Reclaimed Copper (WIP)

**The Bijou Dragon** · 04-09-2009, 04:17 PM

I never saw the appeal on heaving huge dirty pieces of copper and brass home to make into jewellery, it's just never been my thing despite the fact I am a self-sufficient, tree hugging eco-friendly kinda gal!

Well... that was until Mr Dragon cut off a piece of the end of some copper pipe he was using last night and my creativeness went ballistic!

I actually love the colour of clean, shiny copper so I had a play about with a piece which led me onto making this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stripyp...ks/3886747829/

It's not finished yet but it will be soon and it's set me onto a path of discovery to see what I can create using reclaimed metals.

**MuranoSilver** · 04-09-2009, 04:30 PM

See soon you'll be taking Peters advice and salvaging copper all over the place...What will the new range be called?? Perhaps "Abode" in honour of your dads shed

**The Bijou Dragon** · 04-09-2009, 05:35 PM

Abode is cool... I don't think 'SHED' would cut it...

Can you imagine showing it off... "and this is my shed range" heehee

**Charlotte** · 04-09-2009, 06:58 PM

Copper is so good to work with, the only thing I don't like is the silver solder splotches. I love using brass too even though its a bit tougher, only problem is it tarnishes so quickly

**The Bijou Dragon** · 04-09-2009, 07:05 PM

Yeah I'm going to be trying to avoid anything that needs soldering, it's going to be a whole new challenge I think

**agent_44** · 04-09-2009, 08:59 PM

Shiny new copper looks lovely

, I like your design!

**kymbi** · 05-09-2009, 01:39 AM

I love the colour of copper and like your use of reclaimed pipe ~ I like to play with mixed metals and my current fav is copper with fine silver.....one goes dark as it oxidises and the other stays nice and bright.

**The Dragon** · 05-09-2009, 07:29 AM

Silly question I know ... but is there anyway of slowing down the oxidising process for copper? What sort of effect would it have on skin etc? I love the look of it, just a little concerned about using it in jewellery.

Now I've seen your beautiful piece I want to have a go.

**Di Sandland** · 05-09-2009, 08:29 AM

George and I had a short discussion about this and decided there might be some mileage in an application of microcrystalline wax (Renaissance). It would effectively keep the air out, which is what causes the oxidisation. It also gives a beautiful finish and a very little goes a very long way.

**MuranoSilver** · 05-09-2009, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by The Dragon

Silly question I know ... but is there anyway of slowing down the oxidising process for copper? What sort of effect would it have on skin etc? I love the look of it, just a little concerned about using it in jewellery.

Now I've seen your beautiful piece I want to have a go.

I have acidic skin so copper greens on me really quickly...but I do love mixed metals...I'm planning some silver backed pieces with bronze on the top so the silver keeps the bronze away from the skin.
The wax that George and Di have mentioned defiantely works