Post #833473

2026-03-26 11:49 UTC

I recently got into metalworking with copper sheets. My favorite project so far was an Anax ephippiger dragonfly. I first scratched the contours into a copper sheet with a needle and then cut it out with a fretsaw. Then i made me some custom chisels out of nails and slowly hammered it into shape. In between I heated it a few times with a blowtorch, to keep the copper soft and malleable. For the fine work on the legs I used an engraving tool, to make sure, I don‘t break them. In between and in the end I used fine steel wool, to polish it and to remove the oxides from the blow torch. #metallwork #copper #art #crafts #dragonfly #insects

Replies (5)

@goblin@social.tchncs.de 2026-03-26 11:58

I got into working with copper, because I wanted to host a crafting workshop at a kids camp and remembered doing it as child at a kids camp myself. The kids loved it and while preparing the workshop, I found a new passion. Copper sheets are really fun to work with, because the can easily be manipulated. Work it for a while and it gets tough and rigid. Heat it with a blowtorch and let it cool and it gets soft and malleable again. It‘s easy to cut with a fretsaw or metalsheet scissors and you can even solder it with tin solder because copper and tin combine quite happily. You don‘t need many tools and you can quickly make your own tools with nails and a file. Since the copper is so soft, no hardened tools are necessary.

Open ##1694974
@JimHindsKC@mastodon.social 2026-03-26 16:42

@goblin Nice work! The kids should enjoy the workshop.

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@cazabon@mindly.social 2026-03-27 22:33

@goblin This is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing it!

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@tankgrrl@hachyderm.io 2026-03-28 03:38

@goblin Lovely work!

Open ##1694979
@juliawithagoodappetite@pixelfed.social 2026-04-30 11:32

Beautiful!😍

Open ##2255823