Work hardening brass or bronze

Jewelry Discussion
1

I would like to know if there is a time\temperature relationship for
work hardening brass or bronze as there is for silver. Problem: I am
a custom saddlemaker-silversmith and I am planning on casting some
stamping tools for leather in brass or bronze. They will attached to
steel shanks for hand work or to steel blocks as a gang for use in a
Bonny Doon hydraulic press. I want to make sure that the brass or
bronze will hold up over time.

Dick Sherer
Sherer Custom Saddles, Inc.

2

Hi Dick,

I would like to know if there is a time\temperature relationship
for work hardening brass or bronze as there is for silver. Problem:
I am a custom saddlemaker-silversmith and I am planning on casting
some stamping tools for leather in brass or bronze. They will
attached to steel shanks for hand work or to steel blocks as a gang
for use in a Bonny Doon hydraulic press. I want to make sure that
the brass or bronze will hold up over time.

One of my skill sets is leather work, I’ve been doing it for 32
years.

If you are going to cast metal for stamps, brass and bronze are
excellent, they polish well and considering they stamp damp/softened
leather, they will last forever.

My preference is to cast in bronze as opposed to brass, as zinc
fumes are nasty.

A simple 90/10 bronze will work nicely, and wont hurt you… much.

Regards Charles

3

You can easily buy silica bronze from a welding supply house in the
form of brazing rods. This material is that preferred for casting
bronze sculpture, is hard but works well.

Gerald vaughan

4

You need to anneal it often if over worked the silica bronze will
split. However, it does add to a pieces when combined with other
metals.