How to harden copper wire links?

Question: How to harden copper wire links!?

Was brazing links on some copper chain mail and now need to harden it back up, any tips on how to get it back to a decent hardness in a decent time frame!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

You can also reheat the copper and let it air cool slowly, do not put it in water!. The slower cooling time will temper the metal making it hard again with minimal effort That is the proper way to do it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

When you applied heat to the copper you annealed it, which means the hardness the copper gained originally from being stamped or beaten into shape is lost!. Annealing realigns the molecules of the copper making it soft, and is often done as part of a process of reworking the metal!.

Working the copper ( drawing, hammering, tumbling) will all make the copper harden again, so what method you choose depends on the size of your links!. You could try tumbling them with small steel shot or even sand, although this could affect the surface texture, hammering lightly either will a steel hammer or a gentler hide hammer will do the same!. It is the vibrations that will help harden, so also shot blasting can help but again will affect the surface!.

:-)
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