How To Shape Copper Sheet

Work from the outside edges in while rotating the disc.

How to shape copper sheet.

Purchase a copper sheet appropriate to the specifications of your job. Copper sheeting comes in thicknesses ranging from very thin copper foil to thick copper plate. Select a copper sheet that is as thin as possible. 1 4 mil is slightly thicker than the 1 mil.

1 4 mil copper foil. It can also be shaped by hand if. Traditional techniques involve cutting out copper sheet to form the sidewall forming it to cylindrical shape and making a joint. Using the edge of your workbench a length of wood two clamps and a mallet you can fashion a rudimentary bending brake.

Measure the dimensions needed with tape measure. The unit of measurement used to identify the thickness of a sheet of copper varies e g gauge mil ounces per square foot inches millimeters. Steps and tools for simple planishing of copper. When you do this draw a circle pattern on a piece of paper.

Choose a soft temper of copper sheet to allow you to hammer copper more easily. Before you start cutting i would recommend taping couple of your major fingers. Below is a quick guide to help you determine which thickness best suits the needs of your project. Easily remove hammer or mallet marks from a formed copper bowl.

Remove paper and adhesive residue then polish the copper faces with 400 grit wet dry sandpaper. Centerpunch all drill hole marks on the patterns smooth all burrs and refine the edges with abrasives or files. You can also cut it with scissors and wrinkle it easily. One way you can form the blank is to take a round disc of sheet metal and use a hammer to make a depression.

You can use barkeepers powdered cleaner bon ami is similar or if you want to go all natural baking soda lemon juice and dish liquid work pretty good. Draw your shapes you want to cut onto copper with pencil or a sharpie marker. Next place the wood parallel and slightly behind the bending line. Lay out copper sheet on a flat surface large enough to provide support beneath the entire surface of the sheet.

You can use it in pretty much the same way as the 1 mil copper sheet however it is. I would not use this for metal embossing. The 1 mil copper sheet will not hold its own shape without something behind it to reinforce it. The same techniques can be used for any copp.

Clamp the wood on top of the metal to the workbench. Get approximately 2 feet about 61 cm more. Copper is soft enough to cut on a bandsaw using a generalpurpose fine tooth blade. Mark a bend line and place the sheet metal on the edge of your bench.

Fixed to the copper sheet with spray adhesive.