Seems to be differing opinions on annealing brass. See the following two articles.
Article #1
However, before brass is molded into different items, it has to undergo a process known as annealing. During the manufacturing process , the brass is heated, which hardens the alloy and makes it difficult to cut and work with it. Furthermore, brass cannot be bent after the initial heating process. To make the brass soft and ductile, it is heated to a certain temperature and then cooled slowly. After brass undergoes the annealing process, it can be cut and shaped rather easily.
Read more: Techniques of Annealing Brass | eHow.com
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Article #2 ( see part one, Copper and part two Brass
How To Anneal Copper
The copper should be clean and bright, otherwise oxides will form and become embedded in the surface on heat-up, and should be warmed up with a blow-lamp (a kitchen stove will do this at a push) generally rather than at a specific point, although copper tends to spread heat quickly through the metal.
Once a background heat is produced, when the metal shows different colours radiating away from the heat source, then you are looking for a dark red (plum colour) reaching the part you want annealing � it�s like the colours of the rainbow moving from blue through to bright red as the hottest.
Once this occurs quickly immerse the copper you are annealing into a water bath, and that�s it. Job done.
The easy test is to tap it with a screwdriver or something similar. If you hear a ringing sound, the copper is still hard and needs to be annealed again. If the sound is dull then you have annealed the copper properly.
Don�t delay the quenching too much otherwise you will not achieve the annealed copper you were aiming for.
Before you begin to work the copper you must remove any surface oxides that have formed with a wire brush, wire wool or emery cloth as these become embedded, spoiling the appearance, and are difficult to remove later.
How To Anneal Brass
Annealing brass is very similar to copper although the temperature should be a little cooler.
What you are looking for as you apply the flame of your blow-lamp onto the part to be annealed is the tell-tale colours again.
When the brass starts to show a blackened colour, then is the time to quench it quickly before cleaning it up.
Seems to be differing opinions on annealing brass. See the following two articles.
Article #1
However, before brass is molded into different items, it has to undergo a process known as annealing. During the manufacturing process , the brass is heated, which hardens the alloy and makes it difficult to cut and work with it. Furthermore, brass cannot be bent after the initial heating process. To make the brass soft and ductile, it is heated to a certain temperature and then cooled slowly. After brass undergoes the annealing process, it can be cut and shaped rather easily.
Read more: Techniques of Annealing Brass | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8644427_techniques-annealing-brass.html#ixzz2HrpQ57iD
Article #2 ( see part one, Copper and part two Brass
How To Anneal Copper
The copper should be clean and bright, otherwise oxides will form and become embedded in the surface on heat-up, and should be warmed up with a blow-lamp (a kitchen stove will do this at a push) generally rather than at a specific point, although copper tends to spread heat quickly through the metal.
Once a background heat is produced, when the metal shows different colours radiating away from the heat source, then you are looking for a dark red (plum colour) reaching the part you want annealing � it�s like the colours of the rainbow moving from blue through to bright red as the hottest.
Once this occurs quickly immerse the copper you are annealing into a water bath, and that�s it. Job done.
The easy test is to tap it with a screwdriver or something similar. If you hear a ringing sound, the copper is still hard and needs to be annealed again. If the sound is dull then you have annealed the copper properly.
Don�t delay the quenching too much otherwise you will not achieve the annealed copper you were aiming for.
Before you begin to work the copper you must remove any surface oxides that have formed with a wire brush, wire wool or emery cloth as these become embedded, spoiling the appearance, and are difficult to remove later.
How To Anneal Brass
Annealing brass is very similar to copper although the temperature should be a little cooler.
What you are looking for as you apply the flame of your blow-lamp onto the part to be annealed is the tell-tale colours again.
When the brass starts to show a blackened colour, then is the time to quench it quickly before cleaning it up.