In a message dated 9/13/98 8:16:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time, drose@dlcwest.com writes: << but a tip I learned is to take the temper from the needles by putting them into a flame from a lighter for a few seconds. This makes them far less brittle. >> What you actually want to do is "temper" the hardness. This works but takes a little care. It's very easy to anneal (temper ALL the hardness out) and wind up with needles that just bend over at the second or third stroke. If you hold the needle a little above the flame, so it heats more slowly, you can control the tempering. Move it back and forth to keep the heat even. The needle will change color. There are two colors of "straw" and two of blue. Experiment in this range to see what works best for you - beyond this and it's probably too soft. Too soft is okay where a screw clamps the needle but not okay outside the tool. Bob Davis
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