Help, please: annealing brass wire

[unclejohn]

Hi all, can't afford gold so practicing with brass for inlay, I have no trouble with drawing silver and copper but brass is not annealing the same. Im only working on low dome brass and silver rings and Im drawing the wires down to .010 and above. Can someone please tell me what I must do differently to anneal the brass wire? Thanks in advance!!!!!!!

 

[Brian Marshall]

There is a big difference between yellow brass and "red" brass...

Do you know what you have?

I've inlaid the red, but the yellow - well, life is too short to work that hard.



Brian

 

[unclejohn]

Yes I have the red brass I purchased from Rio Grande And it is actually called red brass inlay wire. Comes on a big spool for about 10 bucks.

 

[Brian Marshall]

One of many reasons why hands-on classes will never be replaced...


How are you annealing - torch, kiln? What temperature?

Are you air cooling or quenching in water? Are you using any kind of fire scale preventative? Are you pickling after annealing? Are you neutralizing after pickling?

What kind of drawplate are you using? Something from India, China, Switzerland, France, Germany, or?

Are the holes polished to a at least a tripoli finish? (Unless it's carbide, which should come polished)

Are you using a lubricant? What lubricant?

Have you consulted Rio? If they sell you a product they should back it with the necessary information or source for information.

Ask 'em for their recommendations...


B.