turning with copper wire

Re: turning with copper wire

Dick Hines

>I use copper and silver wire in my trunings all the time. I cut a cove with a parting tool I have ground down to the size wire I am using and I have also made my own tools for different sizes. I also cut across the rim with a thin saw and add copper or silver wire.

There a couple of things that will get you into trouble. When sanding the wire if you do not have VS on your lathe the wire will become hot and the CA glue will let go. Result is wire whipping all over the place. The other is on bowls with the wire cut across the rim. The trouble here is when you cut the wire off at the rim it is hard to get it cut off flush to the bowl and the result is a saw blade effect. In this case I will wrap sandpaper around a block of wood and SLOWY sand the wire down flush with the rim.

A good tip when glueing wire into bowls is pullthe wire through some 100 grit sandpaper to rough it up so the CA will have a better hold.

Re: turning with copper wire

Dick Hines

>Here is a cocobola bowl with copper wire across the rim.

Re: turning with copper wire

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Hi Dick,

Where are you getting your copper and silver wire? I've seen brass....but not the other two.

Thank you,

Jennifer

Re: turning with copper wire

Fred in NC

>Jennifer, I will not say anything about getting copper wire, especially if I happen to be around the big box store.

As for the silver wire, it can be had from jewelry/silversmithing suppliers, and it is available in a half-round shape, which I think will be more economical, since half of the round wire would be turned away and wasted.

Re: turning with copper wire

john Lucas

>Jennifer

You can get copper wire in several different sizes from your local hardware. Larger sizes come from ground wires from electrical supply houses.

If your interested in adding metal to your turnings you need a catalog from Metalliferous. 212-944-0909. They have all kinds of non ferrous metals including stamped discs and anodized aluminum. Another good place is www.Riogrande.com They have silver, nickel sivler, gold etc.

I don't have a good source for Gold leaf and silver leaf because I can buy it locally but that's fun to work with also.

Turning metal is easy if you use cutting and shear scraping tools. Try not to sand too much or you'll get lumps around the metal because it's so much harder than the wood. You need to sand most metal to at least 600 grit. I think someone already mentioned the problem of heating up the metal and causing the glue to release. Even Epoxy will break free if heated. I sand a little at a time and let everything cool down.

Re: turning with copper wire

Dick Hines

>I get ny copper wire from craft stores. The roll I have says it's silver and it is coated silver over copper. It's soft so I keep using it. It's #20. If you want larger copper just talk to your friendly electrion and he will give you som scrap wire.

The silver is "silver" I use dead soft because it sands will and is easy to work. I get mine form Fire Mountain Gems. I am at work and can't remember their web sight. Check this. www.firemountaingems.com. I will post the correct when I get home if this does not work.

There is a book with information of using wire in turnings and I will post the name also.

Thanks Guys!

Jennifer@Indy.USA

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