[Jewelry making - Article 00674] - [Orchid] Copper questions

[Robin Pittman]

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    Hi All! I missed you guys! Well, I am out of "lurkdom" for a minute
    to, once again, call upon the ultimate wisdom of all you experts
    here! (I'm SO grateful for this resource!!!) 

    I make a few things out of copper wire & piping. First of all, I
    have made these purse handles out of 6G copper wire and recently
    bought 4 Gage because I thought it to be heavier and probably more
    strong for purses of larger size. 

    Well, I have found that the small coil-like form on the 4G wire
    (about 1.5 - 2 inches) I make for the ends is a lot harder to form.
    I don't want to distort the wire any more than I have to. Is there a
    way I can make it easier to bend? I am very limited to tools as I
    never really have invested too much. My Dad has a vise, hammers,
    etc... basic home fix-it stuff... so I can get help from him. 

    Can I use heat? if so, could I heat the wire with a regular torch
    and would it discolor the copper? If it does discolor, is it a nice
    color or is it black & yucky? Does it harden after being heated? I
    would appreciate any information or resources available. I would
    also like to put a patina on the copper, but is there a way to do it
    so it will not "rub off"? Can the copper be sealed in any way? (to
    keep a patina AND/OR to keep it shiny) 

    I originally liked my first few purse handles I made, but want to
    keep experimenting with different ideas and such. 

    My dad and I also started making wind chimes with the copper piping
    and I have a design for the part that the pipes hand from that is a
    copper wire form. It needs to be bent into loops and such (about the
    same sizes as the purse handles) and I want to apply what I learn to
    this project. Same goes for the patinization (is the a word?) and
    sealing of the color. 

    I hope you guys/gals here can help. I appreciate this so much, as
    always. 

Blessings,
Robin Pittman


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