24K gold anneals at 500°F. I use a small propane torch and put the gold on a charcoal block. It doesn't have to get red hot but it won't hurt if it does.
You should always anneal no matter weather dead soft or not. I coil the wire up like a spring and then use heat and when coil starts to collapse wire is ready to go. ZZ
Gold like any metal will work harden, it will not stay dead soft, even manipulating the coil will harden it. Since annealing is so simple why avoid the pleasure, I use a small torch and usually anneal a few inches at a time, take it to a nice red and move the flame along the wire. There is no scaling with pure silver or gold, there is some with other materials you may consider dipping your newly anneal wire in a mildly acid solution to remove the scaling before attempting the inlay.
zzcutter, why always anneal? If its dead soft and inlays fine, why waste the time annealing. When it work hardens, then you anneal it. Dont understand why you would waste the time annealing something that is soft...
zzcutter, why always anneal? If its dead soft and inlays fine, why waste the time annealing. When it work hardens, then you anneal it. Dont understand why you would waste the time annealing something that is soft...
I do not quiet understand your reluctance to anneal. A large inlay may take several days, why would you want to jeopardize so much time and effort just to save a few seconds? As to why always anneal.......it is a good habit, after annealing you KNOW that it is soft, when you do not anneal you just ASSUME that it is as soft as it will get, I prefer to know than to assume.