WINTERWOOD: Custom Copper Panel Sign

 Winterwood - Copper Panel Sign.  All handmade from the design to the metalwork to the wood frame!

The last several months of 2013 were spent in cahoots with family and friends making this fabulous custom copper sign as a surprise for my parents.  They started building a new homestead on the family farm, and we wanted to give them a custom sign for the property.  My sister, Tessa, got us together on the project and designed the panels; my brother, Caleb, designed and made the frame; I offered to do the metalwork in copper instead of having a laser cut steel sign.  It's completely handmade and awesome - mom and dad were thrilled with it!

My sign supports - Dad and my husband.  Sign is 2' 10" x 4' 4" with the frame.

Here's the short version of the process, heavily skewed toward the metalwork (since that's what I did), involved in making this 2' x 4' sign:

1. Find a source for large sheets of copper in the thickness you want.  I suggest 16-18g for such a large project.  I found the best prices at Storm Copper Components, Co

   

   My 3 copper panels - all shiny and blank!

2. Draw the design to scale, on thin paper.  Check the design for weak spots/potential problem areas, perform necessary edits, and make sure panels and pattern are square. 
3. Adhere the final design to the copper panels (rubber cement is perfect for this - it holds the pattern in place but removes cleanly).  

   

   Edited design drawn on thin paper and adhered to the panels - ready for sawing!

4. Mark all areas that need to be pierced and center punch (to keep drill from sliding) - you don't want to accidentally pierce solid areas.  I center punched all corners and points to make it easier to manage the saw blade. 
5. Drill.  Use as small of a drill bit as possible - a flex shaft or dremel tool is handy here!  Wear safety glasses - you will most likely break a bit or four.....Drill from the front to the back so the burrs are on the back.
6. Remove burrs.  Burrs will catch your saw blades and usually cause them to break.  I used a power sander on the backside with rough grit sandpaper (100 grit) to remove burrs.  THIS WILL LEAVE DEEP MARKS so another technique might be better here for you.  I eventually sanded the entire back like this - it leaves a nice random pattern that (helpfully) obscures any additional scratching that may occur.

   

   Detail showing drill holes and some sawing.  Look at all those holes around the antlers?!

7. Saw.  Finally, the fun part!  I used 3 sizes of jewelers saws to hand saw these panels (2.5 inch, 6 inch, and 12 inch).  With a good workspace and technique, the copper cuts like butter (okay, maybe frozen butter....).  
8. Hammer/Texture.  If desired - I textured the trees.  If the copper is tarnishing, you should clean up the tarnish with steel wool or fine sandpaper first.
9. Finishing.  This is my least favorite part - use fine files, sandpaper, steel wool, and/or flex shaft/dremel tools to clean up lines, remove scratches and tarnish, and, well, finish the piece!  Start with the back and then move to the front - this means the front will be the most pristine.  Wearing gloves during the final sanding/polishing stage will not only keep your hands cleaner, but it will keep hand oils off the copper, slowing down further tarnishing/etching on the surface.

   

   Details - Whitetail Deer, Tree textures and a Heron, Turkeys, and a Black Bear.  Finished and clear coated.
   

10. Clear Coat or other surface treatments.  Other treatments include flame coloring, a variety of patinas, painting, or leaving it bare for the elements to alter over time!  I chose to keep the sign shiny copper and needed a clear coat to prevent tarnishing.  Everbrite has 2 solutions for copper - I used ProtectaClear and was very pleased with how it turned out!  Follow their preparation and safety directions very carefully for the best result. 
11. Mount and Hang.  We mounted the panels in an all wood frame, secured with bolts.  It will be hung in a few months, as the exterior of the new home is completed.

That's it in a nutshell!  I worked the equivalent of 2 hours everyday for 2 months to finish the copper panels.  The drawing took my talented sister less than a week, I believe, and I'm not sure how much time was spent on the frame - but I know it included harvesting the wood!  Total, that's over 120 hours spent on this project!

The finished sign all ready for hanging!

I'm glad to be done, but I loved working in metal again and I have additional project lined up for the New Year - I'm thinking smaller metal artworks for indoor decor.....

To see more of my families' works, please visit their websites or contact them through these pages:

Tessa Shadis - Ravens Aerie on DA

Caleb Shadis - Make-A-Few Etsy Shop

Larissa Shadis - Candid Creations on DA

Happy Creating!
PZ