Annealing copper head Gasket

[oldyzman]

What temp Celcius to i heat up a copper head gasket to to anneal it
Brett

[Canam370]

I use a torch and heat the copper until it goes a nice pinkish/rainbow colour. Once it cools the pink fades but that should be enough. Works for me!

[brent j]

Heat it red hot and drop it into cold water

[oldyzman]

BS Brent, that would harden it

[Paul552]

BS Brent, that would harden it

Not copper it won't

[Mick D]

BS Brent, that would harden it

The first time I tried it was when BHP taught me and hundreds of times since.

As Brent said, cherry, glowing red. Then drop it straight into your prepared cold water.

Very important that your water is mixed with one cup of metho to five cups of distilled water.

They then come out spotless, free of scale etc.

Distilled water is not essential but it's dirt cheap and produces a gasket free of soot and scale. It will require no further cleaning.

[Tim754]

Yep I follow the heat and rapid cool water/metho system as taught by an A grade mechanical engineer.

PS that system should not be used if trying to re-anneal your vintage wedding tackle.... 

[Tim754]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VcqBprVP6o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-WzWNKXtQE

[Mick D]

BS Brent, that would harden it

Its possible you may be thinking of case hardening certain Irons and steels.

Mick.

[oldyzman]

Sorry Brent, i Just thought you were kidding.... Seems some others agree.
Thanks for all of your help
Brett

[oldyzman]

Good Video's also

[cumagutsa]

if you cool it off straight away or let it cool naturally makes zero difference.

[brent j]

Sorry Brent, i Just thought you were kidding.... Seems some others agree.
Thanks for all of your help
Brett

No worries Brett,

If I put a bit more detail in my post it would have been easier to follow

Brent

[David Lahey]

I use cumagutsas method (just letting it cool in the air), because there is no risk of causing it to go out of shape, which can happen if quenched in water

[firko]

I've always heated then until they're a pinky red and dunked them straight into cold water, that's the way I was taught during the coppersmithing part of my apprenticeship. I've never had a gasket go out of shape that I can recall.