Forging copper alloys...

Osbourn

Osbourn

Joined
Jun 27, 1999
Messages
804
Brass and bronze, how are these metals forged? What heats are they malleable at? Melting them is no problem, but I want to do some simple hot forming and general shaping without having to sand cast.
Any input would be appreciated.


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Oz

"I went to one of those so-called 'All you can eat' buffets last night, and I'm on to their little game.
They stop filling up the thousand island bucket after you empty it three or four times."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
Hey Oz, In the last Clinker Breaker (the F.A.B.A. newsletter) there was an article on forging copper. I'll dredge it up when I get home this evening and see what it says. I'll post what it says here later. Give me an email!-Guy Thomas
 
Well I found the artcle and copper forges easily from red heat to cold and it is easy to know when to quit because it begins to work harden. The article mentions only forging pure copper because of the danger of toxic fumes from impurities or additions of various materials to the copper. The only other thing mentioned is to watch it carefully so that it does not melt in your forge, and that it develops a dark surface oxidation.
Hopefully someone else out there has more information on forging copper alloys like brass and bronze!-Guy Thomas
 
What's happened most often when I've worked it hot is that I melted it. The most success that I've had is when I anneal and then cold forge.

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Oz

"I went to one of those so-called 'All you can eat' buffets last night, and I'm on to their little game.
They stop filling up the thousand island bucket after you empty it three or four times."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
I have had good success forging it cold and then annealling it. Copper is so soft that it works easily under the hammer.
Keep a good eye on it in the forge. A dull cherry red is all that is needed to anneal it. Dunk it in water and it is back to being soft.
I guess some people have trouble with it in the forge because they are used to working steel which requires higher working temperatures.
I have heard about copper contamination causing welding problems in the forge. Maybe it is best to have a separate forge for doing this material. Maybe one of those bean can/coffee can forges.

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Phillip Jones
Jones Knives
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=126319&Auth=false
 
I could probably use a bbq and a handheld hair dryer considering the heats involved. Might cut down the risk of melting it, too.
Thanks again!

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Oz

"I went to one of those so-called 'All you can eat' buffets last night, and I'm on to their little game.
They stop filling up the thousand island bucket after you empty it three or four times."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
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