Replies

1. 
   MGMaxwell | Jun 09, 2008 07:50pm | #1

   I've done it and I'm a DIY with moderate skill level. I found 3' x 5' sheets of copper at a building supply in St. Augustine and decided I would find a use for them. I have an island counter in the house I built in Todd, NC.

   My base was 23/32 plywood over which I placed the copper. I made a homemade brake for the edges forming two 90 degree and wrapped the edges like a Christmas package. Some of the corners needed to be dressed with a file. I predrilled holes and tacked the edges with  copper nails.

   I tried using a urethane glue for the flat surface but was unsuccessful so I have some waviness. Perhaps with a heavier gauge it would not oil can.

   I'm very happy with it, but it's not for OCD people. I enjoy the multicolored surface, and anyone who wants to keep it bright and shiny should choose another material. As a matter of fact, after some friends stayed there they left prints that made it clear they used the surface for something other than food preparation.

   I have an online source for metals that I will try to find and post with pictures of my counter.

1. 
   MGMaxwell | Jun 09, 2008 11:18pm | #5

   Soryy, I'm an idiot and cannot send my photo's without one of my children present. However, here is a source:http://www.onlinemetals.com

2. 
   MrSQL | Jun 09, 2008 08:33pm | #2

   I did it myself for an upstairs kids bathroom.  I agree if you obsess about perfection, copper is not for you.  It will start taking on stains right away. 

   I used  a sincle thickness of plywood with build-up edges and hand bent the copper around the front lip and back-splash.  corners cut, folded and glued.  I used weldwood contact cement to adhere the copper to the plywood (handled it in much the same way you would formica i.e. for getting it laid out over the main part of the counter top.)

   I'm sure a pro-job would be much better, but would probably cost a fortune. 

   I'd rather go with Soapstone (which I did).  Very nice, very durable, very doable for a DIY'er.

    

    

    

3. 
   bigkoiguy | Jun 09, 2008 11:14pm | #3

   I used copper on an island a couple of years ago.  I bent it myself (first mistake) and tried gluing it with regular laminate adhesive (second mistake).  It turned out wavy and messy looking.  The glue did not hold.  In retrospect, if I used I were to do this again, I would take my counter measurements to the sheet metal shop I bought the sheet copper from and let them due the bending for me on the sheet metal brakes.  It wouldn't have cost that much in labor to neatly finish what now is a rather expensive material. 

4. 
   Ted W. | Jun 09, 2008 11:15pm | #4

   Sparked my curiosity so I did a Google search for images and came up with these..

   http://www.specialtystainless.com/residential/coppermix.php

   http://www.pmistainless.com/Photo2.htm (9th one down)

   http://www.handcraftedmetal.com/Counters-Intro-Copper.html

   and plenty more...

   http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS204US204&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=%22copper+countertop%22&spell=1

    

   --------------------------------------------------------

   Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
   See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

5. 
   seeyou | Jun 09, 2008 11:31pm | #6

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=96928.1

   http://grantlogan.net

   Who got Bo Diddley's money?

6. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Jun 10, 2008 05:05am | #7

   We did this for an upscale potting room of ours and it worked fine, but all the comments previously about the appearance apply.   Not for OCD.   We had a roofer who does a lot of sheet metal work brake it up and he did a beautiful job - approximately 27" x 58" for $350 (in 2002).

   I wouldn't use it for a nice kitchen though.   You'll really notice fluxed/soldered joints and any spots where acids work to change the appearance.

    

   Jeff

    

   
   

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   Edited 6/9/2008 10:06 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke

1. 
   intrepidcat | Jun 10, 2008 07:12am | #8

   looks pretty good to me

    

    

    "What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Jun 10, 2008 04:57pm | #12

   Thank you !

    

   Jeff

7. 
   Pelipeth | Jun 10, 2008 01:31pm | #9

   I've found that the best place to get sheet goods in copper has been my roofing supply house. The place to get it bent (formed) has been at my HVAC shop. These guys bend metal every day all day, got ALL the tools.

1. 
   malibuds3 | Jun 10, 2008 01:53pm | #10

   thanks for the quick work, very helpful which sparks a new interest what about the soap stone seems affordable is it too pourus or soft for counter tops?

1. 
   Danno | Jun 10, 2008 02:14pm | #11

   You asked about soapstone being too soft and porous for countertops--some would argue that it is, but copper isn't exactly hard--it is pretty easily scratched. Old farm sinks were sometimes made of soapstone. Soapstone is soft enough that it is easily carved.

8. 
   mike_maines | Jun 10, 2008 07:30pm | #13

   An advantage our copper guy mentioned is that copper is naturally anti-bacterial.