Copper pipe

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Copper pipe
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Rikki

Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 35
Location: Bucks

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 1:35 pm Post subject:
My local tip has a metal recycling section - you could see if yours does too and buy from them. Also, old copper cylinders are sometimes available.

greenbean

Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 59
Location: Stirling

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 1:57 pm Post subject:
That's a good idea, I'm off down to the scrappy at the weekend! I've had some success with keeping slugs off with copper, but it's expensive to buy new. I've turned an old copper water tank into a planter.

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 2:10 pm Post subject:
I have 2 copper water tanks in the stable.any ideas on turning them into planters greenbean...................

greenbean

Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 59
Location: Stirling

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 2:24 pm Post subject:

Hiya,

You need to cut off the tops, I used a hacksaw, then turn the sharp edge over so it's safe, hammer, pliers are handy here. You may find that your tanks have been treated with a sort of varnish, you will need to remove this if you want a nice verdigris effect, I used wet and dry paper, time consuming, smelly and messy, but hey - free planter!
You'll also need to drill some holes in the base for drainage.
On my tanks there is a copper pipe sticking out 4 inchs from ground, I have sealed this up with corks.
It's all ready now to receive a pumpkin plant.

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 2:27 pm Post subject:
Because I have 2 I wanted to make them both the same and to be pretty impressive.......am thinking tulip shape! I need to make a model and break it down into the different stages............but it's got me thinking. How does copper weather? Does it turn green?

greenbean

Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 59
Location: Stirling

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 2:34 pm Post subject:
Crikey Mrs Nes, sounds like you need to go on a sheet metal bending course with your ambitious plans! Copper turns a lovely green verdigris colour, which might be called oxidisation (?). To have your two plants the same would be best, what shape are they currently?

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 2:49 pm Post subject:

I have two identical copper tanks in the stable.they have been there for years. Hubby did have a plan for them but that is history now. Reading your post reminded me of them. We have to empty the stable soon.........arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!! and I am dreading it. It is full of junk, tractors etc etc...............
I want to turn the copper tanks into two huge tulip heads

I will practise on a toilet roll holder to make a model.then work out a plan of action! Fortunately hubby is an engineer and we do have some contacts...a few tears ago I made a copper garden sculpture for a friend...........it was based on 3 bent pipes and mobiles hanging from them. Looked good!

greenbean

Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 59
Location: Stirling

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 2:57 pm Post subject:
I admire your ambition, strangely enough there has been a copper cockeral like a weather vane, but really scarey looking, at the back of my mind for years. I've a notion of learning to weld. An engineering hubby is handy. Good luck! let's get a picture of your tulips when they're done.

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 3:01 pm Post subject:
Well when you come down to Filey bring your welding gear chuck!!!

Rikki

Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 35
Location: Bucks

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 6:05 pm Post subject:

Copper oxide is black and is what makes nice new pumbing pipes turn dull. You also get it when heating copper (which is why we add flux when soldering joints). Probably the key skill/technique is annealling: that means heating the copper up to a cherry red colour. You can clean it up again with vinegar or just wire wool. After annealling and cooling again the copper will bend very easily, but soon work hardens again.

footprints

Joined: 26 May 2005
Posts: 234
Location: North Wales

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Copper pipe

mochyn wrote:

I had a brainwave the other day. Our veg garden is a series of beds with timber edges, divided by paths. Needless to say, the whole is infested with slugs. We're going to put down some kind of gravel on the paths (don't want to use the coal ashes we use onornamental paths in case of leaching), but how to keep the little sweeties

off the beds?

Then it hit me: lengths of copper pipe (recycled, of course) slit along the length and opened a little to clip over the top of the edge boards.

Just got to find a few hundred metres of pipe now...

Don't waste your time with the copper pipe. This is what I did about a week ago. I Fit kitchens for a living, so I have copper pipe scrap.
On a hot sunny day (added incentive for the slugs to move) I made a square of copper on the lawn, put around 25 good sized slugs and snails within, and in no time at all some of them where legging it over the copper pipe. I returned them to the enclosure where they just escaped again.

The copper scrap will be recycled through my local yard, the snails were recycled through the hens.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 7:12 pm Post subject:

Not sure about copper pipe, especially as some of the most nasty slugs burrow in the soil. However, given the choice, slugs will climb up a plastic pot but do avoid copper tape. I would also recommend old hot water tanks as this is the second year we've grown something in them and the slugs are not keen to climb in them.

I would suggest trying it on a bed as see how you go. (We expect an article if it works.

)

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 05 10:37 am Post subject:
I would say that copper tape is good, but not perfect. I have found only the odd snail in the salad pots (maybe they roll across on their shells - I wouldn't put anything past the little beasties!) I treated my garden with nemaslug in April, and now have nightly patrols, It seems to be working, but I bet the patrols wouldn't be fun in a bigger area!

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 05 12:09 pm Post subject:

What's going on when the slug touches the copper?
My guess would be that a galvanic cell is formed (one volt or less?) that 'stings' the slug.
On that basis, the cleanliness and 'brightness' of the copper surface will dramatically effect how well it works. And any coating, whether varnish or tarnish, will reduce its effectiveness. Any really badly tarnished bits would provide a "bridge" across the barrier...
Out with the Brasso!

greenbean

Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 59
Location: Stirling

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 05 1:20 pm Post subject:
I have heard that it gives them a mild electric shock. I have also heard that because slugs have tastebuds on their feet/underneaths they don't like the taste of copper. My copper is certainly not shiney, but still seems to keep them off. I know they could easily burrow and come up the other side, but they don't seem to on my patch.

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