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Q: Annealing temperature of soft/mild steel ( No Answer,   2 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Annealing temperature of soft/mild steel
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: firebreather-ga
List Price: $10.00
Posted: 18 Feb 2003 12:11 PST
Expires: 20 Mar 2003 12:11 PST
Question ID: 163091
Hello. I would like to know the annealing temperature of copper coated
mild/soft steel welding rod. I use this rod to make jewelry and anneal
it myself by heating it up with a oxy/acet mini torch till it becomes
yellow in color and before it loses shape and then I let it cool to
room temperature. It doesn't take very long to anneal the rod with the
torch. My question is this-- I would like to borrow my friends kiln to
heat up a large amount of 3/32 rod and was wondering at what
temperature do I set the kiln at to minimize the time the rod sits in
the kiln at 5-10 seconds at the most (or longer if it so requires)?
Maybe I am getting a bit too wordy here but to give a better picture:
If the kiln were to have a window and I could see what was going on in
the kiln, at what temperature would I set the kiln at so the steel is
glowing yellow without melting itself for about 10 seconds.

An extra tip of $5.00 will be added if you can tell me the kiln
temperature to anneal many pieces of 3/32 rod of 316L stainless steel
as well.

Request for Question Clarification by krobert-ga on 19 Feb 2003 07:15 PST
Firebreather-ga,

Why do you anneal the rod? Is it easier to use the rod when it is annealed?
I ask because this may or may not be a necessary step to using the rod.

krobert-ga

Clarification of Question by firebreather-ga on 19 Feb 2003 13:33 PST
Hi Krobert,

I anneal the soft steel rod to actually make it softer and more
plyable to work with. If I were to quench it immediately after
annealing it, it would become harder in strength. However, it is
different for stainless. If I quench stainless, it becomes softer.
Instead of the constant back and forth motion I use with the torch, I
wish to just "throw" it all in a kiln, let it sit for a bit, then take
it out and let the soft steel cool to room temperature and quench the
stainless. Hope this gives a better understanding. Please do not
hesistate to ask for clarification again.

firebreather
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Annealing temperature of soft/mild steel
From: phi-ga on 20 Feb 2003 20:18 PST
 
Annealing is a process by which the crystalline structure of the iron
is changed so that it is more ductile and in general easier to work
with. Which I presume is Ur purpose.
The Answer ure looking for.. is 793 C .(go higher than 900 and it
begins to melt which u don't want to do )
This  link http://www.askzn.co.za/tech/tech_grade_430.htm gives the
annealing temperature as 760. But that is for a specific kind of steel
and u are I presume asking for a general temperature range for mild
steel. So u should be alright when u get close to that temperature
with in 5 - 10 degrees
In the process for annealing. U should heat the steel up to the
required temperature range and let it cool down as slowly as possible
(at a controlled rate of say 5 degrees per minutes.
The best way would be to heat it up to the required temperature. Let
it sit there at that temperature so that ALL the material is at an
even temprature.and then let it cool down in the oven. This would work
if ure doing small batches. IF how ever u need a faster pace there are
various commercial immersion mediums available which u can use.
Or also u could make steel cases made from a higher grade of steel in
which u would place the rods and heat them and take the case out of
the oven so that u can put in the next batch.
There was a very good book on available for general workshop practices
and metal treatment. One of them I remember was " Manufacturing
processes" By Myron L. Begeman

U should be able to find it its pretty much a standard textbook. If
not u can find it at Amazon for sure

 Oh for the kiln. U shouldn't have to peek thru the window. It should
have a thermometer. And then when it reaches that temperature.  U
should leave it at that temperature for 30 - 40 minutes so that the
temperature gets evenly distributed. And then let it cool down for
desired rate. Also remember If ure heating a larger batch u have to
let it heat up slowly also
Because other wise the outer material will heat up to a higher
temrature while the material on the inside will not be at the right
temperature.

If u buy a specific steel. Ur supplier should be able to supply u with
the steel's annealing. and hardening temperatures.
Subject: Re: Annealing temperature of soft/mild steel
From: ganoksin-ga on 25 Apr 2003 19:32 PDT
 
Hi firebreather-ga ;

Discussions over working with mild steel took place few times over the last
few years at the Ganoksin's Orchid forums. You can retrieve
the threads by running a keyword search. 

Check out the following address to learn more: 

http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/ 

Here are some pointers:

Mild steel?
http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/9812/msg00042.htm

Working with steel in jewelry
http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/200208/msg00328.htm


Hope it helps
Hanuman
---------------------------
http://www.ganoksin.com

Ganoksin is an online meeting space whose mission includes 
fostering sharing and community, enhancing productivity and 
safety by advancing education in the jewelry and metal arts globally.

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