1. tempering, electric A process of tempering metals by electrically produced heat. The article is made part of an electric circuit. The current passing through it heats it, thereby tempering it. For wire the process can be made continuous. The wire is fed from one roll to another, and if required one roll may be immersed in a liquid bath or the wire between the rolls may be led therein. The current is brought to one roll and goes through the wire to the other. As it does this the wire is constantly fed from one roll to another. The bath may be used as described to cool it after the heating. The amount of heating may be regulated by the rate of motion of the wire.