Posted by Mark Heter on October 28, 2003 at 23:53:41:
In Reply to: annealing posted by frank on October 28, 2003 at 13:00:04:
Annealing is done in the manufacturing process - when the metal is being formed, to keep it from crystalizing and cracking when being formed.
Unless this dent is really hideous, there isn't any need to anneal it (heat it up red hot), and it should be removed using conventional methods.
If repairmen had to anneal the metal every time they picked up a rawhide hammer & dent balls, they'd never get anything done.
BTW instruments which are annealed frequently during the manufacturing process (european horns, mostly), because of the outdated forming methods (wooden mandrels, too much hand forming, etc.) are usually very dent-prone. There's an art to tempering metal, including alloys like brass.
Aside from the new magnetic process, dent removal hasn't changed much since Ferree's book was published - dent balls, rawhide hammers, burnishers (for the five guys left who know how to use them) and the english wheel rollers still get the job done - without frying the finish off.