Annealing brass

[MattF]

Just wanted to check before I anneal a brass plaque, so as to not risk jiggering it up.

1) Brass does follow the same principle as copper, in that it's a case of heating it to a dull/cherry red for annealing?

2) Is there liable to be any burn-off of the zinc, leaving a patchy surface copper appearance if I use a flame straight onto the brass for heating it, akin to the type of effect you can get when using acid on brass?

 

[scott0031]

Hi Matt,

Being as no one has given you an answer.


1) Yes. Dull to mid is ok. You can either air cool or quench in a decent volume of cold clean water. Water is my preference as it leaves a uniform finish from any oxidation, plus a its quicker.


2) Not that i have ever noticed. Nearly everything i do /have done is straight in a propane flame.



Kind regards,



Scott

 

[MattF]

Cheers Scott. I managed to put a slight bend on the edge of an old brass plaque whilst removing it from a piece of machinery, (used the widest, thinnest, usable strength scraper I could find for lifting it, but it still succumbed slightly to bending, due to the rivets being a bit stubborn), so don't want to run the risk of fatiguing or cracking it by working it further as is. I'll sneak that over the gas ring to anneal now, whilst the wife's in bed.


Thanks again,

Matt