Cutting Brass Sheet

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

A simple bench shear will cut perfectly straight edges with no bending.

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

How hot should the brass plate be heated before flattening ?

[Steve PaveyParticipant @stevepavey65865]

Posted by Brian John on 20/10/2021 03:13:19:

How hot should the brass plate be heated before flattening ?

Brass shouldn’t be worked hot in my experience. Some brasses are quite brittle at higher temperatures. Just anneal the brass normally (bring up to a dull red and then leave to cool).

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Without knowing the volume required, the discussion is rather pointless.

If I wanted one or two, I would hack the sheet to something a little over-sized and mill it square and to size. If I wanted ‘several’ on an irregular basis, it may be more economical to sub-out the cutting. If I wanted a lot, a metal cutting guillotine would be installed if the requirement was on-going on a regular/routine basis.

Economy dictates the approach taken if it is a business enterprise. As a modeller, I expect the first approach is the most usual.

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

hello Brian

To straighten your brass sheets you might need to anneal (soften) them by heating to a dull redness, and allowing to cool. Then you could use a press to compress each sheet separately between two flat thick blocks of steel. A big vice might do to apply pressure if the pieces are fairly small. It really depends on how flat you need them, and the surface finish you are hoping for. Annealing to soften the sheets will (of course) reduce the stiffness and springiness, and reduce the shine. The length of time in a press is not significant – if nothing happens at once it won't help to leave it overnight.

Hope this helps

Cheers, Tim

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

Thanks for that info : yes, I have found that leaving it in the vice for a few days is pointless. I will try heating them to dull red hot tomorrow, then cooling and placing back in the vice.

NOTE : Some of the ebay companies are better than others at cutting brass and keeping it flat.

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

First the bad news : I tried heating a small piece of bent/buckled brass but it only made it worse and then when I tried to flatten it in the vice, it seemed even more springy. I am not sure what I did wrong there.

Now the good news : the small hobby table saw fitted with a fine tooth blade cut through the brass sheet like it was cardboard. I had my doubts when I bought it but it will prove to be extremely useful.

gQAAOSw1u9glNeg">Mini Multifunctional Table Saw Desktop Woodwork Household Saw DIY Cutting Tool 6973691950593 | eBay

Once I had cut the brass sheets then I straightened them out as best I could by hand. They should be okay to use now but I will look for a Chinese supplier who can cut them and keep them flat.

Edited By Brian John on 21/10/2021 12:53:40

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