Has anybody seen any projects, job-sites…….., where copper pipe was tied into the design in a creative way – practical?, functional?, Aesthetically pleasing? Improv. Humorists, STEP RIGHT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chipper 3/18/04
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ballusters, garden art, sprinklers, arbors.............curtain rods, down lite stems..............plumbing, nah-that's been done already.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I used flexible 3/8ths twisted around a 6x6 posts for purchase for plants to grab and grow up to cover the pergola. (also tied it into the steel pergola as a ground rod for lightning) serves double duty. Seen the rigid kind soldered and used for plants many times. Tomato stands come to mind. I would have used that but welded steel scrap was quicker for that application.
I built a handrail for my staircase from 1 1/2" copper, looks cool polished and coated.
bake
What's the best finish to cover the polished copper to keep the shine?
Poly or lacquerLife is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
I was hoping for a trade name.
Heard reports of some stuff discoloring when others wouldn't.
Put in a call for Goldhiller.... or RW after he gets out of ICU...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Chrome.
What's the best finish to cover the polished copper to keep the shine?
I used an automotive clear coat, after finding lacquers that I tried had a short lifespan. Going to depend a bit on application. When Baldwin figured out how to cook tarnishless brass my life got easier. The clear coat, left over from painting my wife's van, went on the copper I sheathed our exterior doors with. Holding up great to date.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I built a bamboo fence with upper and lower slots made of 2x6 hung between 6x6 posts.
Bamboo is vertically freestanding in the slots.
In the lower slots, I used 1" heavy gauge copper piping to support the bamboo off the ground and allow water to drain through.
Chose copper mainly for its rot resistant properties.
I have no idea if it's helping prolong the useful life of the bamboo poles.
"What's the best finish to cover the polished copper to keep the shine?"
Rez,
What's the application? Interior with no moisture and little chance of wear, acrylic lacquer 'cause it's a breeze to apply (with a gun). Outdoors, Catalyzed urethane (not poly), which if you don't have the proper safety equipment, don't even think about using.
I used automotive lacquer, 3 coats, lotsa sanding inbetween. Hope it lasts a while (only been up for 1 year)
My sons grubby paws will probably wear it down so I made it to come apart easy.
"I used automotive lacquer, 3 coats, lotsa sanding inbetween."
Bake,
How come you had to sand? With the right thinner, acrylic lacquer lays down like glass.
Jon
Fanatic I guess, wanted a deep gloss. Used 1800 and 2000 grit autmotive wet/dry sandpaper. ;)
bake
"I built a handrail for my staircase "
Visited some hippies in a hay-bail house on the Olympic Peninsula. To get a patina on their copper pipe handrail, they buried it in smoldering house manure. Gave it a mottled brown-grey finish which they then put clear finish on.David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
>> smoldering house manure.
1sr reaction: Man, thass some bad sh*t!
2nd reaction: Oh, you meant really organic house building.
My typo. Should have been, "smoldering horse manure" as you deduced.
Yeah, they were pretty back to earth - who needs indoor plumbing - braided armpit hair, etc.David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
copper pipe, IMR4350, cannon fuse . . .
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
SR 4756 burns faster -- greater muzzle velocity in shorter tube.
I know there's some people here who have made cool little pipes out of plumber's fittings.I did too in another phase of my life.
wind chimes
I made trim for the inside of a skylight well last yr. with the odd ball sheetrock and bad framing..it would have been next to impossible to make it look good with wood..so 3/4" pipe and elbows did the trick..put it together, drilled a few holes and nailed it up..it was in two bathrooms, one had a green CT and tile accents..ought to be cool when it gets patina.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
A buddy of mine used it as conduit for the stereo on his sail boat - looks great.
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability
Wierd..... this place is just wierd....
Last week the weather here in CA central, was over 80* during the day... and My three yr old was having some real challenges getting the screen door open and closed.
Yesterday I just put the two handles on the screen door I made up, out of 1/2 copper pipe.
I do wish that the connectors were something other than modified T's
Adam
I'll throw some picts in when I get home if anybody wants to see..... just don't make fun of the soldering.....
i think a year or two back someone posted pictures of a wine rack...
thought it was pretty cool looking... if i recall, it consisted of a bunch of T fittings, and the neck of the wine bottle was slid into the T
the archives might turn up something...
I figured every one should know how to solder copper pipe. I bought some rigid tube and a collection of T's, slip joints, angles, etc... and had my kids make little sprinklers by our artesian well for the birds to sit on, drink and bathe. The birds do use it and my kids learned something that they may never use but should never forget how to do.
I saw some shots of 4" type K pipe rip cut in half and used as half round rain gutters. Sounds like it should be just about invulnerable to ladder damage. I'm considering doing that, but I'm not sure how to rip that expensive pipe.
--J.S.
BTDT..a bandsaw with a VEE block jig and a vane sticking up to keep the pipe from rotating..the vane needs to be behind the blade and the same thinness as the kerf..I used a hunk of road sign alum, beltsanded to thinness. Same set up works with PVC too. A bi-mtal blade ( not a metalcutting blade) worked well..but if ya have slow speed and a metal blade that'll do.
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Bandsaw. Table extensions front and back. Clamp a stick on it so you can hold a level on it for a straight cut. Adjusting the fence carefully for drift will pay off. Check your blade catalog; you may want a negative rake tooth for cutting copper.
Actually, it might be easier to get two straight cuts by clamping the pipe in a jig and cutting it with a skilsaw against a fence. Shove some wooden plugs down the bore to keep the clamps from pushing it out of round.
Not having a bandsaw, the skilsaw idea looks more doable to me. What kind of blade should I use, where can I get one?
Thanks --
-- J.S.
I believe there are several makers who have blades specified for cutting nonferrous metals. Look on the manufacturers' web sites. Couldn't hurt to look at the McMaster-Carr web site. (Never hurts to look at the McMaster-Carr web site, except in your wallet.)
The main thing you want is a zero rake or negative rake tooth, because copper can be grabby to cut. Given a choice, I'd go for thin kerf.
I've heard milk recommended as the lubricant of choice for machining copper, but can't vouch for it personally. Probably whole milk, since that advice dates from before there were a dozen different grades of milk at the store.
i saw a syphon pump made out of a short piece of 1/2" copper pipe with a marble inside, and a "V" groove crimped into either end of the marble to keep it in place. on one side the crimp was right at the edge, but on the other side it was in about an inch from the edge and a piece of clear plastic tubing was slid on up to the crimp. the plastic tubing is the right size to slide right into a standard garden hose to lengthen the syphon hose.
i saw this incredible gadget at a car show, and of course had to buy one. how it works is you insert the copper with marble inside end into a liquid, then just proceed to gently shake up and down while keeping immersed. not only does the marble going back and forth start the syphon, but it also supercharges the whole process, and just sucks the water right out of a 5 gallon bucket in just a few seconds with the finish just slurping up the last few drops..... really incredible! obviously the other end of the hose has to be lower than from where you are syphoning, it won't pump uphill, but it does really speed up downhill flow.
one could transfer 55 gallon barrels of fluid with this thing in just minutes. and it is made from a standard piece of 1/2" copper tubing.
thats how the home brew gets from fermenter to bottling bucket..cool little invention.
you can buy em at Lowes.plumbing section. Mine is all food grade parts, and able to be sterilized..very important.
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I used pipe to make a table. We will see if the file shows up
used a piece of 12'x 4"(polished it up from being a old waste /vent ) to use as a ridge cap on a standing seam roof return the end that hung over the gable notched in for the standing seam's scored a coupla points w/ the architect who by the by took credit it for it..... Ah well nothing new there , ....bear
Hey Chipper,
I built some copper pipe frames for tomato plants with my sister in law. Got the design out of a magazine. The tops were bent into a perfect radius by bending them around a circular table top. Went together real easy and looks good.
Cork in Chicago
Made a wreath out of 3/8 soft copper bent aroung a spare tire. Wrapped with metallic ribbon and mini christmas lights. Hung it over a brick fireplace and it sparkled. You don't want to get near it when it's plugged in thinking that you might get electricuted.
here are the racks made out of 3/4 in pipe . for my wifes stained glass display. we have added two corner knockdown wooden shelves sence picture has been taken. she uses it for art shows we do.
I seen a few Copper roof racks drive by.
I've made heat exchangers for backpacking hot tubs out of copper pipe. Usually just one layer of 1/2" pipe winding back and forth below the automotive radiator. The 250,000 BTU/hour flame was too hot for the radiator direct. Do not let it run out of water!