warped brass boiler manufacturers plate.

[sparky_col]

i have a dive recovered ships boiler makers plate in brass which is twisted and warped out of shape, i want to straighten it out and mount it on a wooden plaque, what do i do, do i just press it flat ( under my landrover wheels ) or do i need to heat it up first to avoid cracking it ?
your advice is welcomed..

 

[troppo]

I would anneal it first, then place it on a flat wooden surface and then usinga piece of wood and a hammer slowly flatten it out.
How thick is it?

 

[sparky_col]

I would anneal it first, then place it on a flat wooden surface and then usinga piece of wood and a hammer slowly flatten it out.
How thick is it?

hi thanks for your reply, forgive my ignorance, but when you say anneal it do you mean just to heat it up?
cheers

 

[troppo]

Yep, when you anneal metal it softens it up so it shouldnt crack or tear. I dont know the best temp for brass though. Do a google and i`m sure your get the info you need, then go to a welding supplier and buy a "heat crayon" (they change colour when it hits a particular temp). And i was always told to leave the annealed piece to cool on its own rather than quenching it in water or oil.

 

[rtbcomp]

When annealing you leave it to cool slowly, except copper which you can quench or just leave. The bubbles caused when quenching copper remove any deposits on the surface.

 

[brightspark]

if its cast brass it will allready be anealed when it came out of the mold and allowed to cool down slowly only if its been cold reworked afterwards it will need anealing.in other words if its bent its been reworked and needs anealing

 

[the artfull-codger]

if you heat it with a propane/butane torch to DULL red no hotter or it can melt then it's annealed [like copper] contrary to popular belief you don't have to quench it in water, & as troppo states tap it steadily with a hammer & blocks of wood, it might still crack though as it's been down there for so long, they found that brass shell cases from the 1st world war were cracking due to being in contaminated with the ammonia in the urine from the horses they came in contact with [funny stuff brass, not like copper.]

slan go fol

 

[nickk]

i would assume its old enough to have 'age' hardened-therefore anneal it first.

 

[tigler]

Is tapping it slowly a good idea though ? Brass work hardens, so every blow will harden it slightly more. So shouldn't it be flattened in one action ?

 

[troppo]

You dont want to hit it too hard, because annealing or not it will crack. You may have to aanneal it a couple of times to make sure it doesnt tear.
A Metal bench and a block of wood is all you ned

 

[the artfull-codger]

Is tapping it slowly a good idea though ? Brass work hardens, so every blow will harden it slightly more. So shouldn't it be flattened in one action ?

a number of small taps or 1 large tap won't make much difference as you're still moving the metal the same amount, multiple annealings are needed if it's badly bent,also it might still crack as it might have de-zinkefied [ie as in boiler fittings the zink leaches out & you're left with a brittle metal] it's a suck it & see situation.


slan go fol

 

[Fazed]

Would it be possible to anneal it then clamp it between two blocks of wood and leave it to cool? Saves any further damage by hammering.

 

[Shox Dr]

I'd leave it as it is. Tells the whole story

 

[migmag]

I'd leave it as it is. Tells the whole story

Agreed display as is and you can get creating with the stand.....

 

[troppo]

Agreed display as is and you can get creating with the stand.....

I agree, and that way theres less chance of the plate cracking