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Copper counter tops

seeyou | Posted in Photo Gallery on November 12, 2007 01:51am

Got this project dropped in my lap Wed night and we ended up installing them Sat morning. Things were pretty messy on the job site and the lighting was bad, so I hope to get better pics when I go back next week to finish.

 

View Image

That’s Mike – the project manager. The top is covered with sawdust from the sink cutout.

View Image

This picture is weird. Those “ripples” were not visible in real life. Must be a reflection from the beaded t&g above.

http://grantlogan.net/

 

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. – J. Handey

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Replies

  1. User avater
    Sphere | Nov 12, 2007 02:06am | #1

    Thats way cool.. Is that a raised edge?  How'd ya do that with out a crinkalater on the bends?

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

    1. seeyou | Nov 12, 2007 02:15am | #2

      It's "crinkalated".  The other side (it's a "U" shaped top) has a 2" radius. It came out fine. The light really sucked in there.http://grantlogan.net/

       

      It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Nov 12, 2007 02:36am | #3

        I think I can make it out a bit, yup, indoor lighting don't do it justice.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

  2. JohnT8 | Nov 17, 2007 10:25am | #4

    I can remember you saying that counters weren't your favorite use for copper.  Is that coated with something, or will it go brown/green?

    I guess they could use green brillo pads as coasters.  Fiddle with your coaster and make a shiney spot ;)

     

     

    jt8

    "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."   --Dave Barry

    1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 05:52pm | #7

      I can remember you saying that counters weren't your favorite use for copper. 

      They're not, but this is not my kitchen. With this decorating scheme, I think it worked out OK. The cabinets and backsplash are barn wood, and the beams came out of an old barn.

      Is that coated with something, or will it go brown/green?

      I doubt if it will go green inside and also normal kitchen cleaning will keep the verdigris off of it. Spills of different acidity will do different things to it. http://grantlogan.net/

       

      It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

      1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 06:11pm | #8

        OK. Just got back from finishing this project. Since I installed the tops last Sat morning, I found out they were to be "hammered". I didn't understand that in the initial "Can you do this quickly?" consultation.

        Hammered sheet copper is available, but not on short notice and I had already mounted this copper. So, I went and bought two Harbor Freight palm nailers, inserted the largest carraige bolt that would fit in them and started Josh and Mike hammering.

        The two regular size areas went fine, but the wide section grew by over an inch each way, got really wavy,  and mostly popped loose from the glue. I had to get it the rest of the way loose and try to hammer it back flat in the shop. I ended up running it back thru the brake numerous times and squeezing it flat.

        We took it back out yesterday morning, remounted it and weighted it down over night. I took the weight off this morning and it had one little hump in the middle. I was able to massage that out with a ball peen hammer.

        Here's the results:

        View Image

        View Image

        View ImageView Image

        View Image

        View Image

        View Image

        There's something missing in this kitchen. Anybody notice what it is?http://grantlogan.net/

         

        It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

        1. peteshlagor | Nov 17, 2007 06:15pm | #9

          Cooktop.

          Is that oven gonna be enuff?

          Or is that not an oven?

           

          1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 06:22pm | #12

            Cooktop.

            You got it. I knew something was wrong, but it took me a while to figure it out. I think there's going to be an island added at some point. I doubt much cooking will ever go on in this kitchen. It's more of a bar than anything else. There's no place for a full size fridge either.http://grantlogan.net/

             

            It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

          2. TBone | Nov 17, 2007 06:29pm | #14

            I was going to say that it didn't have a fridge either. Is there a mini below the counter?Edit: I think I see a wine cooler?

            Edited 11/17/2007 10:30 am ET by TBone

          3. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 07:00pm | #18

            I think I see a wine cooler?

            Yeah, there's a wine cooler, but where are they gonna keep the beer?

             http://grantlogan.net/

             

            It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

          4. TBone | Nov 18, 2007 12:04am | #30

            I think the best option in this case would be to install a kegerator in one of the cabinets. :-)

          5. JohnT8 | Nov 18, 2007 12:17am | #31

            Yeah, there's a wine cooler, but where are they gonna keep the beer?

            In the cellar.  Just drill a couple holes in the counter and put some taps in.  Pipe it on up :)   Where's my comfee chair?!

             

            jt8

            "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."   --Dave Barry

            Edited 11/17/2007 4:21 pm by JohnT8

        2. ZippyZoom | Nov 17, 2007 06:16pm | #10

          Stovetop?=====Zippy=====

        3. User avater
          FatRoman | Nov 17, 2007 06:19pm | #11

          There's something missing in this kitchen. Anybody notice what it is?

          Someone barefoot and pregnant?

        4. User avater
          jonblakemore | Nov 17, 2007 06:26pm | #13

          Wall cabinets? 

          Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

        5. User avater
          Sphere | Nov 17, 2007 06:36pm | #15

          I bet THAT made a racket!!! 

          Hey, someone has to ask, what kind of adhesive did ya use?

          Looks great.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

          "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

          1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 06:56pm | #16

            I bet THAT made a racket!!! 

            Yowsa - not bad with hearing protection, though.

            what kind of adhesive did ya use?

            PL Premiumhttp://grantlogan.net/

             

            It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

          2. bobo66 | Nov 17, 2007 07:04pm | #19

            Beautiful work. I love the look of copper not so sure for a counter top though, I would be way too protective.
            In picture 20, what is that white and black thing on the sloped wall right above and to the right of the window and to the left of the lights? A security/web cam? sensor?

          3. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 09:46pm | #24

            what is that white and black thing on the sloped wall right above and to the right of the window and to the left of the lights? A security/web cam?

            Yeah, I think that's what it is.http://grantlogan.net/

             

            It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

      2. User avater
        MarkH | Nov 17, 2007 09:42pm | #23

        Gnarly! 

  3. rez | Nov 17, 2007 10:38am | #5

     View ImageView Image

     

  4. splintergroupie | Nov 17, 2007 10:52am | #6

    How timely. I was trying to describe copper countertops to a friend for use as a bathroom vanity counter...now i can send her the link. Thanks for posting and i really, really like the look.

    1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 06:58pm | #17

      Thanks for posting

      No charge. And thanks for the complement.http://grantlogan.net/

       

      It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

      1. DanT | Nov 17, 2007 07:06pm | #20

        Neat stuff.  I really like the quick recovery from the change.  I am impressed with your craftsmanship having done some metal working in my time.  What does something like that cost?  (if you don't mind my asking)  One thought came to mind.  If you wanted it hammered you could have dumped JD all over it.  DanT

        1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 09:52pm | #25

          What does something like that cost?

          I haven't figured the bill yet. It was a T&M job, which I seldom do, but there wasn't time to give a proposal. Just "can you do it by next Sat. (today)?" I'm guessing it'll come in at around $2500.00 for 66 or so sq ft of top so about $38/sq ft. It would have been about half that for unhammered copper.http://grantlogan.net/

           

          It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

  5. Waters | Nov 17, 2007 07:19pm | #21

    I like it.

    Can you provide me some more basic info I can't derive from the posts?

    What gauge or thickness is the sheet?  Where'd you get it and what was the cost?

    Crinkleator?  What's that?  That's how you bent the radiused edges yeah?

    What's the substrate and is the sheet adhered to it?

    Are there multiple sheets and how are they joined?  Seams?

    How is the edging formed and adhered, basically?

    Sorry for all the ?'s  I really like the job.

    I used to build simple little coffee tables with mosaic tops and edge them in copper.  Would like to use it more.  Backsplashes maybe.

    Thank you.

    1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 10:00pm | #26

      What gauge or thickness is the sheet? 

      It's 16 oz copper (works out to between 24 and 25 guage).

      Where'd you get it and what was the cost?

      It's standard roofing copper. I go thru around 25 tons a year. I buy in bulk obviously, but I paid around $4.75/lb (which is also a sq ft) for the last ton crate I bought. By the sheet prices are about 10%-15% higher. I buy from several suppliers. Sometimes they will bid for my order, sometimes I have to buy from who can get me what I need the fastest. The left leg took 48" copper which I don't normally use and I had to buy it by the sheet. It was around $5.50/lb.

       http://grantlogan.net/

       

      It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

    2. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 10:17pm | #27

      Crinkleator?  What's that?  That's how you bent the radiused edges yeah?

      That's Sphere-ese for shrinker. It's a pretty common body shop tool.

      What's the substrate and is the sheet adhered to it?

      AC plywood and it's pop-riveted to the plywood around the perimeter and glued with PL Premium construction adhesive. The adhesive was probably not necessary, except on wide section. Won't hurt, might help.

      Are there multiple sheets and how are they joined?  Seams?

      It's 3 pieces of copper. One of my pics shows a seam. The substrate was rabbeted about 3/16" deep by 1/2"  wide and a flat lock was beaten down into the rabbet.

      How is the edging formed and adhered, basically?

      Well, basically, its a "C" channel with the top edge hemmed to avoid sharp edges, and both legs over bent so it clamps to the surface. It's pop-riveted to the substrate from below and on the surface at joints. The overlapping side on the joints is also hemmed which makes the joints a little more noticable, but safer.

      I used to build simple little coffee tables with mosaic tops and edge them in copper.

      I just made up the pieces for one of my cohorts to wrap some round restuarant tables with yesterday. He's got a pretty neat hidden fastener/no sharp edge system.http://grantlogan.net/

       

      It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

      1. Waters | Nov 17, 2007 11:05pm | #29

        Hey thanks for the info.

        Love the tagline... Jack Handey Rules.  You know Al Franken is running for some office up in MN now?

      2. User avater
        FatRoman | Nov 18, 2007 01:04am | #32

        Actually, I wanted to ask about the seams. In the first set of photos it looked like a vertical seam. Then by the time the hammered set came around it looked like they were angled at 45 deg. Was that changed due to the texture? It 'seemed' like the second set was much less visible, but maybe I'm not looking at it correctly.All in all, that's some really nice looking work. Congrats!

        1. seeyou | Nov 18, 2007 01:21am | #34

          Here's the seam:

          View Imagehttp://grantlogan.net/

           

          It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

          1. User avater
            FatRoman | Nov 18, 2007 01:31am | #35

            Sorry, I meant this one with the edge band (?) Maybe it's just the light creating striations?

            View Image

          2. seeyou | Nov 18, 2007 01:37am | #36

            That's a reflection.http://grantlogan.net/

             

            It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

          3. DanT | Nov 18, 2007 01:54am | #37

            Thanks for the info. The price was more reasonable (in my mind) than I would have guessed.  Nice job.  DanT

  6. jackplane | Nov 17, 2007 08:43pm | #22

    I love copper!

    I have a copper countertop in my kitchen, a Chemetal sheet bonded to plam, easy install. But, it's scratched in a few places. Should I try to abraid the whole thing to reduce appearance of scratches, or can I possibly add fine copper powder and melt it in by electrolysis or propane torch, or do you an idea about this?

    Thanks for your expertise....

    Expert since 10 am.

    1. seeyou | Nov 17, 2007 10:20pm | #28

      Should I try to abraid the whole thing to reduce appearance of scratches, or can I possibly add fine copper powder and melt it in by electrolysis or propane torch, or do you an idea about this?

      I don't have a clue. I just form it. I certainly wouldn't torch it, though. http://grantlogan.net/

       

      It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey

    2. renosteinke | Nov 18, 2007 01:12am | #33

      I know NOTHING about metal work; it is a truly SKILLED trade. It's more than a chimp with a hammer! One of my customers fabricates commercial kitchen equipment. Another is a local firm that makes stuff, per job, for their customers - usually on site. I've watched these guys work, and am truly amazed at the things they can do. Find one of these REAL pros. You might even make up a sample of the scratch, and ask him to 'erase' it, as a means of screening pretenders out. A talented guy with scotch-brite on his angle grinder can make that scratch go away. He can also apply a 'brushed' finish, that will make it much harder to notice future scratches.

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