[TheForge] annealing bronze

[James Binnion]

800-1100 F annealing temperature
1150-1350 F hot work temperature

It is rated as having an excellent capability for hot forming and poor for cold forming.

With a 3% lead content it is never going to be real soft like copper. In copper alloys the lead acts to harden and reduce the ductility of the alloy.

You can get the available data on most copper alloys here.

http://www.copper.org/resources/properties/db/CDAPropertiesSelectionServlet.jsp?mode=basic

Jim

On Dec 17, 2012, at 5:24 PM, Andy Gladish wrote:

> To get back to smithing, today I was hammer texturing some bronze angle
> (C38500) and needed to straighten it after- it was quite springy and
> difficult to correct, so assuming that it would behave like copper, I
> warmed it up and quenched- it was still springy.
> What worked best was just tweaking it warm, but it's kind of spooky with
> that stuff (1/8 x 3/4 angle) because I keep hearing that getting it just a
> leeeeetle bit too warm makes it crumble. Another day I'll try that just so
> I know what the heats are like, but today I only had enough for the job.
> 
> So who has the dope on annealing that stuff, or has some time in forging
> it?
> Thanks!
> 
> -- 
> Andy Gladish, Element Fe Metal Studio
> Blacksmithing and Blades
> 7141 Guemes Island Road, Anacortes, WA 98221
> Phone: 360.202.1160
> Andy at ElementFe.com
> 
> Visit ElementFe Metal Studio on Facebook! Just search for ElementFe and hit
> the "like" button. Lots of photos and updates weekly.
> 
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James Binnion
jbin at well.com