[jazusamo]

Yes, the heat took the temper out of the steel spring and the metal became malleable again. When I was a kid my grandad had a forge and used it for making and repairing ranch equipment and tools, I loved to sit and watch him shape steel when it was glowing orange on the anvil.

[TXnMA]

A few weeks ago, I watched a blacksmith at a local outdoor festival turn a 1/2" thick, 4" long steel chunk into a beautifully shaped knife blade with nicely-tapered tang -- using only hammer, anvil, heat and skill. Folks who have never felt the "squish" of red-hot steel under the hammer have no concept of how soft and plastic heated steel is.

And, several times, I have laughed at grandkids and their friends while roasting wieners and hot dogs on steel coat hangers. When they reach across the fire to put their food over a "perfect" bunch of coals on the other side, the main fire "wilts" their hanger -- and their food "droops" down into the ashes... '-)

"Truthers" fit the "I slept though fifth grade science class" category...