[TheForge] annealing bronze

[Andrew Vida]

Not all bronzes respond the same to heat, but in general you heat to 
dull cherry red and quench.  If that did not work for you, it may be one 
of the "odd" alloys.  Beryllium copper is different that way because it 
responds to HT in ways similar to aluminum alloys.  It can be 
precipitation hardened and artificially aged.  Perhaps you did not get 
it hot enough?

On 12/17/2012 8:24 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!
>