Ok that s the short answer.
Anneal sheet metal.
By annealing the metal beforehand cold working can take place without any risk of cracking as annealing releases mechanical stresses produced during machining or grinding.
When buying sheet always assume that it will need annealing.
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Remove protective plastic before annealing.
This technique also only works on sheet metal or very thin parts.
Annealing occurs by the diffusion of atoms within a solid material so that the material progresses towards its equilibrium state.
The movement of atoms has the effect of redistributing and eradicating the dislocations in metals and to a lesser extent in ceramics.
Annealing is used for steel however other metals including copper aluminum and brass can be subject to a process called solution annealed.
Annealing sheet metal wire varying alloys.
Partial annealing like this though will give you the ability to form it more easily without it cracking.
If the metal is too thick the surface temperature will be correct but the core temperature will be too cold to have been annealed.
To anneal steel heat it up about 100 degrees f above its critical temperature soak it at that temp for 1 hour per inch of thickness and let it cool at a maximum rate of 70 f per hour.
The metal is heated above its recrystallization temperature maintained at this temperature and then cooled in a controlled environment.
The heat needs to soak through the metal.
Heat increases the rate of diffusion by providing the energy needed to break bonds.
To anneal stainless steel basically softening it requires a lot more heat 1900 f 1000 c than annealing steel in that an orangey red color needs to be achieved with your blow lamp but it also needs to be kept orange for at least ten minutes preferably longer to do it properly.
This can sometimes be kept when performing various piercing applications.
How to anneal stainless steel.