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Q&As since 1989


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Making Copper Weather Vanes

I attended a class in in Memphis, Tennessee to learn how to make copper weather vanes. I loved it and enjoyed working with the copper...annealing, hammering, and soldering. I made a copper pig which had a brass pipe flattened on one end and inserted on the bottom of the pig and soldered it together. I also soldered a small solid brass rod wound around a drill bit to curl it to make the tail. Then we put it in an acid of some sort to clean it and then rubbed something on it to make it look aged. Those who taught the class told us we could easily pick up the needed supplies at the local lumber yard.

I must live in hicksville where no one has ever heard of what I am looking for...like rolls of copper flashing that can be cut to make objects out of patterns, the solid brass heavy gauge rod or wire about as big as a nail you would use to nail two 2 X 4's together (the ones with a flat head on top) {Is that what they call a 10-penny nail?}. Sorry, I don't know how else to describe the size. I also need to know what kind of acid to buy to clean the copper and what to put on it to turn it kind of green and an aged look. Any help of any kind you can give me so I can continue a craft I loved would certainly be appreciated.

Can anyone come to my aid?

Patsy S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Seminole, Texas
2002

I am also looking for copper flashing. Did you ever find it?

Jennifer Coffee
- Waco, Texas
2004

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Flashing is typically 16 oz and runs about $4.50 per sq ft plus shipping.

I would also like information on soldering copper - what's the trick to not building so much heat into the metal?

Chris Alley
- proctorville, Ohio
2005