Working brass bar stock

[Vincent Price]

I'm working on a consignment for someone who wants a brass trench knife style guard. I have some brass bar stock to use but this is new for me. I know brass is work hardened. How do I go about hammering out the 90 degree angles? Apply a little heat and hammer anyway? Grind it thinner and bend? Suggestions.... thanks.

 

[DevinT]

Safest way is to anneal and then bend. Anneal by heating to a dull red and cooling in water.

Hoss

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Don't try to work brass hot. It will not work.
Anneal it repeatedly.

 

[Vincent Price]

Th

Safest way is to anneal and then bend. Anneal by heating to a dull red and cooling in water.

Hoss

Thanks!

 

[Vincent Price]

Don't try to work brass hot. It will not work.
Anneal it repeatedly.

So you're saying anneal then bend, anneal again and bend some more.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Yes.

 

[john april]

you will probably be able to feel when its getting hard and needs another annealing. if in doubt, anneal again.

 

[Joshua Fisher]

I once made the mistake of trying to forge a brass guard into shape, heated to red and bent the guard then went to adjust the bend back just a little bit and the hole piece just crumbled.

 

[DevinT]

The more lead in the alloy, the more problems you’ll have forging hot.

Hoss