Jana Freiband - Crafting With Copper: 27 Creative Projects for Home & Garden by Jana Freiband

27 CREATIVE PROJECTS FOR HOME & GARDEN

Jana Freiband

Copyright 2007, 2011

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Editor: Jennifer Gehlhar

Creative Director: Michele Lanci-Altomare
Senior Design Manager: Brad Springer
Design Managers: Jon Simpson, Mary Rohl

Director of Photography: Tim Himsel
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Photo Coordinators: Julie Caruso, Joanne Wawra
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Production Managers: Laura Hokkanen, Linda Halls

Author:Jana Freiband

Page Layout Artist:Tanya Filitz
Illustrator: Earl Slack

Cover Image Photo: Steve Galvin

Digital edition: 978-1-61673-336-0
Softcover edition: 978-1-58923-309-6

Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Freiband, Jana,

Crafting with copper : 27 creative projects for home & garden / Jana Freiband.

p. cm.

Summary: Introduces readers to creative metal work and gives complete

plans and directions for 27 easy-to-build projects for the home and
garden--Provided by publisher.

Includes index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-58923-309-6 (soft cover)

ISBN-10: 1-58923-309-3 (soft cover)

Digital edition: 978-1-58923-309-6

1. Copperwork. I. Title.

TT250.F74 2007

739.511--dc22

2006036863

PROJECTS

A 1920s copper and brass coat tree stands near the front door of my home. I inherited it from my father. Over the years it hung countless numbers of coats and hats, but it also became worn and tarnished. So a few years back I decided to refinish it to its original shining copper tones that draw attention to its graceful design and ornamental details. This project became my introduction to working with copper. And I found that I loved the material. So I took care to learn more about it and how to work with it. I completed the restoration of the coat rack, and now it proudly holds a new generation of coats. But in the process of the coat rack project, I embarked on a much longer journey into the wonderland of copper.

A bit of history: Copper crafting follows the path of 60 centuries of copper use, beginning with mans first luminous handful of green ore taken from the surface of the earth. The discovery of fabricated copper objects can be traced as far back as 8700 B.C., making it one of the first metals known to man. The second millennium B.C. moved copper into a new age, when it was combined with tin to create bronze alloys. This resulted in a booming trade involving primarily weapons of warfare, tools, vessels, ornaments and statuettes that were shipped from Asia to Europe and the Americas. Coppers next evolution led to our modern uses of copper, with the combination of copper and zinc to form brass. The combination of strength and durability of copper, bronze and brass has sustained their uses until the present day.

Reflecting on coppers rich history, we can see how its use in our modern world extends into every area of our lives. Hidden from view, copper piping conducts water and cools and heats our homes. Inside electronic devices, copper wire and connectors carry our communications worldwide. Transportation relies on the electrical connections, dependability, and conductibility of copper. Our foods are produced with a balance of the element copper in our soil for better nutrition and sustainability. In medicine, treatments for wounds, headaches, heart disease, and cancer contain compounds of copper. Climate control, solar energy and reusability are other benefits that can be achieved with copper. Ionized copper is even used to help sanitize our swimming pools.

Did You Know: The English word copper is an
anglicized form derived from the
Latin cyprium, relating to the origin of metal
from the Greek island of Cyprus.

For decorating indoors and outdoors, copper introduces usefulness, elegance, and endurance. Copper as a decorative building material is easily obtained and is reusable. Simple forms with little ornamentation show off coppers natural beauty in every design. Most projects can easily be made within a few hours time. The design ideas are aimed at creating unique objects that represent an individual artistic effort. Each project will give a new appreciation for the versatility of copper and its endless possibilities.

There is a deep satisfaction and sense of accomplishment in creating decorative and functional crafts. The true reward comes from the knowledge that each craft you create leads to an endless variety of design ideas. Design ideas are where you find them, from a decorative border in the daily newspaper to a design motif you see on a rug in your own living room. Make a design notebook, save cutouts and photos, or make quick sketches of interesting design ideas. Whether you continue with copper alone or introduce new media, the experience of designing and crafting will provide gratifying results.

Ready to begin your own discovery of copper? We suggest reading through all step-by-step instructions, added hints and suggestions for variations to gain familiarity with the design concepts and working process. Familiarize yourself with the tools and techniques you will need to use. But most of all, enjoy the creative process of crafting with copper. Bring warmth, color and design into your home and garden, as crafting with copper lets your artistic expression shine.

~ Jana Freiband

This cherished coat tree from her childhood played a big role in author Jana Freibands affection for copper

Traditional techniques used to install copper supply plumbing can easily be translated to crafting with copper (but when youre making shelves and other decorative items you dont have to worry about making watertight connections!). Nontraditional bending and shaping techniques are unique to crafting and take advantage of the many desirable qualities of this malleable metal.

You dont need all of these tools to make copper accessories and furnishings. But for your reference, the above tools appear at least once in this book. A) utility knife; B) C-clamp; C) Spring clamp; D) solderless copper bonding compound; E) compass; F) tape measure; G) cordless drill/driver; H) hacksaw; I) tubing cutter; J, K) valve flaring tools; L) painters tape; M) ball peen hammer; N) Soft-head hammer; O) Nailset; P) awl; Q) Steel rule; R) phillips screwdriver; S) flathead screwdriver; T) file; U) torch striker; V) solder; W) flux; X) bolt cutter; Y) side cutters; Z) aviation snips (straight cut); AA) aviation snips (left cut); BB) channel-type pliers; CC) locking pliers; DD) needlenose pliers; EE) pop rivet gun; FF) propane torch.