can you bond copper wire together like you can wire rope? I would like to form up some copper from thick copper wire strands, or should you just melt it and then form it? thanks.

i think you might be best getting a crucible and melting all the copper, then casting into a block/chunk, then forging the chunk.
I actually take my tig welder and i simply melt copper wire into a big puddle on my work table, after it solidifies i pic it up with tongs and toss it in my Gas forge and forge it to shape

put some borax on it het orange almoast molten tet with a pice of copper and ee if it sticks and push it together and ya have copper bar insted of wire same idea as cable rope excapt it just melts and keep the brass out for now ya not doin makume gan yet

A couple of years ago I watched a coppersmith family from Mexico at SOFA.
They said they took industrial scrap copper, melted it to a liquid and cooled it into a puck shape in the ground. They then heated this blank in a wood fire and beat it with sledge hammers to make sheet which was then formed into vessels.
Of course they did not show this but started with a big chunk of new copper
They did wonderfull work and a copy of the DVD can be gotten from UMBA Online

put some borax on it het orange almoast molten tet with a pice of copper and ee if it sticks and push it together and ya have copper bar insted of wire same idea as cable rope excapt it just melts and keep the brass out for now ya not doin makume gan yet

have you done this your self?

thanks for the replies I will try the different methods out and see what works.

Ron Reil used to forge weld copper, said it was unbelievably easy.

Borax flux, heat to bright red and use really gentle blows.

I haven't tried it myself but I believe Ron.

Frosty

I will give it a try this weekend. thanks.

My pleasure. Let us know how it works for you.

Frosty

for knife hardware I have taken copper wire and braised it together with brass rod, then flattened it. It makes an interesting pattern

I have torch welded copper and also used hard solders with it. Straight silver either fine or sterling will make a decent extra hard solder for copper. Copper oxidizes quickly so flux is essential and not after heating like you do with iron... you need flux on it when you start heating. I can't remember what flux I used but it's a commercial jewelers flux... not just borax.

I was very satisfied with one particular brand,but I'm not sure,if it is available in your area.It's called Sif-flux and contains bronze or copper particles.The color of this powder is pinky. If you'll happy with shaping copper bits and pieces,move on next level and try mokume-gane.Good luck

Borax works fine and is a common ingredient in many commercial fluxes.

However if you want to flux it before you begin heating you can dissolve borax in alcohol and dip the pieces.

Do I have to tell you to LET IT DRY BEFORE putting it in the forge? Hmmmm?

I've forged quite a bit of copper for funnsies and even sold a few pieces. I didn't notice any excessive oxidization and in fact get some really excellent colors cooling it in sawdust, straw, moose txxds, etc. Same colors as you see on Raku pottery.

Fun stuff.

Frosty

The flux I have used to silver solder is trade named batterns self pickling flux. It is a green color similar to green antifreeze and works great.

well it got some stuck together, but it seemed trickier than wire rope, I found the color a bit hard to judge, so if I want to do it i have to put some learning time into it, thanks for the info.

Does this family still demo in the US?

This is a little off topic, but I'll ask anyway...
What is the forging (temp/colour) range for copper?

Paul

I forge it from dull red to dead cold and anneal as necessary. It's basically cold forging and annealing but I see no reason to quench or let it cool after bringing it to annealing temp.

Frosty

Borax works fine and is a common ingredient in many commercial fluxes.

However if you want to flux it before you begin heating you can dissolve borax in alcohol and dip the pieces.

Do I have to tell you to LET IT DRY BEFORE putting it in the forge? Hmmmm?

I've forged quite a bit of copper for funnsies and even sold a few pieces. I didn't notice any excessive oxidization and in fact get some really excellent colors cooling it in sawdust, straw, moose txxds, etc. Same colors as you see on Raku pottery.

Fun stuff.

Frosty

What kind of alcohol is best?

I've never heard anyone say one is better than another, I'd give rubbing alcohol a try first and if it didn't work Everclear.

Frosty

Thanks Frosty,

I do a bit of repouss