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From: Richard Smith <null@void.com>
Newsgroups: uk.rec.models.engineering
Subject: Re: rebendable wire
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2022 21:37:37 +0100
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RustyHinge <rusty.hinge@foobar.girolle.co.uk> writes:

> On 10/08/2022 11:35, Peter Fairbrother wrote:
>
>> A friend makes felt animals with aluminium wire armatures. The wire
>> work-hardens and breaks if you bend it too often.
>>
>> Anyone know of a wire which can be bent a lot? I guess ardman and
>> the like must use something frequently-bendable.
>
> Indeed there is such a wire, but I guess it might be a bit too costly
> for that purpose: 32 carat gold.
>
> Aluminium wire can be annealed by heating - but careful, it will melt
> if it is overdone.
>
> I'd use a Calor butane or propane blowtorch.
>
> Just don't be too quick to test it after doing the job: cave a nice
> cup of tea while it cools. Or, if you're impatient, quench it in cold
> water. (This doesn't have the same result as quenching tool steel.)
>
> -- 
> Rusty Hinge
> To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

Would a paint-stripping electric heat gun be a "safe" way of annealing
the aluminium?  Could not overheat / melt the Ali?