poseyforge Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) I was wondering whether copper sheet is easily cut? also what tools I would need to form it like punches and stuff. lastly I was thinking of doing some crafty like stuff for Christmas such as two holly leaves with berries and small Christmas trees out of copper so I was wondering what to use to attach pieces... solder seems like the most obvious thing but again I'm pretty new to this, and also how to you enamel copper because I saw some holly leaves and berries and the leaves were green with copper veins showing through and the berries were red.????? Any help with this would be cool... :confused::confused::confused: Edited October 29, 2009 by poseyforge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 I assume you mean "sheet" as plate starts at 1/4 inch. Copper is fairly soft so you can cut it with the usual stuff like snips and such. Kinda tough to drill as it's "gummy" and wants to grab. Soft soldering works great on copper. Don't know squat about enameling, though. Have fun and be sure to have your report done by Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poseyforge Posted October 29, 2009 Author Share Posted October 29, 2009 Thank you that is pretty much what I was thinking. Still wondering about enamel though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 True enameling requires clean copper that you apply ground coloured glass to (front and back) and then you heat it until it melts and slow cool it. They make little table top heating units for doing enameling as an art form (just had one go through the local fleamarket in great shape for US$10!) If there is a community college near you they may offer a course in it I know the one less than 1 mile from where I am at now does. Sure would be nice if you would edit your cp and list your general location---someone close might be able to make a suggestion on where you could get training! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Soft copper (annealed) is pretty easy to cut... snips, chisels, knives, shears, even heavy scissors (for thin sheet). Even low quality chisels and punches will normally be hard enough when used for copper. Soft solder works well on copper but it can also be hard soldered as I have often done. Riveting, stapling, bent tabs, wire wraps, fusion welding, forge welding, adhesives are some other possible joins. You can get some neat effects with transparent acrylic colors that can be similar to enameled looks and are easier to do for the less experienced. Also try the faux-stained glass products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Rio Grande Jewelry Supply has a starter kit. It can also be torch fired so you don't need to buy a kiln to start with. If a college isn't near you or you near one, you can learn most of what you need to know to start from books or form the net. Just Google it. There are some good articles on repossue on the net too. Repousse Tools and Techniques Copperheart: Tutorial - Intro To Enameling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poseyforge Posted October 29, 2009 Author Share Posted October 29, 2009 thanks for the help i torch idea is really helpful but i was wondering if my charcoal forge would be adequate for enamel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 I don't know, it may be to dirty unless you can build a way to keep the ash from contaminating the glass. Like a small fire brick oven in the forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 (edited) Well back in 1120 AD Theophilus wrote instructions on using a charcoal fire for enamelling; they work BTW. It's pretty easy to make a forge into a furnace, get your fire going and then stick a SS coffee creamer into the fire *sideways* and pile the fuel around it to heat. Open the "door" and place the piece into it and let it heat till done and then let cool slowly. Note that not every type of glass is suitable. When I was experimenting I found that 8 different stained glasses spalled too much upon cooling but a 1940's truck brake lens worked great! (note that adding borax did not help the stained glass!) Also my first try at an oven was a terracotta flower pot---it melted in the forge. Edited October 30, 2009 by ThomasPowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 TP, So you fire was hot enough to melt dirt, I'm impressed. I'll have to give the SS coffee creamer a try, Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 :pThomas Powers knows about these things because he was there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junksmith Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 I'm not sure if it was mentioned, but I like to braze copper when attaching branches to rose stems and so forth. It's a little more difficult than soldering, but the joint is strong and I think brass looks better against copper than solder does. Brass looks nicer as it ages too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poseyforge Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 thanks Thomas thats a good idea ya my art techer is pretty big on throwing clay and making clay things so ive got a little experience with glazes and melting glass but never in a charcoal forge so Ill give your creamer idea a try. also what is brazing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 I got into smithing through historical re-enactment and so I have tried a lot of the stuff that I could dig up period documentation on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poseyforge Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 idk how i got into it it just happened but ive had a fascination with it for a long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Well I've only been smithing a bit of 28 years. If we had had this sort of thing when I was a kid I would have started at least 10 years younger! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Look into Copper Phos rod to attach copper pieces, they are about the same color. It is generally used for refrigeration lines, and easy to use. Google enameling, lots of info online. Don't forget that there are still these things called libraries, and they have information stored in objects called books. The internet hasn't killed them off yet Brazing is like soldering, but at higher temperatures with a torch, or oven. Solder is basically a low melting temp lead/tin alloy. Brazing uses more copper based alloys; brass, phosphorous copper, and there is also silver based alloys - silver solder/sil braze. To drill copper, make sure that you use some oil to lube the bit to prevent galling. It cuts easily, and is annealed (softened) by heating red, and quenching in water. Just the opposite of steel. Copper work hardens, and will crack if overworked. Hence knowing how to anneal copper can come in handy. It doesn't sound like you will have this happen with your projects, but if you get into deeper dishing, etc it may. Libraries, don't forget the libraries. Your tax dollars at work, make use of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poseyforge Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 yes i do use libraries and ill look up enameling on google. i dont pay taxes yet and thanks for the info on brazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 They don't have sales tax in Oregon???? Time to move out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 They don't have sales tax in Oregon???? Time to move out there!Yeah. Get here before the Californians take all the good spots.:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 They do have property and income taxes though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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