[TheForge] Forging Yellow Brass

Sat Jan 4 05:17:02 2003

Mike and Dave's advice is sound so I only have a little to add.

Forging or moving copper alloys cold isn't hard but the rule of thumb to
remember is: Move it as far as possible with the first blow, bend, twist,
etc. and anneal shortly after the third or fourth. (depending on the alloy)
Copper is pretty forgiving but brass isn't. I haven't worked enough bronze
to be able to say.

A good material to practice with is brazing rod, it'll let you get the feel
for cheap. I used to do a lot of little doo-dads from brazing rod, some
decorative and quite a few "knives" for working clay, wax, RTV silicone,
etc.

Anyway, you can flatten a piece of .0625 brazing rod nearly to foil with a
single blow from a heavy (3lb) hammer while half a dozen blows from a 10-12
oz hammer will barely start to move it before it crumbles from
embrittlement.

One of the most valuable cues the metal will give you is it's sound. Listen
to it carefully and it'll tell you when it's time to anneal. Anneal as
previously advised.

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

----- Original Message -----
From: "DragonsWatch" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 7:48 AM
Subject: [TheForge] Forging Yellow Brass

> Can any one give advice on the forging of yellow brass bar stock.  Some
> one told me to forge cold, then heat and quench to anneal.  Does this
> work?   How much can one expect to be able to work the brass before it
> begins to crumble?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Larry
>
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