painting the logs

[mistinthewoods]

Hey all,
I know this may be outside the realm of expertise of most responders in this forum but I'm gonna ask anyway.
I've been making copper pipe mods for myself, family and friends lately and I'm dressing them up with wood veneers and paint.
I'm having a problem with getting the paint to adhere to the copper. So far I've tried roughing the surface up with sandpaper and using a metal primer. It still chips off pretty easy as if the primer doesn't have a good bond.
I don't know if anyone here knows a good solution but I thought it might be worth inquiring.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Mist, copper does some wonderful things when heat/flame is applied to it. A coat of Polyurethane will help to protect it. Also, different chemicals can be applied to it and then heated to help with coloring. Copper can be wonderful with a natural green verdigris or distressed "Steam Punk" look.

If you have a local powder coating finishing place, ask if they can heat them with a clear powder coating (just enough to melt the coating) which will give the copper the great rainbow coloring and seal it. The business should know about this. No idea how expensive it is.

 

[nicotime]

Sand it then clean it with denatured alcohol. ABSOLUTELY NO finger prints or anything to touch it after that or nothing will stick. Then you need a Self-Etching Primer and then apply one or two coats of Urethane Primer on top of that, then your color coat. Copper oxidizes extremely fast thats why paint doesnt want to stick to it. You could use lead based paint like they did in the old days too...acts like the lead in solder...but that is NOT advisable.

 

[mistinthewoods]

Thanks for the quick replies folks!
Helen, I don't know why I didn't think of powder coating. There's a local iron sculptor that I've done shows with who has a lot of his stuff powder coated. I'm gonna look into it.
It's just the end caps that I'm concerned with. The bodies are laminated with decorative wood veneers. My wife and son are trying to talk me into marketing these things (since there seems to be no market for my furniture in Michigan) but that would take some serious "looking into".

 

[mistinthewoods]

Nicotime, you got me thinkin' about patinas. Copper patina is indeed beautiful, it'd be cheaper, I could do it myself and the natural look would be in keeping with the wooden veneers.
Thanks! Asking you guys was a good idea!

 

[Rocketman]

ah man,
I've got some veneers coming from ebay.

Thought I had a neat idea.

Figured a 8 segment rosewood/ebony would look good against copper.
(or plated )

Rocket

 

[mistinthewoods]

ah man,
I've got some veneers coming from ebay.

Thought I had a neat idea.

Figured a 8 segment rosewood/ebony would look good against copper.
(or plated )

Rocket

It would!
I've been dinkin' around with marquetry lately but I haven't come up with a design I like in a cylindrical format. Marquetry is a little time consuming too and I am not good at keeping things simple.

 

[mistinthewoods]

I'll post a picture of my first veneered Log later today if I can figure out how to post pics (never done it. Help?).
I just re- sprayed the end caps a little while ago (I know it won't last but I wanted a pic of how it SHOULD look.
........Oh! I just noticed the "insert image" button. That was a tough one.

 

[Rocketman]

Time consuming? does that matter?
do a search on "fret wire", segment separators?

oh, this could get bad

Rocket


under post window "Go Advance" The in the tool bar a paper clip.
Browse, upload, don't forget to save.
Server software will reduce your image to 20kb jpg.

 

[mistinthewoods]

Rocket, PMed ya.
"Time consuming" only matters when and IF this thing goes commercial. (the IF should be bigger)
I've seen some of your stuff. Seems like you devote some time to this (understatement).

 

[Rocketman]

Rocket, PMed ya.

Did ya click submit?

 

[mistinthewoods]

Hey! The mailman just came up to my door with a package. My 60mg juice from "My Freedom Smokes" must be here! Looks like I'll be mixing up some juice later. Gotta see what flavors I got.

 

[mistinthewoods]

Did ya click submit?

I thought I did?!?
Well, I'll just tell ya here.
Don't know if you know this but wood veneer is too brittle to just wrap around a 3/4" pipe. Ebony is really hard and brittle. I built a steam chamber to soften my veneers so I could shape them into a cylinder first.
I'd be happy to go into more detail if you want.

 

[Rocketman]

ha,
waiting on same thing, Oooo Oooo

 

[Rocketman]

Yeah, but 8 0.4" strips, steamed to 3" dia, then 2" etc.
Did it with some 0.025 Zebra.
But I will come to the furniture guy for guidance.
Go check your juice

 

[Fritchard]

If the pieces are small enough, you could probably do your own powder coating with a toaster oven.

Riser's Powder Coating Trials

 

[Rocketman]

If the pieces are small enough, you could probably do your own powder coating with a toaster oven.

Riser's Powder Coating Trials

oh this is gonna get bad, hehe

I've done some brush plating but the piece has to be really good looking or every flaw shows.

and my 500ml might be here this afternoon.


(and maybe just reserve the ebony for something else)

 

[mistinthewoods]

Went out to the shop for a few. I guess I don't know how to post a pic from my computer. If I click "insert image" it asks for a url. Can anybody school a dummy?

 

[mistinthewoods]

Hey Frichard, how much does that powder coat gun cost? Would a pancake compressor work with it?

 

[Fritchard]

Hey Frichard, how much does that powder coat gun cost? Would a pancake compressor work with it?

No compressor required. I can't find it on Sears's crappy site but here's a link to an Ebay auction: Craftsman Powder Coating Gun System - NEW IN BOX 17288 - eBay (item 400111060546 end time Mar-31-10 19:40:18 PDT)

I have heard the Craftsman ones are decent.

Here's one from HF that I know nothing about, but it does require a compressor: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices