How to Raise a Thick Copper Bowl
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- Опубліковано 20 жов 2024
- Sometimes I get questions about forging copper - and while yes, I have the ability to melt copper down, I often use the forge for raising copper (chasing, some often say as well) bowls. You have to be careful not to overheat it, but also to make sure it doesn't crack.
I used a blank of .060 thick copper for this particular project, if that helps!
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You are actually "sinking," which is the first step of the "raising" process. "Chasing" is more of a chiseling process. True raising is hammering on the piece /over/ a stake, as opposed to down into a depression. I'm not sure if I've explained it right, but i hope this helps!
Thanks! I actually was taught the term "raising" by the old tinsmith I apprenticed under for doing this process. He's now in his mid70s and maybe the terms get mixed up over time. I've also seen it called "dishing" instead of "sinking" - I guess it just goes to show how language and processes can change or shift over time?
As a note you could also quench the copper after you anneal it in water to make handling it way easier. Copper doesn't harden in the quench like steel does.
Thank you for the tip! I just find it goes way faster to keep it hot the whole time. :)
Love the channel and videos
Thank you so so much! I appreciate it!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!
Thank you so much!!!!!
You are sinking not raising as someone else mentioned. Sinking does make the sides stand up because you are pushing the center down by stretching the material away from the edge inside the vessel you’re making. Raising is done from the outside by compressing, gathering or shrinking the material and as you shrink the piece from the center to the edge it raises the sides because the circumference is getting smaller.
The circumference of what you are making will be the same as what you started with or possibly larger if you hammer all the way to the edge. It will also be the same thickness or thinner than the .060 you started with, much thinner in the lower portion of the bowl where most of the stretching happened. When I raise a piece the starting edge will have a smaller circumference when done and it will be thicker.
Also mentioned was not needing to hot work sheet copper. Any non-ferrous sheet metal that can be annealed can be cold worked making control much easier.
Hope this helps
Lol - some people say it is "chasing" others say "sinking" and Bob the master tinsmith I apprenticed under for 8 years called this "raising". I will have to try the quenching - I just feel like keeping it hot will move the crystal structure faster than cooling it in between. Always fun to try!
Technically speaking, you have "sunk" a copper bowl. Sorry, but you have not done any traditional raising or angle raising. A bit misleading. Also, chasing and raising are not interchangeable terms or techniques.
Thanks; sorry for any misleading, it is not done on purpose! I actually was taught the term "raising" for this method by the old tinsmith I apprenticed under for 10 years - we would do this on a small scale for copper mug lids and he'd say "go raise the lid" and I'd do this exact process. After doing some research based on the comments here, it looks like what I'm doing in this video could also be called "dishing" instead of "sinking" as well. So now I don't know what to think! lol! Or maybe the words are all interchangeable?? :)
Coupla things; copper is the softest metal you can beat on , get a smaller shorter hammer and shorter tongs . You need to get those elbows lower than your shoulders or you wont have the energy to finish the bowl.
❤
Ok now let's see you chase it into a cup/chalice.
I actually used a tree stump with a smaller bowl shape carved out, easy to do with a air-chisel and disc sander.
My brass chalice started with a disc about that size and thickness. I used a torch not a kiln to anneal.
Once you raise it a few inches you're gonna need another... torch-kiln? Is that what that is?
Chasing verse raising.
Chasing is done from the front of the piece, and repoussé is done from the back. If you can see tool marks on the front it was chased.
Pitch pots are used for repoussé, and chasing to back up the material while it is being formed with the tools.
Dishing, like you did is chasing. When it would move from initial form like you did, then you could take it to the stake, or you could hold your piece with kiln gloves and work the walls higher on a wood dish.
We got a good wide tree stump. Use the center heartwood. No worry burning the wood, dip it in water, then you are blacksmithing. lol
Thank you for all of this! It's so awesome to have all the info on the channel for people to read/see/learn!!
Ótimo sistema este, a moldagem é mais rápida, eu faria recozendo e esfriando em água, parabéns muito bom trabalho.
Muito bom, obrigado!
Technically you sunk this bowl, Raising refers to hammering over a stake, not into a form. Chasing adds detail to the outside of a vessel filled with pitch or wax.
Cool! Thanks for letting me know your take on the terms - I guess I'm used to saying "raise" as that is what I heard for 9 years - and what the master tinsmith calls it - he says we "raise" a lid. I've never heard any of the tin and coppersmiths use the term "raise" when hammering over our stakes at all - I wonder if there are different terms between smiths? For instance, we have chasing hammers we use to create details and texture by hammering...but we NEVER use pitch or wax in copper smithing. So maybe chase means something different with copper smithing vs blacksmithing, too? The definition I've found of chasing via different institutions (so this is not mine) is: "A metalwork technique used to create a surface design or texture. The metal is worked on the front by hammering with punches that depress the metal surface." - but again, I betcha each smithing technique has different terms. I've noticed that a bunch over the years. Always fun to share and compare! :) :) :)
Yeah, that's what I learned decades ago as well... chasing on the reverse of repousse, and sinking from the inside and raising from the outside. Also, I was struck by why we wouldn't quench the annealed copper... Unlike steel and iron, which become brittle upon quenching, copper, brass, silver and the like stay malleable and harden after repeated contact. Certainly would be safer! Oh, and I also was taught to use the old sand bags, wooden forms and a bossing or rounded tinsmens mallet for sinking.
Still, I love this channel and everything you do, Sarah! Many thanks! ❤
Yes, what you did was sinking. Usually one starts by sinking then raise over a stake.
And yes we do use pitch in coppersmithing to do repousse or chasing or even to do some different shapes on a copper vessel.
Love your channel, keep on the good work.
Also usually we use a wood mallet over a sinking stump made out of wood and work with anealled cold copper.
I haven't had any formal training on this aspect - just what I've learned on my own, as Bob doesn't to much of this work. I so appreciate always all the comments and learning provided on here!