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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2007-11-23, 12:08am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 08, 2006
Location: Palmdale, California
Posts: 7,589
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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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Irene
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2007-11-23, 12:35am
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T.J. made me do it
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Join Date: May 09, 2007
Location: Tahoe-Douglas, NV
Posts: 1,120
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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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2007-11-23, 1:30am
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I need more boro stuff
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Join Date: May 10, 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,672
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Chainmaille
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Yunita
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2007-11-23, 1:48am
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I speak Murrini!
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Join Date: Oct 12, 2006
Location: In a Glass House, CA
Posts: 9,170
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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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2007-11-23, 3:22am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 08, 2006
Location: Palmdale, California
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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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Irene
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2007-11-23, 4:20am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 01, 2006
Location: Nth NSW, Australia
Posts: 879
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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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2007-11-23, 5:15am
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Knob Creek Glass
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Join Date: Aug 12, 2005
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 994
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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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2007-11-23, 5:24am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 28, 2006
Location: New England
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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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2007-11-23, 6:37am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 01, 2007
Location: Greenville, SC
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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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2007-11-23, 3:25pm
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geekitude on two wheels
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Join Date: Aug 07, 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 678
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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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2007-11-23, 3:36pm
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Know-it-all Megalomaniac
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Join Date: Oct 22, 2005
Location: Californication
Posts: 6,282
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You can do anything with copper that you can with Silver.
Copper is yummy....
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Copyright holder on round beads
Get your copy of the new Lampwork Etc. Tutorials and Tips Book
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2007-11-23, 4:34pm
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Born Facing Left
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Join Date: Jun 13, 2005
Location: 1865 Miles Southeast of Dutch Harbor
Posts: 2,829
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen Hardy
You can do anything with copper that you can with Silver.
Copper is yummy....
Attachment 50943
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Holy Sh**. That's wonderful!
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Sherry
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2007-11-25, 12:16am
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Hopeless glass addict!
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Join Date: Jan 26, 2006
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnglass
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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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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2007-11-25, 8:23am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 18, 2005
Location: Wyoming
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OMG Karen that is just just .... WOW. words fail me.
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Darleen
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2007-11-25, 8:59am
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Striking-impared...
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Join Date: Jun 13, 2005
Location: Hot 'n Humid SE Florida
Posts: 595
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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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Gail
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2007-11-25, 9:40am
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Member
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2007
Location: Green Valley Lake, CA
Posts: 71
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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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2007-11-25, 8:41pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 08, 2006
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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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2007-11-26, 8:19am
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Senior Member
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Location: Wyoming
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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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Darleen
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2007-11-26, 10:25am
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Senior Member
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Location: Eastern NC.
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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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2007-11-27, 4:07pm
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The Glass Smithy
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Join Date: May 07, 2006
Posts: 1,529
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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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2007-11-27, 4:17pm
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sunscreen me baby
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Exeter, NH
Posts: 17,496
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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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2007-11-28, 2:50am
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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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Irene
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2007-11-28, 4:09am
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Macaw Mamma
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Join Date: Dec 31, 2005
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,777
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OMG... this is magnificent Karen
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen Hardy
You can do anything with copper that you can with Silver.
Copper is yummy....
Attachment 50943
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