Annealing is a method of softening metal that has been hardened by one method or another.
Annealing copper sheet metal.
Making it more malleable.
In the case of ferrous metals such as steel annealing is performed by heating the material generally until glowing for a while and then slowly letting it cool to room temperature in still air.
Copper is one of the metals that hardens when it is worked bent stretched.
If all you want to do is color the copper a small torch will likely do the job but you are not likely to be able to actualy anneal any signifiacnt size piece.
Annealing copper makes it softer and less brittle which allows you to bend it without breaking it.
To define the annealing process in simple terms means to remove any stresses and return material to a soft and workable state ie.
Annealing is a technique that all metalsmiths will.
Copper silver and brass can be either cooled slowly in air or quickly by quenching in water.
How to anneal and firescale copper sheet metal.
This video shows you how to safely use the torches in this classroom as well as anneal a piece of copper and add firescale.
Darlene armstrong director and co owner of the denver school of metal arts shows you how to anneal a sheet of copper using an acetylene torch.