Copper pipe bezels, copper pipe charms, and enameling

I have gotten several questions in the last couple of months about it since I have posted picts on FB. If you are not my Facebook friend, you can find the photos on my Facebook page under my name. I will approve you for my friend - just ask.

I do my copper enameling with a butane torch. I don't have a kiln. I don't do it enough to buy a kiln and a kiln is not in my budget right now. It is not hard to do it with a torch. I just set up a tripod with some rebar wire to heat the copper and enamel powder. Here is a very good website with lots of good info, literature, and source for enamel powder. They sell beginner's kits. Don't forget the sifter and holding agent so the powder doesn't fall off. Susan Lenart Kazmer and Richard Salley teach copper enameling classes. If you ever get the chance to take a class with Richard, grab it. He is a great instructor. I have not had a chance to take a class with Jane Salley but she is a wonderful artist.
Here is the website link: http://enameling.com/FAQ.html

I got my tripod set-up from Rio Grande.
http://www.riogrande.com/MemberArea/ProductPage.aspx?assetname=502085&page=GRID&free_text%7c1256438407875=tripod

If also have a pair of copper tongs to use with pickle:
http://www.riogrande.com/MemberArea/ProductPage.aspx?assetname=501017&page=GRID&category%7ccategory_root%7c126=Soldering+Equipment+and+Supplies&first_answer=121

I also bought my soldering pad here:
http://www.riogrande.com/MemberArea/ProductPage.aspx?assetname=502063&page=GRID&free_text%7c1256438945578=soldering+pad

Don't forget your flux and lead-free solder.

From the hardware store, I got my top cutting pliers. They are great for snipping the solder into small bits so that the solder will flow more easily into the crevices when heated.

People have also asked me about a butane torch. That is a personal preference. I can only tell you that I like the ones that are easy for me to hold. I like the ones that self-light - that you click and they light by themselves. I don't like the ones where you have to take a flame to it each time you want to light it. You want the ones that you can easily control the flame. I don't like the ones where you have to hold the trigger to leave the flame on. Your trigger finger gets tired and sore sooner than you think. There are some where there is a knob where you can switch it so you can take your finger off the trigger. Make sure you have an extra can of butane fuel. It goes fast.

Copper Book Necklace kits for sale

These are samples from the mini-workshop I taught last Tuesday. People had no problem making them within the hour and a half timeframe. The copper may look different on each pendant. That is because the patina/oxidizing solution does that depending on how long I leave it in. I used Jax this time and like it much better than other solutions that I have used in the past.

I had so many people ask me if I had any kits left over from my workshop, that I made some more up today. This is it. I don't have enough supplies left to make any more complete kits. Once they are gone, I am done, done, done.

You can get the kit here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13704437

Sheet Metal for the 2x2 metal booklet swap

If you can't find any old signs or something like that, then you can go to basiccopper.com to get some copper sheet. I used the 10 mil. You want it thick enough so it will hold up with other metal pieces on it. 16 mil is a little too thick and harder to cut. They sell scrap packs and smaller sheets. You can always contact them to ask specifically what you need for the swap. You might want to try the copper foil. It is fab!

2x2 metal samples instructions

The one on the left was done using a 5 mil sheet of copper from basiccopper.com. You can find their link in my right column. I bought two charm kits from marcopaper.com. The charm kit is from Wizard - Spellbinders. I got my Wizard from Harriet. Ten Seconds Studio posted an email thingie about how to do this a couple of weeks ago. Email me if you want me to forward it to you. The embossing plate is from Ten Seconds Studio. I think they sell that on their site or you can get that from marcopaper.com, too. The sandwich I made was hard blue plate, black mat, embossing plate with copper sheet on top (taped to plate), two beige mats, and then another hard blue plate. I tried it with one beige mat first but did not get a deep enough impression. Feed the sandwich through the Wizard.

I used Polished Pigments to get the great color on the copper. I am not sure of the red color. I think it was Ginger Peach and I used the Kiwi for the green. Just take a small scoop of each color and put into a small container. Add a few drops of the solution. I used #2 since it is what I had. There is a number made specifically for metal. I let the red color dry a bit before applying the green. I then heat set. I got some bubbles but they settled down and added to the texture of the square. Let cool. Use sanding paper or sanding block to take the paint off the top texture so your embossing shows through. What I really liked about the Polished Pigments was that it really stuck to the copper. I had to sand pretty hard to get it off. It did not "slide" as much as acrylics do without the GAC 200. The Polished Pigments are by Luminarte and are part of the Primary Elements line. I used one of the starter kits. When dried, I took a piece of 2x2 chipboard and used Scrapbook Adhesives Photo Tape to adhere the back of the metal to the chipboard. The tape works really well. It is supposed to be like Super Glue. The only thing is that it could be thicker in width. I mitered the corners. I bent over the sides and glued them down with the tape. Round the edges with your scissors and then sand until smooth.

The one on the right is using a 10 mil piece of copper sheet. I applied a bit of acrylic paint first to give the crackle paint something to hold onto. I used the Tim Holtz Crackle Paint. Some of it did start to flake off. I put a layer of gel medium on top to prevent that. That seemed to do the trick even though it was a tad glossier than I would want it. I used some Sobo and stuck the little metal pieces on while the crackle paint was still wet. I used small metal brads to secure.

I have started some other metal squares using copper sheet, Lumiere paints, and sanding, but they are sitting there to be finished. I will need to wait until things settle down with my sister. I had a few minutes, so I thought I would put the instructions for this up.

The swap is still open. Come to the Mixed Media Art Friends group to come and play.

2x2 metal samples

Just did these two samples for the swap. Not sure if done yet. Just really sleepy right now. Nighty night for now. Instructions to come later. The left one was done with the sandwich thing in my Wizard.

Peek at my latest piece

This is part of my latest piece. Can't show you the whole thing because I submitted it to a magazine. I had to order Frayed Burlap reinkers because of this project.