Annealing is very important technique and one needs to know about it before starting to work with metal. Let's start with theory.
When you work on metal through hammering or other forms of compression, molecules making your piece up are also compressed, eventually becoming non-malleable (hard to bend) or to put it using different term - work hardened. If you try to work on work hardened metal there are big chances that you will crack it.
You can buy pre-annealed metal, but if you have a lot of forming to do - and that's what usually happens, unless all your pieces are flat- you are better off learning about annealing.

Annealing should be done in slightly darkened room - it's easier to see the colour change of metal.
Tools needed for annealing are : soldering block, torch, reverse action tweezers, piece of metal for annealing and a jar of water.

Health and safety issues  are just common sense - don't touch heated metal with your hands - use tweezers. Don't touch the flame or put your hands close to it. Don't keep any flammable materials close to annealing area. Crack window open for good ventilation.  Stay focused.


First step of annealing: Put your work on soldering block and heat metal according to table below, using torch. The torch flame is hottest at the very point of blue flame, so try to keep that area on metal. Observe colour change carefully, and as soon as whole piece is correct colour (usually variation of red), turn torch off.

Second step of annealing: grab metal with reverse action tweezers and either quench - put into jar of cold water - or allow to cool slowly (you can speed up process by putting it on steel block).

                                             Different metals are annealed in different way.

Metal	Annealing method
Low – carat gold alloys Sterling silver Fine silver Copper Gilding metal	Heat to a dull, cherry red and quench as soon as redness disappears.
White gold Brass	Heat to bright red and cool in the air – do not quench.
Aluminium	Coat surface with soap and heat until it turns black – allow to cool slowly.
Mild steel	Heat to red heat and allow to cool slowly.