Re: OT: copper trellis' (And Fine Gardening Article)

I sent the privately to Gena, but since Anner also asked, I'll post to the list.
I've used copper tubing for plumbing and various metal sculpture.  It is great to
work with because it is so soft and pliable.  I have not used liquid nails, but
traditional solder jointery.

If you are joining with normal copper fittings (elbows, couplings, tees, etc.)
you can use a soft solder and propane torch.  If you are joining one pipe to
another without a fitting you will need a stronger solder like silver solder
and a hotter flame like propane and pure oxygen or acetylene.

You will need a good flux.  The flux cleans the surface when heated and allows
the solder to flow into the joint.

Remember, you want the solder to be melted by the hot tubing, not the flame.
Heat the tubing, not the solder.

For bending tubing, you will need a special tool.  There are several types but
the simplest one looks like a coil spring.  The tubing is run through the
inside of this spring-thing before it is bent.  The coil prevents the tubing
from kinking and makes a smooth bend.

I suggest you seek out a welding supply store for torch, solder, flux, etc.
They will have better products and better advice than the local hardware or
home center.  If you get serious about this, you should seek out a jewelers
supply catalog from Sweat in either Dallas or Austin Texas.

You will probably want to use a patina to give you that oxidized verde/green
look.  You can find the patina at a craft supply store or the Sweat catalog.

I have found that sculpture made out of copper tubing usually ends up looking
like a lot of copper tubing.  A technique which will give you a very nice
effect is to hammer the tubing after you have finished all the jointing but
before applying the patina.  Just take a small ball-pene (sp?) hammer and
lightly tap the tubing all over making small indentations in the metal.  You
do not want to crush the tubing so do not strike it too hard.  This dimpling
makes a BIG difference in the final appearance.

If you want to get really fancy, you can add copper leaves to the tubing
"branches".  To make leaves, buy a piece of copper sheet.  If copper sheet
cannot be found, buy a piece of 2" diameter tubing, split it lengthwise, heat
it, and hammer it our flat.  The copper sheet can be cut with a good pair of
shears.  Hammering and a cold chisel can be used to stamp in veins and create
leaf form and texture.

There is a metal working discussion group.  I joined for a few weeks once but
do not recall the exact name.

Hope this helps.  Let me know if you get stuck.

Stephen Hopkins
South Carolina

Henryanner wrote:

> In a message dated 98-04-06 09:02:18 EDT, you write:
>
> <<  i have designed a couple of trellis' using copper tubing.  i've never
>  worked in copper before, just steel.
>
>  has anyone worked with copper tubing before?  anyone out there a
>  plumber/artist/gardener?  if you can give me some tips on working (bending
>  and joining) it, i'd be very grateful if you could email me....
>   >>
>
> I'm glad to see this question come up.
>
> I'd like to know about this, too. Furthermore, there was, I am almost certain,
> an article four or five years ago in FINE GARDENING on constructing a trellis
> from copper using liquid nails--yes, liquid nails--to join it and I have been
> unable to refind this article and would appreciate if somone with a continuous
> run might oblige with the volume and page numbers so I can get hold of another
> copy. Please.
>
> Anner Whitehead, Richmond,VA
> Henry Hall  Henryanner@aol.com
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