Advice for edging a copper foil piece with came.

[u/Hawkeye-83]

I have done several copper foil pieces but I am doing a larger piece that I think needs a stronger edge to it. I have seen some people combine these methods and I wanted to see if you had advice on how to best do it. I'm hoping it doesn't require cementing.... :) Any help is appreciated!

[u/Claycorp]

Lead came is not a stronger edge, it's just a different edge. If you want strength you need to use a rigid came like zinc, brass or copper.

The best way to do it is to solder short of the edge by 1/4 inch, then wrap it. It depends on the shape as to the best way to attack it.

You don't need to cement edge came.

[u/VajraDr]

In my experience, whether to cement depends on the size and design of the piece.

Versions I've done:

* Small piece, lots of foiled solder lines that meet edge -- in this case, I use U-came alone (no foil on edges), and the interconnections hold things together. Especially if hanging hooks are on intersection points with internal solder lines.

* Midway (not too heavy, still quite a few internal lines meeting edge): You can foil outer edges with thin-enough foil to be hidden by U-came. Then solder along those edges, which creates strength and connection because solder fills gaps in edge, and thus tightens things against glass.

* Big enough, or few enough internal foil lines meeting edge, to need real adhesion of edge came. In this case, I'd cement.

Curious to hear what others say!

[u/altxrtr]

For edge metal, copper or zinc is best.

[u/NotExactlySureWhy → u/altxrtr]

Copper stretches with time and so does lead. But I suspect you’re using big wire twisted 2/3 lines with a drill for braided wire boundary?

[u/altxrtr → u/NotExactlySureWhy]

No, copper edge metal.

[u/mirsasha]

Thanks for asking this question as I am working on something similar. It's an 11" round piece that I was planning on using u shaped lead came on the edges. I see zinc has been suggested, but what if one doesn't have a way to bend the zinc for a round piece? (at least I think it's difficult to bend)

[u/NotExactlySureWhy]

Why lead? Zinc unless it’s like 6*6 inches you could use hobby came. See clay’s answer unless you like hobby came. I use it for smaller than 12\12” . I’m on my 2d big roll of hobby came for sun catchers that either have hinges or are large enough to freak me out about a using cheesy loop on a crappy joint area.*