Annealing copper for boiling building - question

[DanWalker]

I have a question regarding annealing copper.
In the process of heating, bending, forming, reheating, etc,
In what state of hardness do you leave the copper?

In other words, if you have finished forming the copper and it is still pliable,
do you leave it that way? If not, how do you harden it without changing the shape?
Do you tap it lightly?

Thanks...

[Bill Shields]

If you have heated it, then it is soft.

If you have bashed it, then it is not as soft.

It stays in whatever state it is in when you are finished with it.

There is no need to do anything else.

[Bruce_Mowbray]

And, after you heat it for silver soldering, it is soft again.

[Bill Shields]

which is why there is no reason to do anything else...

[DanWalker]

OK, that makes sense.
So even if the copper is soft it will have the same strength to hold
boiler pressure?

[Bill Shields]

ALL copper boiler calculations should be done for ANNEALED copper.

[DanWalker]

ALL copper boiler calculations should be done for ANNEALED copper.

OK, that makes sense. I didn't know that.
Thanks guys.

[alanstepney]

Copper is a wonderful material for boilers. (Apart from the cost!)

When first made it will be annealed from the heat used to silver solder it.

Do a pressure test, or steam it for the first time, and it will expand slightly.
That will work harden it, and you soon end up with hard or half-hard copper.

At that point, you just use it for the next X years, and with reasonable care, X may well be 40 or 50.

[DanWalker]

Copper is a wonderful material for boilers. (Apart from the cost!)

When first made it will be annealed from the heat used to silver solder it.

Do a pressure test, or steam it for the first time, and it will expand slightly.
That will work harden it, and you soon end up with hard or half-hard copper.

At that point, you just use it for the next X years, and with reasonable care, X may well be 40 or 50.

Great explanation.
Thanks!