Copper leaves

[mechman]

Hi all
I want to make some copper leaves for a water feature,(I 'm not artistified in any way) I made a template out of card 0.3mm thick but thought maybe double that would be better, 0r whatever. a one for chunkolni maybe.

 

[selectedgrub]

I don't know what the question is but make a couple of different sized ones of the same shape.
Have younger leaves too.

 

[mechman]

I don't know what the question is but make a couple of different sized ones of the same shape.
Have younger leaves too.

I was trying to find out if 0.7mm thick copper sheet would be ok for the job or is it to thick or thin?. That's a good Idea about smaller leaves, Thanks.

 

[MattF]

That thickness of copper should be easy enough to work when annealed, without being flimsy. Try a test piece by slitting a short length of copper plumbing pipe along its length and using that. Offhand, I'd guess that is somewhere around that thickness.

 

[KemppiFrog]

And, to get the veins in the leaves, open the vice about 3mm and place the sheet on it. Then wack it with a bolster chisel to swage a groove. Start by running one down the length of the leaf, then run off the angled ones to the edge. Think I have some in the w/shop, so will put up a photo later.

 

[mechman]

And, to get the veins in the leaves, open the vice about 3mm and place the sheet on it. Then wack it with a bolster chisel to swage a groove. Start by running one down the length of the leaf, then run off the angled ones to the edge. Think I have some in the w/shop, so will put up a photo later.

Thanks

 

[outofthefire]

I personally wouldn't do veins that way the lines would be way too straight they want a bit of a curve to them plus the metal will tend to curl up so the bolster will dig in towards the ends. All my metal shaping tools are made from old chisels including bolsters that I buy cheap from car boots and autojumbles then round off there edges to suit. I'd use a dull chisel on either a piece of rubber or wood.