I just bought 36 sticks (10′ lengths) of 1″ ‘M’ copper tubing that I will be cutting into 30″ length ballusters for my deck. I would like to shine them up to that bright copper look, stretch small rubber balloons over the ends and emerse them in a trough of UV resistant polyurethane (the balloons keep the urethane out of the inside) and then when dried, install them.
Question: what’s the best way to get all of that writing off the tubing and ‘shine-em-up’?
BruceM
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Replies
Brasso
Try tidy bowl, works great on Brass.
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Quittin' Time
Be wary of anything that will leave a waxy residue, interfering with the poly adhesion.
Polyurethane varnish isn't the best choice for your copper balusters. The UV inhibitors will get used up, then it will peel, because polyurethane is inherently UV unstable. Solvent-based acrylic would be better, or a phenolic-tung oil varnish.
Bill
Media blast and a clear gloss powder coat?
Edited 5/25/2006 5:50 am ET by butch
I have done this a few times.
All I ever needed to get rid of the print was a quick wipe with a rag soaked with lacquer thinner.
This might be an option you could consider if you are open so something of a similar look. They are 1" aluminum with a powder coat finish. They have several different colors, including a rust color, bronze and clay as well as the basic stainless, black and white. The balusters are about $20 for 10 and the connecters are cheap. 1" copper has to be very pricey right now.
Even if you do not like the balusters, you should look at the connecters, you could probably use those to mount the 1" copper, just call and check the ID measurement to make sure they will fit right. The connecters are basically a top cap looking thing that screws in to the rail and the baluster fits in between the top and bottom rail. Just did one on my sisters house, they look really nice.
http://www.deckorators.com/Classic-Baluster.asp?Slide=1#
I doubt anything you can do to copper pipe to keep it from tarnishing and changing color will hold up more than a couple of years outside. Water, UV light, and time will eventually get to everything, and deck ballusters are subject to all three.
Have you looked for a powder coated alternative? Factory coated finishes designed for the application are bound to be the best bet. Or maybe some electrostatic coating.
Thanks for the responses
I've already purchased the copper tubing, at about $860 (wholesale price of $2.39/ft), so I'm going to be sticking with the copper. Powder coating simply slows the rusting/corroding process. Neighbor in the next block has powder coated Al ballusters he installed about 3-4 years ago that are now corroding around their top edges...and anything with Fe in it WILL rust irregardless of applied finish...its just a question of when. Coastal weather here is simply too harsh.
And thanks for the advice on urethane. My plan was to do the bright finish and then let it weather out....but if you think the urethane will gradually show up as a bad case of sun-burn peeling, then I'll look into the acrylic and other (sorry, I can't see it while writing a reply) finsih you suggested. How about making a bath of clear laquer?
BruceM
Check on the poweder coating.Powder coating is a process for applying an coating, not a definition of the coating.I think that teflons, acrylics, polyesters, and probably other materials can be powder coated.Check and see what is clear and UV resistant.
If you want to let it "weather out", why do anything beyond cleaning the printing off? It will just turn a nice shade of mottled brown. To my eyes, shiny copper outside looks wrong.
What might be recommend for exposed interior copper piping as in a cabin kitchen if one wanted to keep the shine from turning brown?
half of good living is staying out of bad situations
For the coating I'd recommend automotive laquer. It's made for coating metal and for the outdoors. Can last at least 10 years if not 20.
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