Annealing pin-stock material

R

R.C.Reichert

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Jul 26, 2008
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I like peening the pins onto my full tang knives, but sometimes I notice that the peened pin will form a small split in the metal. Is this just from over-peening, or is there a way to anneal the brass pin-stock (brazing rod) to prevent this? Can pin-stock materials such as nickel silver or brass even be annealed or what?
 
I believe you can anneal brass by heating with a torch till it begins to glow and quenching it in water. (sounds backwards, I know) I'm not sure if that will work with N/S.

Lots of folks around here do a lot of peening, I'm sure you'll get some better answers. :o
 
Heat the brass to red. Then let cool, it will form scale. Brass will be dead soft
OR
Heat the brass to red, then quench, most of the scale pops off. Brass will be dead soft. Works for most copper alloys.

Jim Arbuckle
ABS JS
 
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Good to know Erik, thank you. Is the shear strength of the pin compromised by doing this?

Is there a way to re-harden the N/S? Like if I annealed a chunk for a guard to make it easier to drill/grind etc. I'd be afraid of it being too easily scratched.
 
Yup, like Mete said. Work hardening is the only way. However even "hardened" N/S works like butter. I'd stick to annealing for pins only for the purpose of peening. As far as strength, I'd say if you were to apply enough sheering force to break a pin, your handle material would more than likely be toast first :D
 
You are over peening. Annealing pin stock will cause the shaft to bend. Pins need to be hard to withstand the stress of peening. This is more important with longer or thinner pins.
 
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