How to Make a Copper Bowl, Hammering with Rob

Copper by Rob youtube page - / copperbyrob
Make sure to check out my Facebook page, Copper by Rob
/ 148514051886146
Otherwise, try it and let me know how it goes, take a picture of what you make and send it to me.
Rob Barrett
www.cookingfordads.net

[@toroarts]

Rob, I've been working with copper, brass, and iron since I was 5 year old, this ancient art has been passed down for generations in my family. My ancestors are Armenians from Urfa, which is in Southeast Turkey today. I like your zeal in pounding that bowl, so if you want pointers, I'll be happy to give them to you.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Hammering on a sandbag is far easier and allows for much more precision than a roll of duct tape and the wooden table.

[@kimauger4293]

But you've got to give him credit for finding a tool that everyone might have in their home.

[@Erwin-eo7iv]

@@kimauger4293 sand and a bag is bit more common, unless u live in a city

[@ImperatorCaesar22]

Funny seeing you here - do you have a video on this? I've been looking for a way to build an automatic hammer at home

[@smellyrhinostudio]

oooh, thanks for that tip!! I'm about to go to town!

[@Thicctoast69]

You can prevent burrs,or as I call them "alligator teeth", by using your snips the right way. The red handled, should actually go clockwise, and your greens counter. You want your small end of the metal to roll on itself. It keeps your project from kinking.

[@desertmulehunter]

I love the look of copper, you did a real nice job on that bowl with a few simple tools. Thanks for sharing your talent with us!

[@cookingfordads]

you are welcome. thanks for watching

[@shelbymichaels7084]

I agree with the previous commentor. You are very clever in your use of ordinary objects such as duct tape as a dapping tool to create that gorgeous copper bowel. Here I thought you needed a fancy work bench with all the accoutrements and was prepared to buy all that stuff. Thanks. You probably saved me a lot of money. I know a lot of the tutorials from the jewelry companies on youtube are like ads meant to convince newbies like me to buy their fancy tools or whatever. Your organic approach is really ingenious.

[@cookingfordads]

Thanks, it's amazing what you can do with just simple tools

[@mashalitvinenko4423]

Based on your tools, I am very impressed! Looks good and creative 'studio'! Nice work.

[@davejohnson385]

I’m a sheetmetal/hvac guy…. I’m doing this. Pottery is my escape, but I could see this being my meditation for a while. Thanks.

[@cookingfordads]

So cool, let me know how it goes. I'm sure you'll be great

[@suzanneshafer-wilson7325]

As a high school art teacher always looking for ideas, this is perfect! I have a lot of aluminum flashing in a similar gauge (sp?) and you don't need an ANVIL!!!!! Who could afford one for each of the 30 students in my room. Excellent video!

[@cookingfordads]

Thanks so much. check out my copper channel for more copper vids. I've never tried it with aluminum, let me know how it goes.

[@lakenewell]

Thanks for a really useful video. I took a week long class at Sierra Nevada College with a nationally known metalsmith and it was a wonderful class. I learned a lot but he brought very expensive stake and hammers. It would cost a fortune to buy these stakes, even a couple of hammers and stakes would be hundreds of dollars. I love that you made a very nice bowl with things we have on hand. Thanks again

[@rallaa]

That's really cool, Rob. Your sculptures are great.

[@68roofdoctor]

Love it I am an old school tin knocker/ copper smith/ cornice worker and its nice to see things still done by hand and not machine it is the art of the trade

[@calimistyflip5075]

I loved this & the best part was the use of every day tools that are laying around. I'm glad you didn't use an anvil or a fancy work bench. Thank you!!!

[@cookingfordads]

+Misty Sea you bet, thanks for watching. let me know if you make anything.

[@blakesleyk.7166]

Thank you, Rob. Exactly the info i need to start a copper kitchen project!

[@cookingfordads]

+Kate Emery you bet, send me a pic when you're done

[@aeejke]

Thanks for sharing this! I think the use of common tools and the duct tape is great. I am definitely going to try this out.

[@cookingfordads]

+aeejke sure, thanks for watching. If you make anything, post a pic.

[@hannagan]

Rob, That is great! I think I'll set up a bench next my grill and give that a try. i have a few small pieces of copper flashing. Thanks for sharing this

[@plantloverfreya]

That gorgeous Rob, well done!!

[@KlippityOne]

Thanks Brandon...just what I was looking for. Good Job...!

[@markterrano7659]

Great video - thanks for the tips!

[@yessinayachi]

..Sxis

[@dusterdude238]

this was awesome! in our modern day society we have forgotten now our forefathers made things before the event of electricity and fancy tools. and I might add that we all need this knowledge were a major event to occur, that would cause us to be thrust back in those times again. and using this knowledge, those who survived could create a new existence.

[@shoptwoblooms]

This was amazing. I'm used to making smaller 1" to 1.5" circles with my steel dapping block. Just got a wooden shallow block with 4 sizes 2.5, 3, 3.5 & 4" sizes. I'm using 24 gauge copper too and started using my largest steel punch and used a rawhide mallet as I'm working on wood and don't want it break. I was worried about those dimple marks as they even out on smaller sizes but realize that's part of it. Realizing I can just go in with my ball peen hammer and avoid the steel punch altogether. My struggle is getting it all to look pretty evenly round.

[@bedskinstruckbedcovers3846]

Rob, loved your video! Thank you

[@HeatherWrightArt]

Thank you, I love the use of NOT EXPENSIVE tools!!!! The duct tape was genious!

[@cookingfordads]

You bet, there are very few questions that don't have duct tape as the answer.

[@cookingfordads]

thanks it's a lot of fun. Thanks for watching and for the nice comment

[@Hoyerlift101]

I am a sheet-metal worker, and I have access to 16 ounce, and 24 ounce copper. I've never made a comparable. I have half a sheet that I'm going to work with. It comes 3' x 10'. There's going to be a lot of hammering! I'm super excited! Thanks.

[@cookingfordads]

Cool, let me know how it goes. Start small.

[@catherinedelahaye1249]

hi Rob, greta work. i'm semi retired now so ive got my man cave ready to start working with copper, gonna try the bowl, cheers dude

[@cookingfordads]

+Catherine Delahaye Thanks so much. Congrats. Send me a pic when you're done.

[@E5Bobby]

Yes, Rob. You are right: the fact that you use pretty much "every-day tools" makes it that much simpler for anyone with the desire to try. You do a great job. I have every tool you used in your video including the Stanley Workmate.. I was curious how much you paid for your piece of copper. You said it was a little spendy and I was wondering just how spendy. Keep up the good work!

[@JaxinVermont]

Love it! I make copper jewelry using heat to color it, I haven't found a great system yet to be able to control the colors. I'd love to see you put some heat and color into a bowl!

[@mark1952able]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing~ Looks like a lot of fun and rewarding..........

[@cookingfordads]

You bet, let me know if you try it.

[@AngiesPantry58]

Thank you for sharing I shared on my group page on Facebook..

[@noflyzone13]

great video , iv just got my hands on a TON of copper so i will be adding this the list of things to try.

[@cookingfordads]

So cool, post some pics on my FB page

[@noflyzone13]

oh ok sure ,also going to be setting up a lil shop for my new hobby for this and etching copper, applying patinas & laminating copper for table tops etc , gonna be a lil bit just getting everything together . i forgot to tell ya i had also subscribed .

[@cookingfordads]

Awesome, Can't wait to see your work. Hammer well.

[@someguy7863]

Offset left cut reds are really handy to have, even offset straight cuts yellows are really nice to use for cutting metal

[@salchipapa8000]

will do ! thanks for the help !

[@highmidlow898]

amazing work !!

[@darkliasons]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

[@cookingfordads]

+MoxieRedhead you bet, check out more on my copper channel

[@cookingfordads]

Gracias, me encantaría ver su obra.

[@whendoigettosayfuck]

Thanks, bro. This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@cookingfordads]

You bet, good luck. let me see what you make.

[@whendoigettosayfuck]

cookingfordads I am going to make singing bowls to heal people with. Making the right copper bowl for your own self, and simply hitting it with something will heal you better than any doctor.

[@cookingfordads]

cool, let me know how it goes

[@BEAdventurePartners]

This is great! We have been looking for a copper sink for our kitchen & bathroom in our skoolie, and they are super expensive. So then today we thought... HEY why don't we make one. Thanks for sharing your pounding technique. We will be sure to use it on our sinks! :) - Erin + Brian too

[@marshahutchison1446]

Hey guys! Did you ever make your bowl! I have a step van I am building out and came to the same conclusion.

[@BEAdventurePartners]

@@marshahutchison1446 yep! We sure did and it works awesome! We have a video of it on our YT channel (BE Adventure Partners) if you want to go see it. We don’t want to drop the link here out of courtesy of this videos creator. We ended up using the vessel sink bowl in our Skoolie bathroom and also made a square sink for the Skoolie kitchen. Let us know if you have any questions over on our channel & we’d be happy to answer them! Happy building! - Brian + Erin

[@marshahutchison1446]

@@BEAdventurePartners ok, I will check it out. Thanks

[@cookingfordads]

It would be easier. I've seen it done that way. In all my videos I try and show how people can do something without specialized equipment and just with stuff they have around the house.

[@louisw132]

hi, love the vid.I have seen a sack of wet sand used as a hammer base but i must admit i admire your creativity coming up with the duck tape. also could a mild application of heat (propane torch) reduce the tempering? i use heat to soften silver to allow further working of the metal. if you try either let me know your thoughts please.

[@tripods66]

thank you for the easy approach. very nice work

[@zandanforth1326]

Thanx for the video rob! By the way can u use a texturizing hammer?

[@rjravaz]

Rob, you inspire me! I want to try but I'll mess it up. What was the size of the biggest bowl that you showed?

[@artmarina2011]

Thanks you for good video! Very interesting! Thanks!

[@cookingfordads]

Thanks so much. I even started a channel just for my copper work. Copperbyrob

[@markadams2667]

Thanks Rob!

[@terryc47]

Great work thankyou for sharing. May I ask, on the bowl you made, by creating the rim edges first, how much if any does the outside rim diameter decrease by, once the bowl is finished? I need to make a pot lid of roughly 480 millimeters

[@10000diamondeyes]

wow, that turned out amazing! how much would a scrap piece like that go for?

[@copperbyrob]

Thanks so much and thanks for watching. This reply is from my copper channel.

[@rallaa]

I think you should do more videos like this, Rob.

[@richardbaumeister466]

Is it a good idea to occasionally anneal the copper to soften it? By heating it with a propane torch.

[@cookingfordads]

@Tippster1980 It takes a while to hammer that down, I'll be honest. I probably have an hour of hammering in to it. Yes, I've made quite a few, but you'd be surprised how easy it is to do, especially if you start smaller. The bigger bowls can get away from you.

[@highrider61]

wow those copper sculpters look great

[@dlf1976]

Very helpful bro. Thanks

[@cookingfordads]

@toroarts Yeah, at the time I couldn't find any information on how to do this so I am totally self taught. I even went to Turkey and tried to find some good hand made craftsmen there, but it was all machine stamped. So yeah, I could use a lesson, I just have no idea whom to take it from.

[@Kozmikgoddiz77]

that was freaking awesome.

[@cookingfordads]

+PRIESTESSHEAVEN “heaven07” GMT Thanks, let me know if you try it.

[@stringlarson1247]

Thanks. I was just speaking with a friend about doing this with some heavier gauge copper that I salvaged off my 110 y/o house when we had the roof redone. Rolling the edge on the wrench is great. I don't think the duct tape roll will hold up too well given the gauge I'm using, so I'm thinking of carving out a bowl/form with some scrap hard wood. Or, inverting the process my making a quick n dirty dome on the end of a log like they do for making woks by hand.

[@cookingfordads]

Sorry, just seeing this. Let me know how it goes.

[@-PiP-]

Wow, impressive!

[@pattygreene7902]

Wonderful project for a beginner like me!

[@aliyah5375]

thank you rob!

[@cookingfordads]

I would have but there were no vids or anything to help me out so i had to figure it out on my own. If there were resources I would utilize them. thanks for watching.

[@dustinkoehn6890]

Thanks for sharing. Nice fun project for a fruit bowl!

[@cookingfordads]

You bet. Thanks for watching

[@cookingfordads]

@dillonWY That's another video, I love doing that.

[@SIAWWAAA]

I Enjoyed this simple, low tech, low gear need, fairly quick great demon as it well explained. No need for annealing in a forge or oxy heat in this case. Environmentally friendly :-) ! 9/10

[@dandanpowell1]

thanks rob, so cool

[@rhondamoviemaker]

Very nice...thanks.

[@cookingfordads]

You have to stay ahead of it. When you start to get that shape, heat it and push down those sides.

[@copperbyrob]

you are THE MAN!!

[@cookingfordads]

@hannagan how'd it turn out?

[@keithhadden3769]

cool I like it and will try to make I collect a lot of copper item and I would like to make some things have you ever taken a old silver plated copper tray and hammered it out to a bowl? thanks

[@ivanleterror9158]

Made copper ash trays using this method in summer camp. 4th & 5th grades. Actually had wooden forms to shape it.

[@freejuggling5678]

Thanks. Does the bowl come out the same diameter as the disc you start with?

[@brettblack2589]

Thanks buddy..very cool

[@cookingfordads]

You bet, thanks for watching. Happy hammering

[@howardcarroll217]

When you kneel a large piece do you have to heat the entire piece or can you heat only a part at a time?

[@KastigoKSJ]

Would a shot bag and some slappers not be a better way of doing this? Awesome job with what you had.

[@Docprepper]

Nice man!

[@RainbowsCrystals]

thank you that was very easy to follow! :-)

[@kellytracy9518]

Really nice hammered copper work Rob and you really should have gloves and safety glasses on

[@alimyles9093]

Love this, thank you! We’ve been looking for a copper birdbath and now I’m going to try making one! If I want a 20” diameter birdbath, about 2.5 -3 inches deep, what diameter disc should I start with? Thank you!

[@cookingfordads]

Answered you on FB let me know if you have any other questions

[@brentdietiker]

Got a rough guess on a Mil that you'd recommend for a project like this?

[@mikefreeman6447]

very cool. I went to get some copper but its expensive so I got a 24" piece of aluminum flashing.

[@cookingfordads]

watch the making of a platter on my copper by rob. You can find the link in teh description I used a torch to add some color in that one.

[@cookingfordads]

:-) don't worry about it. I was going to answer back that they get lots of leftover food so they don't mind. :-) but thanks for coming back and for the nice comment. I appreciate your sensitivity, it will do well for you in your life. blessings to you. Rob

[@cookingfordads]

@DynastyLabatGmail It sounds like a heavy metal band or a novel, doesn't it

[@Carlzday]

great work and great video.... here's a hint --what i like to do when making rounded edges is...when you're almost 3/4 done--or less, on your rounded edge, place a thick wire inside the curved edge, all along the perimeter (something like the string in the waist of jogging pants) and it'll give you a nice hard backing when shaping a nice curve for your edge --hope you don't mind the hint --keep up the good work ;)

[@cookingfordads]

+Carlzday That is a great tip. I am so going to try that. Thanks for watching.

[@knlazar08]

+cookingfordads You might also want to give a try to pounding on a short wooden box full of sand instead of the duct tape roll. The sand is more flexible and will give a smoother texture to the inside of the curve. Just be careful not to overdo it. The sand is a lot more flexible and will make it go a lot quicker, so much so that its real easy to hit too hard and make a big divot that can be hard to get out... Making the box is easy. Any old scrap 1bys will work. You only need it about an inch or so deep and as big as you think you will need to have room for whatever you are working on. The deeper you want the curve to be, the bigger the box will have to be. If you want a real deep bowl you might need the box to be as big as the bowl and as deep as the curve desired. To go that far you will need to anneal the copper as it gets too hard to work. Just heat to red with a torch of some kind, or even in an open fire, and then quickly dip it into cold water. Quenching like this will harden carbon steel, but it will soften copper almost back to the virgin softness you remarked on when it was new.

[@cookingfordads]

+Ken Lazar Thanks, that's a great idea, I'll try it.

[@cookingfordads]

@RicePudden you must be very handy. Nice to meet you

[@recruiter40]

when I try hammering steel like that I get a Taco shell instead of a bowl, I'm told I can't make a bowl without heat, but I see you doing it here, do I need to hammer more evenly or something or is it just the material choice.

[@E5Bobby]

Very impressive but I was wondering the same thing as KastigoKSJ. You should look into them as it can speed things up considerably I would imagine.

[@khizranmustafawazir7975]

beautiful

[@karenramos1231]

Good job bro..

[@cookingfordads]

Karen Rybolt Thanks so much

[@joycejoy7651]

Great video, thank you from Drumnadrochit nr loch ness in Scotland..cool

[@cookingfordads]

Thanks so much for watching.

[@cookingfordads]

@msp663 Yeah, it was a little much, but it was during the day and they weren't home. Normally I hammer in the garage so as to avoid neighbors with migraines. :-)

[@salchipapa8000]

would i be able to get a sheet of copper at like home depot? i want to start customizinf my motorcycle and love the vintage untouched copper look ! thanks and great job !! =)

[@canescens]

Thanks man.

[@samanthafairly7184]

Sooooo beautiful

[@unitruth]

Cool!

[@hannagan]

@cookingfordads It is still a work in progress...I'll send a pic when I finish it.

[@robinstarke8805]

Thank you so much for the info on making a bowl from copper. Can I do the same with brass?

[@cookingfordads]

+robin starke should be very similar. Let me know how it goes. You may have to anneal it more

[@mikegracia1475]

Nice! what thickness is this?

[@firstmatepegboot2589]

Hi Rob do you think this texture would be easy to apply to a 1/4" thick plate of copper? thanks for the great vids

[@cookingfordads]

That's probably a little thick. sometimes the bigger pieces can get away from you too. If you hammer it lightly, you can make it have the appearance of hammered copper without actually changing the shape.

[@copperbyrob]

It's all good, thanks for writing back (rob B)