new head gasket annealing

Best to anneal solid head gaskets immediately before fitting. They are always the softest when freshly done, age and movement seems to harden them, I find.

Paul +1, also you can anneal it in stages if your torch cannot get it all cherry red at the same time, you can do one section at a time to cherry red and as long as each section overlaps when you have finished the full gasket is annealed fully soft. For copper the quench has no affect on the temper, it only helps to clean off the carbon muck so is optional.

Previously john_holmes wrote:

Paul +1, also you can anneal it in stages if your torch cannot get it all cherry red at the same time, you can do one section at a time to cherry red and as long as each section overlaps when you have finished the full gasket is annealed fully soft. For copper the quench has no affect on the temper, it only helps to clean off the carbon muck so is optional.

I have always understood, of all the metals, only copper and silver are softened by the quench. Although the below claims the same for brass.

"Copper, silver and brass can be cooled slowly in air, or quickly by quenching in water, unlike ferrous metals, such as steel, which must be cooled slowly to anneal. In this fashion, the metal is softened and prepared for further workâsuch as shaping, stamping, or forming."

Previously john_holmes wrote:

Paul +1, also you can anneal it in stages if your torch cannot get it all cherry red at the same time, you can do one section at a time to cherry red and as long as each section overlaps when you have finished the full gasket is annealed fully soft. For copper the quench has no affect on the temper, it only helps to clean off the carbon muck so is optional.

All you say is correct.

I've worked with cooper sheets for a long time as a tinsmith.

Fritz