[TheForge] Copper plating as an outdoor finish

[Andrew Vida]

On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 12:17:10 -0500, lama <lama@huntbrothers.com> wrote:

> copper is about a zillion times easier to forge than steel.
> you braze it together or tig weld it or even mig weld it with
> special wire and argon. go for it, you'll love it.

	You didn't mention that copper work hardens.  Once copper
	begins to fight the hammer, it's getting nigh time to anneal.
	Do so by heating to dull red heat and either quenching in
	water or allow to air cool.  Quenching seems to produce a
	softer result than air cooling, but if your pieces are
	large, quenching may be impractical.