Thread: copper wire for pins??

Originally Posted by Cove5440

I'm not a pro, but wouldn't there be problems with it oxidizing? I may be wrong...Just thinking out loud

Patina in copper looks great to many, and I'm thinking that may be part of the appeal in the idea initially. Obviously, I can't say for sure...

Originally Posted by richmondesi

Patina in copper looks great to many, and I'm thinking that may be part of the appeal in the idea initially. Obviously, I can't say for sure...

Good point! That would make interesting looks on some scale material.... Hmmm...

Having worked in the Orthotic?Prosthetic Industry for over 20 yrs. We used copper rivets to fasten metal and straps to braces and artificial limbs. I don't see why not. The only thing would be to be able to find that type of copper ( the strength was stronger than wire) in 1/16th inch. You could use 1/8th inch just the hole would be larger.

Originally Posted by turbine712

Having worked in the Orthotic?Prosthetic Industry for over 20 yrs. We used copper rivets to fasten metal and straps to braces and artificial limbs. I don't see why not. The only thing would be to be able to find that type of copper ( the strength was stronger than wire) in 1/16th inch. You could use 1/8th inch just the hole would be larger.

Agreed, the prosthetic arms I tried to use as a youngster (never got the hang of it, it actually slowed me down) had copper rivets not only holding straps and braces but the elbow position release mechanism in place as well. They never oxidized to the best of my recollection.

I have used copper on all my scales. I'm not sure the size but made to fit the tang hole -not exactly the "right way" I suppose without washers etc to boot/

I bought an ounce of pure copper for the heck of it a couple years ago...still looks the same in regards to the oxidation though. I'm sure it would work just fine for anything but a pivot pin. One guy on here made a set of scales out of some copper pipe & they looked really cool...

With my imited experience with copper wire (25 +/- yrs) I find this interesting. Copper wire can be just like any other metals as to how they are processed.
In standard building wiring most solid and stranded copper wiring is what is considered "soft drawn" wire. For outdoor arial / overhead distribution wiring, it is considered "hard drawn" wire.
Not knowing the physical properties between the 2 types, I do know the "field" differences. Particularily, if you tried to use a soft drawn wire in an arial application, it would sag on hot days and tighten up on cooler days. Basic expansion and contraction properties. With a hard drawn copper, not as much expansion / contraction occurs.
Hard drawn copper would be optimum for such pins, But I have not seen any smaller than 8 AWG (American Wire Gauge), which is roughly 1/4". Not to day that it is not out there, but standard building wire is much softer and bends real easy compared to arial cable.
Just my .02 cents worth.
Kilowattkid

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I bought an ounce of pure copper for the heck of it a couple years ago...still looks the same in regards to the oxidation though. I'm sure it would work just fine for anything but a pivot pin. One guy on here made a set of scales out of some copper pipe & they looked really cool...

That was me . Thanks for the nice words.

I don't know if this is a true story or not but I heard once that a guy pinned a razor with a piece of uncooked spaghetti. It worked fine until he rinsed the razor. It could happen!!

A few years back a lot of knife makers were using copper for bolsters but not pins. It was really attractive. Mack