"Chris Bacon" wrote in message
...
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
"Doctor Drivel" writes:
First anneal it. Where the curve is to be heat the copper to cherry red
then quench in water.

your annealing process is for wrong metal. Copper is annealed at 700-800C
(can be done as low as just over 400C, but you have to hold it at that
temperature for a long time). There is no state change on cooling copper,
so quenching is not required -- you can cool it over as long a period as
you like. The annealing process for copper is reversed by flexing and
vibration, not by slow cooling.

I'm not sure about your terminology or where the last sentence
comes in, but heating to red hot and quenching is fine.

The fact that it works does not mean that it is the right technique. As
Andrew says, the right method for a soft anneal is to bring the copper to
dull red (600-800C), not cherry red (900-1650C). The method of cooling is
also irrelevant. Quenching may be convenient, but it can also be quite
dangerous if done improperly. Copper will anneal just as well if left to
cool in air.

Colin Bignell