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#1
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Hardening Copper Bangles?
Kwe Kwe sewakwekon, Hello everyone, I recently got some nice copper
strips to practice bracelet making on , how hot do I need to get them to harden them some? Right now they are dead soft, I'd like them a bit harder so they maintain their shapes better but not too hard that they are brittle and break if bent a bit to fit over the wrist. Nia:wen kowa Many Thanks http://wishe.webhop.org http://www.cafepress.com/ohkwari |
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#2
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Kwiter wrote:
Kwe Kwe sewakwekon, Hello everyone, I recently got some nice copper strips to practice bracelet making on , how hot do I need to get them to harden them some? Right now they are dead soft, I'd like them a bit harder so they maintain their shapes better but not too hard that they are brittle and break if bent a bit to fit over the wrist. Nia:wen kowa Many Thanks http://wishe.webhop.org http://www.cafepress.com/ohkwari For what its worth ive made copper bracelets for many years. So If your copper is allready soft you should be able to feel this, ie there wont be any springyness in it atall,. You wont be able to hardenit ever by heating it. where did you get that idea from? Also harness ie its ability to bend in the hand or use depends on thickness. So a very thin strip of copper say 20 thou thick by 1/2in wide even if hard will bend in the hand. but a 1/2in thick by 1in wide dead soft copper , you would need an anvil and hammer as well as a lot of skill to bend it. Youll learn more in a day experimenting with copper sheet, wire tube and rod and bar than any advice wee can give you. go for it, Now when your a skilled metal craftsman youll be able to take that 20 tho copper sheet, roll the edges into a tube 1/8in dia on a curve, then form into the cuff type bracelet, dome it along its length, till youve a lovely modern design thats strong light and springy. fit for any fair maid. All youll need for tools is some hand shears, a file a chasing hammer and stakes and some round wood. When youve done dozens of these then you do them in silver and then in gold. Same technique, same time only a lot more expensive. Dont be afraid to hit it, experiment and let us know how you get on. |
#3
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Nia:wen thank you for the info. Never worked with Copper before, I've a
bit of experience metalworking having been a machinst 20 years or so ago. Will the material become less malleable due to work hardening at all? Using an old bushing to form the Bangle Skennen Peace. |
#4
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Copper cannot be hardened by heating. It can only be hardened by
working, that is, by disturbing from its original form, as happens when it is bent, twisted, forged, rolled, or planished. The more it is worked the harder it will become, up to a point. You'll have to experiment to determine how much work is needed for the amount of hardness you want. If you reach the point where the copper is becoming very hard and you still want to do additional work, you'll need to anneal it before continuing or you'll risk tearing or cracking. Annealing is accomplished by heating it until it has a red glow, then allowing it to cool back to room temperature. If desired, you can speed the cooling by immersing it in water (quenching). Annealing will typically leave a residue of oxides which can be removed by chemical means (pickling) or by sanding and buffing. Good luck. Bert "Kwiter" wrote: Kwe Kwe sewakwekon, Hello everyone, I recently got some nice copper strips to practice bracelet making on , how hot do I need to get them to harden them some? Right now they are dead soft, I'd like them a bit harder so they maintain their shapes better but not too hard that they are brittle and break if bent a bit to fit over the wrist. Nia:wen kowa Many Thanks http://wishe.webhop.org http://www.cafepress.com/ohkwari |
#5
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On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 23:44:24 -0800, in ¤õ "Kwiter" wrote:
Will the material become less malleable due to work hardening at all? yes. Less malleable, less ductile, higher tensile strength, stiffer, etc. As you'd expect. |
#6
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vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from Bert :
]Annealing will typically ]leave a residue of oxides which can be removed by chemical means ](pickling) or by sanding and buffing. but don't put copper in the same pickling solution as your silver! -- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books) http://www.booksnbytes.com (Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com/new.html (Metalsmithing) http://www.snugglewench.com yahooID: vjean95967 ----------- "Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat." -- Alex Levine |
#7
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"Kwiter" wrote in message ... Kwe Kwe sewakwekon, Hello everyone, I recently got some nice copper strips to practice bracelet making on , how hot do I need to get them to harden them some? Right now they are dead soft, I'd like them a bit harder so they maintain their shapes better but not too hard that they are brittle and break if bent a bit to fit over the wrist. You harden copper by working it. You make it soft again by annealing it. Copper should be quenched in water after heating to anneal properly. -- William Black I've seen things you people wouldn't believe Barbeques on fire by chalets past the headland I've watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off Newborough All this will pass like ice-cream on the beach Time for tea |
#8
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Nia:wen kowa Many Thanks Mr Rowe, I recall your name from my previous
sojourns here. Copper is Fun and easy to work I must admit. I think I will practice stippling designs into it before I attempt some silver watch tips. |
#9
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On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 08:35:53 GMT, vj wrote:
vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from Bert : ]Annealing will typically ]leave a residue of oxides which can be removed by chemical means ](pickling) or by sanding and buffing. but don't put copper in the same pickling solution as your silver! Why not? Sterling Silver is, what, 7 or 8 percent copper? Iron now, that's a whole different story. --RC "Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells 'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets fly with a club. -- John W. Cambell Jr. |
#10
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vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from
: ]Why not? Sterling Silver is, what, 7 or 8 percent copper? i've been corrected. but that's the way they do it at the school. ]Iron now, that's a whole different story. gods, i don't even want to go there! [can we say itty-bitty-tiny stainless steel shot?] -- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books) http://www.booksnbytes.com (Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com/new.html (Metalsmithing) http://www.snugglewench.com yahooID: vjean95967 ----------- "Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat." -- Alex Levine |
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