Anyone have experience fabricating copper?

[mdivincentis]

Hey all-

I'm about to get into some copper projects (TIG welding Oo. , forging, etc... )



Anybody played with this stuff before?





-Matt

 

[TurboTweaker]

i weld copper/nickel at work a few days a week. all i have too say is wear a resparator if you are going to grind! oh and stay out of the fumes.



The Fat Kid

Andy

 

[sstefanini]

Copper will TIG fine. If your welding thick material they use an argon/helium mix as it creates a hotter arc and fights the coppers heat transfer ability. I've done alot of pipe brazing on copper and it gets SOFT and elastic after it cools down. I don't know what you'd use for filler material as I've only fused it together on straight polarity.

 

[nickleinonen]

I don't know what you'd use for filler material as I've only fused it together on straight polarity.

i have heard that solid copper electrical wire will work well. try it with a piece of 14/2 romex with the ground wire [already exposed]

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I've TIG'd copper a few times just messing around.

Its easy to fusion weld soft copper tubing with no filler. Like Nick said - just use some Romex if you need filler.



Matt

 

[Coalsmoke]

also, when forging copper, work it cold. Copper work hardens IIRC, which means you'll want to heat it up and quench it in water to soften it (called annealing). Sounds backwards, and it is compared to steel, but copper, silver, etc are different animals in themselves. Anneal often when forging to avoid splitting.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Here's a shot of me TIG welding soft copper tubing...



Matt



On Edit: Don't worry... there's a small 'weep hole' in the tube so that it doesn't build up pressure.

 

[TurboTweaker]

Matt thats the fun part when 2x4 tubing turns to 3" round tubing :-laf



The Fat Kid

Andy



p. s. i have never done that