Copper Blog

Copper is one of the most long-lasting materials for use in homes. The metal can endure for years, making it an especially good choice for surfaces that get a lot of use such as sinks, roofs, and exterior decor. However, copper undergoes a naturally occurring change that can tarnish its look. Learning how to keep your copper surfaces looking new will help you to maintain your fixtures and adornments throughout the years.

Over time, copper turns green and forms a tarnish called patina. While there are ways to make patina into art or to create your own patina, there are also ways to remove patina to retain your copper's original finish. But before you start cleaning, you'll need to find out if the copper has any special finishes that affect your cleaning methods.

Determine if the copper surface is lacquered. If it has a shiny, glossy surface, then it's probably been lacquered and should be cleaned carefully using warm soapy water and a gentle cloth. If the copper is not lacquered, you can use natural materials such as lemon and vinegar to remove the patina.

One simple way to remove patina is to use fresh lemons. Rinse the copper material with water and sprinkle salt over it evenly. Then cut them lemons in half and rub them over the copper surface to remove the patina. Continue using lemons until the patina is completely removed.

Even if the copper is not lacquered, it should still be cleaned gently. Using rough cloths or scrubbing sponges can scratch the surface. Other natural cleaning material mixtures are also good for cleaning and maintaining copper. Vinegar and salt make an effective cleanser, as do lemon juice and baking soda, and ketchup. To use these other cleansers, place the copper item in a pot, add the cleaning mixture, and use a toothbrush to clean it gently.

For copper jewelry, combine 1/2 cup of lemon juice and one tablespoon of baking soda to form a paste. Apply the paste with a toothbrush and clean the jewelry, then rinse it well. To clean a copper pot, place it in a larger pot with a mixture of one cup of white vinegar and one tablespoon of salt and boil until the copper appears clean. Copper sinks, however, should be cleaned with only soap and water. Even natural cleansers can damage the surface.

Metallurgy refers to the science of shaping raw metals into useful objects, such as tools or jewelry. This process has been carried out on planet Earth for thousands of years, dating back to the year 6000 B.C. While primitive methods of reshaping metal such as pounding and chipping were originally used, mankind began to progress in their use of metal after discovering that exposing the material to heat allowed them to fashion it into just about any shape they wanted.  

During the years between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, copper became the most widely used metal in civilization for a time. This period is referred to as the Copper Age or the Chalcolithic Period. The word "chalcolithic" is a combination of the Greek words for "copper" and "stone". During this era, copper metallurgy was discovered and ancient cultures found that they could fashion copper into useful instruments such as tools, furnishing and ornaments.

Since copper is retrieved from natural mines, it generally contains impurities in its raw state. As metallurgical technology advanced, metalworkers learned that they could remove the impure materials from copper by exposing the metal to higher temperatures. This process came to be known as smelting. Once the copper was refined, it could be poured into molds and cast into a variety of shapes for use.

Historians are not certain when the process of smelting was first invented, but archaeologists have discovered copper artifacts in Egypt that date back to the year 3600 B.C. Originally these items were only available to royalty and members of high society, but were later passed down to the common people. Despite these findings in the Nile valley, many historians believe that copper smelting originated hundreds of years earlier in Western Asia.

Copper was a great choice for early metalworking, because of its durability and its malleability which made it easy to shape. Copper is resistant to melting, burning and corrosion and it contains antibacterial elements that may prevent the spread of some diseases. While some of this information may not have been known to early civilizations, their use of copper was a wise decision. Some copper artifacts from the Chalolithic Period have been found that are still in working order.

After the Copper Age ended, mankind entered the Bronze Age and, later, the Iron Age. As cheaper and more widely available metals have been discovered, the widespread use of copper has diminished but the metal is still appreciated for ornamental purposes and designs. Even homeowners have begun using copper fixtures and structures to decorate their property. Residential copper resellers such as Crescent City Copper carry a wide variety of copper ornaments for houses, including copper weathervanes, cupolas and awnings.

Image c/o: Robbie 1

Since copper is derived from a naturally-occurring mineral, it has been used by civilizations for thousands of years. Historians are not certain about when copper was discovered, but they believe that the earliest use of copper was roughly 11,000 years ago in the Middle East. Actual copper-smelting sites have been discovered throughout Jordan, Egypt and Israel. These are believed to have been used as early as 4500 B.C. In the United States, some historians claim that Native Americans were using copper 7000 years ago in the area now known as Michigan.

 

For thousands of years, copper was the only metal used by mankind. Since it was so malleable, copper was used for many purposes. Notably, ancient Egyptians used copper to create tubes for plumbing. Nearly 5000 years after it was made, some copper tubing that has been recovered from archaeological sites in Egypt is still functional. A short time later, people began using copper alloys to create ornaments and furnishings such as lamps and jewelry.

 

Eventually bronze, a copper alloy, became more popular than the original metal, sparking the Bronze Age. During this time, the use of bronze and, by extension, copper spread into Asia and Europe. Copper mines were discovered in Thailand and England which led to copper being used widely in these countries. By the Middle Ages, copper plating had been discovered and was being added to ships' hulls to protect them against rot. During the 1800s, scientists realized that copper could be used as an insulator. This discovery led to copper wiring.

 

After people began finding gold 6000 years ago, the monetary value of copper began to decline. Alloys of tin and iron eventually replaced copper alloys as the standard metal, since these materials were so easy to find. In our modern day, copper is still used for plumbing because of its resilience. Copper has also regained its luster among designers, being used extensively for ornamental purposes. Residential copper retailers such as Crescent City Copper provide copper awnings, copper weathervanes and cupolas for homeowners.

 

Image c/o: ahisgett

It's not every day that people consider all the neat facts about copper, but there are rather interesting things to learn about this renewable metal. Fortunately, there's no need to look any further, as we've found the best fun facts you need to know about copper! Crescent City Copper has several interesting facts about copper on their website, which also features beautiful images of copper products.

1. The Statue of Liberty is made from 179,000 pounds of copper.
2. The average home contains 400 pounds of copper that is used for electrical wiring, pipes and appliances. The average car has 50 pounds of copper.
3. All gold contains some level of copper, even 24 karat gold. This is because gold is so soft, it can be molded with the hands and calls for a bit of copper to be added.
4. Professional chefs prefer to cook with copper pots and pans, as it delivers uniform cooking and has no heat spots.
5. Copper is naturally antibacterial. Brass doorknobs, handrails and fingerplates are excellent choices for public buildings and will prevent the spread of bacteria.
6. Copper tools will not cause sparks, making them the tools of choice when working around explosives.
7. Copper is 100% recyclable and nearly 80% of the copper that has been produced is still in use today. Copper can continue to be recycled without any changes to its properties. In fact, it retains 95% of its original value.
8. Copper is often referred to as "man's eternal metal". It's highly durable, long lasting and can be used in all applications of life.
9. The average person will use 1500 pounds of copper just to enjoy today's standard of living. (Think computers, telephones, automobiles, etc.)
10. U.S. coins today consist of a solid copper core and layer of copper-nickel alloy.
11. A copper earthing system could save the lives of people who are struck by lightning, as well as save the homes and structures that are damaged from lightning strikes.
12. Copper has been used for as long as we can remember. The Egyptians had the ankh symbol to represent copper, and pyramids in Egypt used copper for water plumbing.
13. Copper can be alloyed with tin to make bronze and alloyed with zinc to make brass.
14. Although the Dead Sea Scrolls have been known to be made with rare animal skins, one that was recovered contains copper.
15. Copper is everywhere: TVs, radios, electrical wiring, plumbing, washers and dryers. It is often alloyed with zinc or tin to make brass or bronze, giving it a golden-like color.

References:  European Copper Institute

Northwest Mining Association 
Image:  beaducation.com