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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

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  #1  
Old 2007-11-23, 12:08am
Reenie Reenie is offline
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Default Copper...what do I do with this???

I found boxes of this stuff. It's copper wire. Some of it is over a ft long. These are about 6 inches or 8 inches and about 2-3mm in diameter.
Can I use this for like copper links and such?
Is this stuff expensive to buy?
My son has tons of it and I thought I'd ask around before figuring out what to do with it.
Thanks
Irene

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  #2  
Old 2007-11-23, 12:35am
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That looks like the pile of copper I rescued from the trash after my shop was built last Spring. It appears to be electrical wire. I asked the contractors why they threw it away and they told me it is too expensive to recycle because it is encased in plastic. Yours looks like it has already been stripped. I haven't yet figured out what to do with mine.

Julie
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  #3  
Old 2007-11-23, 1:30am
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Chainmaille
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  #4  
Old 2007-11-23, 1:48am
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Hi Reenie and Yunita!!!

Well, you absolutely MUST inquire of Sandy (slcuniques)...she will surely have a bunch of wonderful ideas and projects that she would suggest!!! She does such wonderful things with wire, and copper - well, you know it's just destined to be some sort of gorgeous item in no time!!!

I hope you let us know what you come up with!!!

Hugs from here,
DeAnne in Arcadia
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  #5  
Old 2007-11-23, 3:22am
Reenie Reenie is offline
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I wish I knew how to do chainmalle or any kind of wire work.
I'll send Sandy an email and see what she thinks!!!
Irene
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  #6  
Old 2007-11-23, 4:20am
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Use it to chain together random yet colour co-ordinated orphan beads into long necklaces.

They look great!
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  #7  
Old 2007-11-23, 5:15am
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I have seen it in a number of bracelets, used just like silver. It is beautiful. I have a box of such, some not stripped. I wish that I had saved more of it.
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  #8  
Old 2007-11-23, 5:24am
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Make lampwork buttons. Bend the wire (a small piece) into a u-shaped loop with the ends bent to the sides (does this make sense? picture a button). Hold the loop with hemostats and heat the ends. Wrap glass around the ends and shape into a button. Heat thoroughly and put directly into a kiln. Is it Patti Walton that did a tutorial on this? Can't remember. Fun stuff though!
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  #9  
Old 2007-11-23, 6:37am
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Love the button idea! How simple is that? Sometimes the best ideas are the ones I respond to with, "Duh!" Can't wait to try it.
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  #10  
Old 2007-11-23, 3:25pm
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I use my spare copper & beds to make garden stakes, trellises etc. and adorn stuff. Usually I tuck one end of a piece of wire into a bead hole then 'cage' it by wrapping the wire around it. If the hole is big enough, I go back through the bead. If not, I just twisti ti together with one of the wraps. Then I've got a wire wrapped bead with a length of wire on it, ready to be attached to a wreath, candle, light fixture or whatever. I keep meaning to do a chandelier of them with candles for outside. I love copper because it's really easy to work with - if it's too stiff, just anneal it in your kiln with your beads, if it's too soft whack it with a hammer or temper it by dousing it in water after you've heated it in the kiln. It's nice and soft to cut, too. The only down side to it is that it oxidizes so quickly, but that can be nice, too, if you plan for it. have fun! - jen
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  #11  
Old 2007-11-23, 3:36pm
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You can do anything with copper that you can with Silver.
Copper is yummy....

Name:  Karen Hardy - wire pendant.jpg
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  #12  
Old 2007-11-23, 4:34pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen Hardy View Post
You can do anything with copper that you can with Silver.
Copper is yummy....

Attachment 50943
Holy Sh**. That's wonderful!
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  #13  
Old 2007-11-25, 12:16am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnglass View Post
That looks like the pile of copper I rescued from the trash after my shop was built last Spring. It appears to be electrical wire. I asked the contractors why they threw it away and they told me it is too expensive to recycle because it is encased in plastic. Yours looks like it has already been stripped. I haven't yet figured out what to do with mine.

Julie
My husband's uncle tosses old wire on a little fire to burn off the insulation before recycling it. I think I've heard that you can apply copper wire to beads like silver wire...with different results, of course.
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  #14  
Old 2007-11-25, 8:23am
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OMG Karen that is just just .... WOW. words fail me.
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  #15  
Old 2007-11-25, 8:59am
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I love using copper in chainmaille! The only problem being that if I wear it in humid weather it turns green on me. Then figured out that I could dip it in liver of sulfur and get neat colors out of it -- can wear that in humid weather!

Copper is a lot of fun to work with.
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  #16  
Old 2007-11-25, 9:40am
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As a wire artist I work in copper, sterling, and 14kt. What I do is to dip the wire (before or after working the wire) into Future floor polish. If you dip your wire before you work it, be sure to wrap your pliers in masking tape so as not to mar the wire while working it (be sure to let it dry completely); otherwise dip after working the wire. I have tested this method on a wire wrapped cross that hangs off my cell phone - an item that gets a lot of abuse, in and out of the purse, on the table, dropped on the floor of the car, and just plain toying with it with my fingers while someplace and bored. Nothing has marred the coating in four months and it is still bright and shiny. I haven't actually tried dipping the wire first and then working it, so if you do it this way, let me know how it turns out and I'll try to test that way as well.

Well, good luck and DEFINITELY don't toss out the wire. The price of copper has sky rocketed and I heard just last week that a high school football stadium was plundered and destroyed from thieves ripping out all the copper wiring for recycling. Sooo sad

Have fun!
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  #17  
Old 2007-11-25, 8:41pm
Reenie Reenie is offline
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Wow....thanks guys. I tried to bend the little sucker and it's some stiff stuff.
I'll play with it and try your ideas and if I get frustrated, then I'll just post up here and just give the stuff away
I don't seem to have enough hours in the day to make anything but maybe I can practice trying to play with wire first.
Beatiful necklace btw
Irene
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  #18  
Old 2007-11-26, 8:19am
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Well put me at the head of the list if you decide you don't want it!
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  #19  
Old 2007-11-26, 10:25am
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Heres a bracelet I made for the bracelet exchange. Its the first one that I made with copper. Seeing Sandy's beautiful work inspired me.
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  #20  
Old 2007-11-27, 4:07pm
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Jewlie Beads, that is a great looking bracelet! Sandy does exceptional work doesn't she!
I may get over my intimidation and try wire wrap. But with people like you doing such good work, and on the 1st pieces, my intimidation may last a lot longer.
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  #21  
Old 2007-11-27, 4:17pm
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Doesn't it turn red inside of clear glass? What about wrapping it around a mandrel and making beads on it? Makes me want to strip some phone wire just to try it, lol.
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  #22  
Old 2007-11-28, 2:50am
Reenie Reenie is offline
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From that picture...the main copper (not the spiraled) is the size I think of what I got. It's a real bugger to bend. I haven't had time to really play with it yet but at this rate, I never will. I'll definitely let you know when I'm ready to pass it around.
Thanks everyone.
Irene
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  #23  
Old 2007-11-28, 4:09am
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OMG... this is magnificent Karen

Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen Hardy View Post
You can do anything with copper that you can with Silver.
Copper is yummy....

Attachment 50943
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