Hardening Copper Bangles?

[Kwiter]

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

[Ted Frater]

Post by Kwiter
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.

[Kwiter]

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.

[Peter W.. Rowe,]

Post by Kwiter
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.

[Kwiter]

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.

[Bert]

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

Post by Kwiter
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

[vj]

vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from Bert <***@thank.you> :

]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!

[r***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com]

Post by vj
]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.

[vj]

vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from
***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com :

]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?]

[r***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com]

Post by vj
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?]

Can we say 'pink'?
Can we say 'lots of time at the buffing wheel'?

Yeah.

--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.

[vj]

vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from
***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com :

]Can we say 'pink'?
]Can we say 'lots of time at the buffing wheel'?
]
]Yeah.

yeah!
it's AMAZING what those little bitty cones can hang onto that you
can't SEE until it's too late.

[Peter W.. Rowe,]

Post by r***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com

Post by vj
]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?]

Can we say 'pink'?
Can we say 'lots of time at the buffing wheel'?
Yeah.

If you do find this, there's a quicker fix. Mix some fresh pickle. Often, strong new
pickle will all on it's own slowly dissolve a light copper flash if given some time. If
you want considerably more oomph and speed, add some hydrogen peroxide to the pickle.
The 20 percent solution you can buy in beauty supply shops works a lot better than the
almost non-existant (2%) dilution you get at the drug store as a disinfectant, though
even that will sort of work, though more slowly. Note that the hydrogen peroxide is not
stable, in this mix, and breaks down after a fairly short while. it's good for about a
day, more or less, depending on the temp of the pickle pot, and how much peroxide you
add. But this will quickly and neatly remove that copper flash without affecting your
silver or gold. Will also remove the copper color that brass or bronze (nu gold, etc)
is left with after soldering or annealing, restoring the color of the underlying metal.

Peter

[vj]

vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from "Peter W.. Rowe,"
<***@earthlink.net> :

]If you do find this, there's a quicker fix. Mix some fresh pickle. Often, strong new
]pickle will all on it's own slowly dissolve a light copper flash if given some time.

yes, after i screwed it up, i did that.
but i'm not exactly known for my patience, either!

[vj]

vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from "Peter W.. Rowe,"
<***@earthlink.net> :

]Will also remove the copper color that brass or bronze (nu gold, etc)
]is left with after soldering or annealing, restoring the color of the underlying metal.

definitely need to get some!

[part of the problem with the pickle we WERE using was the content of
our local water!]

[r***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com]

Post by vj
vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from "Peter W.. Rowe,"
]Will also remove the copper color that brass or bronze (nu gold, etc)
]is left with after soldering or annealing, restoring the color of the underlying metal.
definitely need to get some!
[part of the problem with the pickle we WERE using was the content of
our local water!]

Here in the desert, I use distilled/demineralized water to make up my
pickle. Cheap enough, considering.

--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.

[vj]

vj found this in rec.crafts.jewelry, from
***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com :

]Here in the desert, I use distilled/demineralized water to make up my
]pickle. Cheap enough, considering.

yes - that's what we've switched to.

[ted.ffrater]

Post by Peter W.. Rowe,

Post by r***@TAKEOUTmindspring.com

Post by vj
]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?]

Can we say 'pink'?
Can we say 'lots of time at the buffing wheel'?
Yeah.

If you do find this, there's a quicker fix. Mix some fresh pickle. Often, strong new
pickle will all on it's own slowly dissolve a light copper flash if given some time. If
you want considerably more oomph and speed, add some hydrogen peroxide to the pickle.
The 20 percent solution you can buy in beauty supply shops works a lot better than the
almost non-existant (2%) dilution you get at the drug store as a disinfectant, though
even that will sort of work, though more slowly. Note that the hydrogen peroxide is not
stable, in this mix, and breaks down after a fairly short while. it's good for about a
day, more or less, depending on the temp of the pickle pot, and how much peroxide you
add. But this will quickly and neatly remove that copper flash without affecting your
silver or gold. Will also remove the copper color that brass or bronze (nu gold, etc)
is left with after soldering or annealing, restoring the color of the underlying metal.
Peter

Your first line mid sentence,
mix some fesh pickle,
now there are lots of formule for this.
Ive never used hydrogen peroxide,
as an additive to a pickle and would like to try it.
BUT im always careful mixing up something i dont know about.
Any suggestions on your =
Mix some fresh pickle?
begore I blow up my workshop.
HTP and aniline is a good rocket fuel.
Joking aside
what is the best mix to go with 20/% h/peroxide?

[Chris Hackett]

Go to www.reactivemetals.com and view there data sheets they have a few
recipes.

Chris

[William Black]

Post by Kwiter
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.