Thread: Soft/Hard Pins

There is a happy medium for sure. Raol sent me a roll of nickels silver wire some time ago and it was perfect and lasted me for a very long time.

I have experienced the problem in reverse where the material is often too hard. I too buy in bulk. Annealing is the answer. Sometimes the ends of the rods are harder and softer in the middle.

I think you overheated your rod, try heating to just were it begins to change color then quench in water. Also try cutting your pieces to about ¾ inch then heating the tips and quenching.

Annealing will make it harder or softer, you just need to fiddle with the color and quench depending on the rod. Generally, more heat makes it softer.

I also taper my pin holes for a strong tight fit. I use an inexpensive tapered diamond burr in a pin vise.

I will try some more annealing before I send them back.
My plan is to buy small pieces, to test.
Ideally I like to have a nice dommed pin leaving a perfect lip of the washer showing, aint gonna happen with this lot.

Today I got out some brass pins that just look cheap to me, really shiny and a light yellow colour.. I use them for things other than pinning and I don't know where I got them from.

Started pinning with them and the mushroomed head basically snapped in half.. They have no flex at all..
I cannot let my art suffer this way

Originally Posted by JOB15

Today I got out some brass pins that just look cheap to me, really shiny and a light yellow colour.. I use them for things other than pinning and I don't know where I got them from.

Started pinning with them and the mushroomed head basically snapped in half.. They have no flex at all..
I cannot let my art suffer this way

You having a run of bad luck with pinning materials. Can't say I have had that happen with brass pins either. Hope you can get it sorted.

Bob

Yeah the harder ones are easier to correct using a little heat

I have 25 feet of NiAg rods that are about useless for pinning sitting in the shop because they are too soft

Been the for about 10 years now someday I might get around to messing with them but honestly it just isn't worth the time

On the plus side , i am now clued up, as they say

Had a talk today with a large supplier in Northampton.
He explained that they can get me rod as strong or as soft as i want. Adding more copper to the brass mixture will increase its strength.
This stuff would be made in Germany and then shipped over to the UK. The only problem is that i would have to order 500lbs :/

Really nice guy who told me that i could contact him for any metallurgy questions in the future..
Thanks..