[Shop-talk] Annealing Copper bars

[Jack Brooks]

I disagree to some extent on the water/oil quench vs. air cool, from text and experience.  I’ve done both with oil pan drain plug washers and while there may be a difference, it’s minor making the two methods interchangeable in my experience, especially if I am trying to go from half hard to a softer condition.   A quench is the ultimate way to soften, but just getting it up to temperature makes a huge difference in hardness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annealing_(metallurgy)#:~:text=In%20the%20case%20of%20ferrous,quickly%20by%20quenching%20in%20water.

https://www.wikihow.com/Anneal-Copper#:~:text=You%20quench%20carbon%20steel%20to,the%20resulting%20crystalline%20structure%20is.&text=So%2C%20to%20anneal%20a%20hardened,heating%20it%20red%20anneals%20it.

The question remains, lacking an Oxy torch, thoughts on the clean cycle of a home over or any other suggestions?  I may talk with my body guy about using his Oxy torch.  That was a good suggestion.

Thanks,

Jack

From: Shop-talk <shop-talk-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Pat Horne
Sent: Saturday, August 8, 2020 8:44 AM
To: John Innis <jdinnis at gmail.com>
Cc: shop-talk <shop-talk at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Annealing Copper bars

So, referring back to the OP about using the oven to anneal the bars, it WOULDN’T be a good choice.

Peace,
Pat
Pat Horne
We support Habitat for Humanity


On Aug 8, 2020, at 10:03 AM, John Innis <jdinnis at gmail.com<mailto:jdinnis at gmail.com>> wrote:

This matches my understanding as well.  Brass and copper soften when quenched.  Steel and Aluminum harden when quenched.

On Sat, Aug 8, 2020 at 9:59 AM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net<mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
Could be (the plot thickens):

"Annealing copper makes it softer and less brittle, which allows you to
bend it without breaking it. This malleability allows you to hammer and
mold the copper into any shape you wish without cracking the metal. You
can anneal any grade and thickness of copper as long as you have a flame
that can transmit enough heat to the metal. The most straightforward way
to anneal copper is by heating it with an oxygen acetylene torch and
rapidly cooling it in water."

https://www.wikihow.com/Anneal-Copper



On 8/8/2020 7:43 AM, Pat Horne wrote:
> Maybe you’re right & I’m wrong! Wouldn’t be the first time.
>
> Peace,
> Pat
>
> Pat Horne
> We support Habitat for Humanity
>
>
> On Aug 8, 2020, at 9:33 AM, Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net<mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
> Well snap. I've been doing it wrong all these years I've reused copper, mostly on sealing washers for oil pan plugs.
>
> Thanks for the reply.
> Bob
>
>
>> On 8/8/2020 7:21 AM, Pat Horne wrote:
>> I thought quenching made the metal less soft.
>>
>> Annealing requires slow cooling.
>>
>> Peace,
>> Pat
>>
>> Pat Horne
>> We support Habitat for Humanity
>>
>>
>> On Aug 8, 2020, at 9:18 AM, Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net<mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
>>
>>  Question for the List: Is it proper to quench--in water, presumably, or oil maybe--copper to achieve softness after it's been heated 'cherry red?'
>>
>> Bob
>>

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