On 14/11/2012 14:53, newshound wrote:
On 14/11/2012 14:22, Nightjar wrote:
On 14/11/2012 13:42, Adam Funk wrote:
I'm trying to curl up some small copper pipe (or tube, if you prefer)
to make a toy boat along this line:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:R...pe_pop_pop.JPG

I tried some 10 mm (or so) pipe that I found in the cellar, and it
kinked too easily. I got some "5 mm X 0.45 mm" tubes from a hobby
shop (aimed at model railways, I think), and that's even harder to
bend & easier to kink.

Is it worth trying to anneal a piece with a blowtorch? If so, what's
the best procedure?


Heat to cherry red, then plunge into cold water.

To be sure, fill the annealed tube with Wood's Metal, bend to shape,
then melt the Wood's Metal out by placing the tube in boiling water.

Colin Bignell

Woods Metal not cheap

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_od...end&_sacat =0


But it lasts forever. I inherited mine from my father.

For this relatively small application you could always use plumbers'
solder.

That would leave a residue inside the tube, which Wood's metal usually
does not. As the application seems to involve heating the coil, that may
be important.

Colin Bignell