harden much so it's another favorite.

  4. #19
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    I realize that this is a year and a half old post. I've annealed brass (a turned brass handle for a dresser that had to be bent. The first one snapped....). So, I did a google search at the time and did another google search a few minutes ago:

    Heat to 700 F. (when I did the brass handle I actually heated it a dull cherry or ~ 1300 F - - more than I needed to)
    Either let it cool in air or quench it - - it doesn't matter.

  5. #20
    Old thread, but citric acid can be used as a pickle too.

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