Anneal Copper
Annealing is the metallurgical term for heating a material (generally a metal) and subsequently cooling it to change its properties (such as its hardness or durability). Annealing copper makes it softer and less brittle, which allows you to bend it without breaking it. This allows you to use the copper in ways you could not otherwise, such as tubing. Keep reading for detailed instructions on annealing copper so that it will be malleable, but won't break when bent or hammered.
Steps
- Connect the red welding torch hose to the acetylene tank, and the black hose to the oxygen tank.
- The acetylene tank is used for starting the flame and the oxygen tank is used to continue feeding the flame and to control the intensity of the flame.
- Put on your safety goggles.
- Wearing safety goggles is a precaution necessary to ensure eye safety anytime you are working with open flames.
- Switch on the acetylene by turning the valve halfway.
- Only turn the valve halfway to ensure that there is enough acetylene to start the flame, but not so much that it will be too large.
- Ignite the gas by pulling the trigger on the flint lighter in close proximity to the hose head until you see an orange-red flame.
- Slowly turn the valve on the oxygen tank until the flame turns blue.
- A blue colored flame indicates that the flame is close to the ideal temperature for annealing copper. A flame that is too hot will burn the copper, while a flame that is too cool will not be strong enough to change the copper's properties like durability and malleability.
- Aim the flame at the copper you wish to anneal, constantly moving the flame over the surface of the copper until the entire area glows cherry red.
- Constantly moving the flame will help to avoid burning the copper. Copper that is glowing cherry red is at the correct temperature for annealing purposes.
- Turn the oxygen valve back to its closed position.
- Turn the acetylene valve back to its closed position.
- Turning the valves back to their closed positions will ensure that the flame is extinguished. It is a safety precaution so that you can freely work with the copper without worry.
- Use pliers to grip the copper and place it into a bucket of cold water.
- Use the pliers to remove the copper from the bucket of water once it returns to its original color. The copper is now annealed and will be soft and malleable for working.
- Finished.
Tips
- The copper can also be air-cooled instead of by water, but it will not be as soft and malleable after it has been annealed.
Warnings
- Have a fire extinguisher in close proximity whenever using an open flame.
Things You'll Need
- Copper
- Oxygen Acetylene Torch
- Safety Goggles
- Striker
- Bucket of Cold Water
- Fire Extinguisher
Related Articles
- Hammer Copper
- Make a Coiled Wire Chain
- Make Flower Wire Designs for Jewellery
- Make Lead Into Ingots
Sources and Citations
- Wikipedia entry: Annealing
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annealing_(metallurgy)
