I'm not saying that I'm using the same techniques as when I worked at the solder factory. All I'm saying is that the experience at the solder factory taught me that annealing is an important part of the whole picture. I guess, more to the point, it taught me that working these copper-based alloys tend to make them brittle.
Also, I call it the solder factory. Actually it was a "filler metals" business. Most of what I am describing has to do with the brazing wire side of the business. Most of that was about taking copper, doping it with something like tin and antimony, and making wire out of that. It was amazing to see simple wire go from a ductile form (much like picture wire), go through a straightener and a few forming dies and come out so brittle it would break into pieces if you dropped it on the floor.
I don't know why I'm getting such pushback; all I'm saying is annealing your brass is a good thing.
