Thread: Working Man's Fred

Been doing some research on the site about annealing and while brass annealing is pretty well covered, nickel/silver hasn't been discussed in as much depth.

Can a nickel/silver rod be heated over a kitchen stove and if so, what color would you look for? Quench or cool?

Sure! I use a propane torch. Make your pin and dress the ends flat. get a cup of water handy. Hold in the middle of the pin with needle-nose pliers and just kiss the end to the blue of the flame for a 20 count and dunk it. Flip and do the other end. Just the ends, as you don't want to anneal the whole pin. If you do, it will bend easily! Brass usually takes only a 10 count.

Thank you. You're not looking for a color change in the rod, just a heating?

Since you are just touching the tip to the flame, you will not see much in that regard. I tried more, but the whole rod seems to anneal. Not good. I tried less and it did not seem to work as well. A 20 count and quench seems to be about right. I think a propane torch and a natural gas/butane stove flame should be in about the same heat range. Tiny taps and the pin will mushroom when tapped around the edges and the occasional tap on the top. A must when peening ivory or bone collarless!

Again, thank you for sharing these tricks of the trade. Peening made fun again!

Just what I need. More tools, only these have an element of pyro.

Dude !!....What you did to ressurect that razor....I christen thee....'The magician"