Annealing pan with Pumice?

[taylordebs]

Hi everyone, back again with another question lol!
I have watched an american video and the lady uses a 7 inch annealing pan with pumice that rotates on bearings but I can't see anything like that here in uk, Any ideas please? many thanks

[Goldsmith]

Hi everyone, back again with another question lol!
I have watched an american video and the lady uses a 7 inch annealing pan with pumice that rotates on bearings but I can't see anything like that here in uk, Any ideas please? many thanks

Check out Cooksons jewellery tools for this; http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...prcode-999-SAF

A soldering block is better for annealing items on and is more useful than pumice beads, you won't keep losing small items in among the pumice. Of course you could always add a 7 inch round cake baking tray filled with pumice bits on top of the revolving soldering tray if you must.
James

[taylordebs]

Great idea ta, where could I buy pumice please ? Cheers

[Goldsmith]

Try contacting Flamefast, they may sell you some ceramic chips which they use on their brazing forges. Many years ago I bought a box of firebricks from them, a box of bricks that have lasted me for many years.

[ps_bond]

All my lump pumice came from a friend in New Zealand - he picked up a boxfull of fist-sized pebbles for me. Not useful in itself - but I've commented before that horse grooming blocks are very similar to pumice in appearance, and quite cheap (£1.50 at the last count). They don't stay in one piece as long as a more expensive soldering block, but they're adequate in a pinch.

[Goldsmith]

I can't guarantee them but how about trying some ceramic baking beads, the makers say they are heat proof.
As for pumice, it is volcanic rock and if you are desperate to try it, this company sells it if you want to buy in bulk; http://www.specialistaggregates.com/...FSghtAodbGnlmg
Also most chemists sell it in blocks for treatment of hard skin on feet, OK if you want to smash it up with a hammer.

James

[Dennis]

Taylor,
What you haven’t told us yet, is what you intend to use this unusual object for. If it is to anneal thin wire, a half tin as from baked beans will fit the bill once you have heated it to burn off the paper and plating.

Just curl up the wire inside it and heat from outside until there is a very dull glow. When cool enough retrieve the wire and pickle it.

The bonus is that you get treated to one of my favourite foods. Dennis

[taylordebs]

Beans are my favourite food too! I was going to use it to anneal sheet. Cheers

Taylor,
What you haven’t told us yet, is what you intend to use this unusual object for. If it is to anneal thin wire, a half tin as from baked beans will fit the bill once you have heated it to burn off the paper and plating.

Just curl up the wire inside it and heat from outside until there is a very dull glow. When cool enough retrieve the wire and pickle it.

The bonus is that you get treated to one of my favourite foods. Dennis

[Goldsmith]

Beans are my favourite food too! I was going to use it to anneal sheet. Cheers

Then all you need is the soldering block, I anneal sheet and solder items on the same block. My soldering tray is home made out of brass and has a firebrick for annealing and soldering on. I do have various shapes and sizes of firebrick blocks to support odd shapes when I need them. These photos show my workbench and my soldering tray one with the borax dish sitting on top and the others are close ups of the soldering block in use. I bought a box of kiln and forge firebricks from Flamefast and I just use a hacksaw to cut shapes to suit my purpose.

James

[Goldsmith]

I should have said that I also use charcoal blocks for smaller jobs, I just sit them on top of the firebrick that fits inside the soldering tray.

James