Methods I can anneal some copper wire myself.

[Boscology]

I have some copper wire I bought a year ago before I knew how difficult non-annealed coppoer is to work with. I have read that it requires heating up to 700-800 degrees and then quenching in water ( I could be mistaken though). I live in the city and I dont think I woudl be able to have a campfire/trash can fire. and my only other thoughts were to, next time I go camping, bring my wire and toss it in the fire, heat it and quench it.

Its several rolls, and soem think stuff included and even though its probably only cost me 100 dollars I would like to make what I have usable so that i can keep other resources allocated to procuring more trees.


Let me know if you have had any success doing this on your own..

Thanks,
Bosco

 

[sorce]

I do mine on the stove top.

Sorce

 

[Adair M]

I've heard of those doing it: 1) on a BBQ grill; 2) in a self cleaning oven; 3) on a fire made from newspapers; 4) in a potter's kiln.

The key is to get it heated to where it glows red, but doesn't melt. Get it heated evenly all around. Don't heat it too long. If you do, it becomes brittle instead of soft! And don't burn yourself! Julian Adams told me stories of how he's burnt his eyebrows off several times, and caught his clothes on fire a couple times! He uses the newspaper fire method.

 

[garywood]

Bosco, annealing temperature instantaneously is half the melting temperature. Copper melting temp is 2000f + depending on alloy or impurities. Annealing is also a function temp and time. A temp of less than half the melting can anneal with the addition of soak (time). The lower the temp, in relation to half melt temp, the longer the soak. 750f for example may take 12 - 24 hours. Quenching only serves the function of removing oxide that occurs during annealing. I hate those shrapnel wounds from un-quenched copper wire. If you want pretty copper wire add SPAREX#2 to quench water.

 

[Boscology]

Thats for the input. According to https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/copperwi.htm copper anneals at 700-800 and i think the ightes I have seen our grill at was about 500 degree. As far as the stove wehave an electrice stove and the hight temp it looks like I can produce with it it. Its just kind of tugh because if I had the soace I would just fill a metal barrel with flammables, add the commore rolls and yank em when theyre red with a quick quence otherwish.

I read and undertsatn the science I am looking for mor of a implementation that anyone has found successful.

And again, I appreciate all responses,

 

[Anthony]

You can just coil the wire into a smaller circle and use a store bought propane torch.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Boscology]

You can just coil the wire into a smaller circle and use a store bought propane torch.
Good Day
Anthony

Ooh this I can do!

I know I have one of those cheap propane torches around here somewhere and I think I could easily and safely do this outside. When I first gut the bonsai bug I bought a bunch of coppoer wire after not fully understanding everything. Needless to say I didnt have a very good time tring to apply 4 - 8 gauge non-annealed copper wire to a couple of trees.

 

[Boscology]

I do mine on the stove top.

Sorce

Electric stove top here or else I would probably have already given this a try well that and roasing my own marshmallows indoors. Inside the oven i think it lets me turn it up to 500 or 550 so I think I will dig my little propave torch out of the garage, Use a small coil for practice and work my way up.


Thanks again all for the suggestions!

 

[Adair M]

You can just coil the wire into a smaller circle and use a store bought propane torch.
Good Day
Anthony

Lol! I watched a guy try to do this once. It's easy to get it red hot, not so easy to get it even. This way is the worst. You get places where it wasn't heated enough, or heated too much, and it's also remarkably easy to melt! Then you just have a wasted coil, and melted drips of copper on the ground.

An old style BBQ grill with charcoal briquettes will get hot enough to do it and is probably the most reliable way. Get a good bed of charcoal going, lay the copper in and watch the color of the wire. You may have to turn the wire over to get an even heating. Once you get it glowing red, lift it out and drop into a bucket of water.

Gremel has figured out exactly how long and how hot to bake the wire for each gauge. Each gauge is treated differently. So, his process is much more controlled. But, the charcoal grill method is probably the easiest way for the DYIer.

 

[mattspinniken]

In my experience you can use a good propane torch for smaller gauges, but nothing too thick.

 

[johng]

easiest way for the DYIer.

I like it...the DO YOURSELF INer

Thanks Adair...I think I will call it that from this point forward

 

[M. Frary]

I use the BBQ grill method. Mine comes with insulation. Once that is completely burned off its time to quench. I also anneal in winter so I can just toss it in the snow.

 

[Paradox]

I would not do this on the stove. There might be some fumes given off that you don't want you and your family breathing

 

[augustine]

I strip the wire and coil it then do it on the bbq grill with charcoal and wood fire. Heat til the wire turns red and move it around for even heating. I then remove from fire and place on bricks so it will not ignite anything. I let it cool thoroughly and repeat the process (only to get an even result). Works well. I do it because I get free scrap wire and have the time to save the money.

I, too, avoid breathing the fumes and would not do it in the house (even though I do not know if the fumes are harmful). Also, it gets hot enough to cause a fire. Do it outside with your watering hose handy and be extra careful if the grass/vegetation is dry.

 

[sorce]

It's 37 strands......

I got 6 2ft pieces of this......

222 2ft pieces of some heavy shit....

Goin' be a fire!

Sorce

 

[Anthony]

Sifu,

try and remember, K makes jewellery from raw metals.
Uses a propane torch.
Anneals copper easily.

So it might take some practice at first.

The original Japanese suggestion was a straw fire.
Good Day
Anthony

* Burning of Plastic is dangerous as far as breathing and eyes go.

 

[Anthony]

Annealing Temperatures =

http://www.nancylthamilton.com/wp-c...-Metals-Annealing-Temperatures-for-Metals.pdf

Perhaps this will help.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Anthony]

Just asked K [ brother -in -law ]

he said it is difficult for a propane torch to melt more than 10 gms of pure copper.
It normally sits and watches you, while it oxidises.
[ we are talking about those small cylinders you screw a torch head onto ]
Good Day
Anthony

 

[mwar15]

I use the BBQ method, we have a "searing" section of the grill at it gets to around ~675 F

 

[M. Frary]

I use the BBQ method, we have a "searing" section of the grill at it gets to around ~675 F

I use wood and motor oil and gasoline.