Reclaimed Copper

[Bob JS]

Well I have dived into the deep end and have taken on a commission for a large scale sculpture. The design includes the use of fairly large pieces of sheet copper.

The client would prefer the use of relclaimed materials, as eco awareness is one of the specifications.

Any ideas on something big made from sheet copper?? - as a suggestions for what I could be looking for at scrap yards.

eg, if i were looking for old timber i would search for, 'beams' 'sleapers' 'joists' etc.

So far the biggest things I can think of are central heating cylinders, or going for a dive under HMS Victory (except she is in dry dock...)

Thanks.

[easilyconfused]

I don't know about large sheets, never looked, but possibly melting and pouring your own sheet from easier to find copper sources?

[Fe-Wood]

Try roof flashing, rain gutter, old kitchen hoods, chimney caps and counter tops. These have all provided me with copper sheet. You might try seamless gutter guys and buy some off the rolls they have or shorts....I call these pre-cycled items:). Most of the easy stuff to find is around 12" wide. Hoods have bigger more rectangular sizes... 2X3, 4X5 etc.

The good stuff doesn't last very long...

Congrats and Good luck on the commission!!!:D

[Glenn]

Older buildings have copper piping. Split, open, and flatten. Look for solid copper rounds, ingots, or billets that you can roll out or hammer flat. The industrial electric folks sometimes work with large copper.

[CBrann]

Easilyconfused, Fewood got most of mine roofing and gutters, also they are covering bars and shelves with copper. Brewereys use a lot of copper (its naturally disinfectant) Plumbing uses a lot of copper too.

Also Heavy electrical switches 200 amps and better use big copper bus bars, and 2 and 2 Ought cable is stranded copper conductor.

Wish I had more suggestions for you.

[Bob JS]

Thanks for the ideas.

Fe-wood? 'The good stuff doesn't last very long...' Do you mean it doesnt hang around at the yard long before it is snatched up, or that it corrodes quickly?

Because of the eco aspect, I had designed the piece with a patchwork, any old textured scrap affixed to a framework approach...but I presented the client with a maquette made from split plumbing pipe and photoshopped it into photos of the site, and I get the impression that they liked the idea relatively clean lines. So the bigger the peices the fewer seams to make. Although I do have a plan on how to make a feature of the seams.

I don't want to spoil the supprise, but if you imagine two 18ft long blades of grass, ideally clad in copper on both sides that should give you an idea of the surface area.

(why did China have to hoard all the copper and make it so expensive!)

Thanks again for the ideas.

Bob

[Chrispy]

Bob,
I know you have stated "reclaimed copper" I would suggest old hot water systems which have 0.8mm material thickness which is pretty flimsy, or electrical bus bar that is used in switch gear. U might be able to scrounge some from your electricity provider, that has a common size of around 6 mm x 50 mm (1/4" x 2") and up to 6 ft long.
If you have difficulty sourcing the material, U might consider cold casting which uses a metal (copper, Bronze, stainless or even steel) powder which is added to the resin. It can then be sanded lightly to expose the metal particals to which a patina can be applied. It is not that much more expensive and difficult to determine if it is copper or a substitute.
I used to do all my water feature and sculpture projects in copper sheet or tubing but gave it away as the fumes from buffing and polishing was getting the better of me.(breathing Problems) Always have plenty of ventilation and wear a dust mask as a precaution. I recovered ok and work mostly in iron or Cold casting for those special needs. look up Cold Casting on the net, you'll be overwhelmed.
Food for thought. Chris.

[Fe-Wood]

Yes Bob, I flies off the self so to speek... I have aplace I check often and the 16oz. and 32oz. sheet is usually gone within a day or 2. Strange though, I just bought new sheets for the same price I was paying for scrap....Go figure.:confused:

I like the sound of your sculpture... You BETTER show action photos:)

Good Luck!

[medieval]

Just as an aside, the "new" sheets of copper (steel, etc) are seldom new. They are scrap that has been melted and reformed into "new" stock. If your client is concerned, explain to him that the "new" metal is recycled. In my opinion it is less expensive to buy new, than to waste time trying to find what I need in the scrap yard. This is doubly true for large sheet. ;)

[CBrann]

As I understand it, most wire and electrical conductive copper is "new", recently refined by electrolysis, but most plumbing pipe and sheet contains a portion of scrap, because it is ok for a certain amount of uncertainty involving specific alloy

I find it entertaining that new sheet is the same price as scrap copper. Seems like new is the way to go, because I would think junkyard sheet would need cleaning up (man hour cost)

Just my opinion from following this thread

[Bob JS]

Thanks for all the info and advice.

I am comming around to the idea of using 'new' copper, probably works out more 'green' anyway, with less joints etc. Plus it would make my life so much easier if I could just order the stuff and get stuck in.

Its going to be a challenge, but Im looking forward to it.

The project should be well documented - I hoping to find someone else to make a project out of documenting it, budding photographer etc.

I will read up on cold casting, not suitable for this case, but does sound interesting.

Cheers.
Bob