Copper can be a wonderful material to work with when creating sculptures and artwork. Its color is warm and lovely and, if subjected to the elements, undergoes an interesting transformation, taking on a patina and becoming an elemental green. When working with copper, it is necessary to know cut and solder it properly, so as to ensure your sculpture will withstand the test of time.
Instructions
1. Cut the copper pipe to the lengths you need when you are making artwork. You can do this in more than one way: with a hack saw or with a copper pipe cutter. The choice of which tool to use is up to you. However, when you use a hack saw, it's a good idea to use a miter box as well, for it will help you to make a nice, clean accurate cut by keeping the saw steady.
2. Clean the copper pipe thoroughly before soldering it. Any impurities could result in the improper join of the copper pipes, which could result in your artwork falling apart. There is more than one way to accomplish this: sandpaper, steel wool, or a wire brush. The amount of impurity or dirt dictates which tool you need to use. After you remove any dirt or build-up, wipe the pipe with a damp rag before continuing.
3. Apply flux or soldering paste with a brush to the pipe and the fitting. Make sure you apply this evenly to the inside and outside of the pipe and fitting.
4. Put the pipe and fitting together and heat it with a propane torch when you solder your copper artwork together. You want to bring up the surface temperature of the pipe and fitting so the solder will melt properly and adhere to them, thus creating an effective join.
5. Hold the solder at the point where the copper pipe and fitting are joined, and allow the solder to melt all the way around it. Reposition the solder to ensure this happens all the way around the pipe and fitting. Doing this carefully and thoroughly means that your copper artwork will last a long time.
6. Use a combination of copper wire and copper tape to secure curving pieces to the straight ones when soldering artwork together. Since you won't always be working with straight pipes, and won't always be able to rely on fittings to put your artwork together, you will need to wrap the tape or wire around both the curled piece and straight piece in your artwork to hold them together.
