How to straighten a bend?

[Houston1852]

Hi, I search mainly fields where tractors and plows etc, sometimes take a toll on relics in the ground. Sometimes I'll find a brass or copper item all bent out of shape and I would really like to straighten it, but fairly confident once I start bending it will snap in half. Is there a safe way to do this? I thought maybe heating it over a candle, but not sure.

 

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[hunter_46356]

I'm guessing a candle probably won't be enough heat. As far as copper and brass a propane torch and some finesse could do what you want. Metals comprised of several metals usually to give them more strength will be more difficult to work. They may have a tendency to snap before they bend. Any time you heat metal too much you change the molecular structure of it, usually making it more brittle. Too heat much or too little and the metal will break during the bending process.

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

a small propane torch will heat that stuff to melting point.
CAREFUL
How to Anneal Copper

 

[dieselram94]

Patience is key here...

 

[gunsil]

You cannot bend non-ferrous metals while red hot, they will break. Read Secretcanyon's link on annealing. Annealing is the process of heat treating metals to return them to a soft state so that they will not break while bending. One problem that will occur when annealing is that most alloys of copper will turn copper colored when done with the heat treating. Also if the metal had patina or corrosion on it the annealing process will remove that or embed it deeper into the surface. If the object is made by casting even annealing may not return it to a soft bendable state since the molecules are not as close together as forged objects and even annealed cast items can break while attempting to bend them.

 

[Rogerv]

If your trying to straighten tubing fill it with sand it helps keep it from kinking