Annealing metal

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I have an acetylene tank and an turbotorch.I would like anneal a sheet of 16g.  I want to know is it possiblefor me to use the turbotorch to soften the sheet of metal beforeI bang on it to shape?    Do I need to use oxygen tank to get the neutral flame to do it?  Thanks,-Quang
Reply:The 16 ga should be pretty soft when you start hammering and shaping.  As you shape the material it will work harden.   You only need to bring the 16 ga up to a red heat and let it cool slowly to soften it enough to continue hammering.  I am guessing that your " turbotorch" is  an air mixing acetylene torch.  Usually they will be able to bring something like 16 ga up to a red heat.  Proper annealing requires that you heat to red and then cool as slowly as possible.  When you heat to red then let cool in still air you are simply "normalizing".
Reply:If your worrying over a carburizing flame, I wouldn't let it bother me a lot. Your only heating and not flame welding. Tune it as lean as you can and still get the heat you need. Think back to the wood or coal fired forges. Didn't seem to be a problem then, shouldn't be one now. It's not like your starting out with a high carbon steel and trying to control the input.