Annealing Copper Sheet Gas Torch

Having some trouble annealing copper sheet using mapp gas torch.

Annealing copper sheet gas torch.

I usually use a bernzomatic mapp gas torch and heat the entire copper gasket until its cherry red then quickly dump it in a bucket of cold water to quench it. Point the flame directly at the copper band or pipe. The torch head is a pencil tip and i am using mapp gas. When you anneal copper it expands and becomes soft and pliable thus giving you a seal once the copper has been compressed.

Annealing copper requires you to heat the copper so that it softens as soft copper can be worked without becoming brittle. Hold the flame 3 4 in 7 6 10 2 cm from the copper you re annealing. Anneal bend a little anneal again bend a little and repeat. You should have a form to bend it against.

Copper is one of the metals that hardens when it is worked bent stretched. Connect the torch head to the oxygen and acetylene tanks using the torch hoses. I m working on a chasing and repousse project and i m attempting to anneal a copper sheet that i think is about 6x6. Propane will work fine to anneal the copper pipe you will have to anneal several times while you try to bend it.

Step 1 completely shut off the valves on the oxygen and acetylene tanks. I have a feeling the piece is just too large to get it to cherry red within a reasonable amount of time. So long as you get the copper red hot then let it cool it will bend. Annealing is a method of softening metal that has been hardened by one method or another.

Many torches generate sufficient btu and flame temp to anneal a large copper sheet but the copper conducts the energy so readily that it acts like a giant heatsink radiateing energy acrosss its entire surface faster than you can get it in. If your torch cannot get the entire gasket cherry red all at the same time it will be fine.