Not long ago, achieving textured finishes on copper and brass sheets required a considerable amount of hand hammering. For better or worse, the days of a Coppersmith coating his planishing hammer in pure goose grease before taking it to copper sheet, have gone by the wayside. Today, embossing rolls provide texture to copper sheet, with many finishes closely resembling the hand hammered look on copper sheet of days past.
These textured copper sheets are ideal for high traffic areas because of resistance to damage. Moreover, the texturing process increases the strength to weight ratio of the copper sheet and makes it more rigid. The real benefit of these features is to reduce maintenance costs while enhancing the overall appearance of the installation.
These textured and hammered copper sheets are being used in applications previously reserved for flat metal. Elevators, store fronts, doors, countertops, range hoods, light fixtures, sinks and bar tops, are just a few of the applications for this product. The warmth of the finish and the ability of the embossed surface to conceal scratches, open a world of interesting and novel applications. Currently, there are seven different textured finishes available, with one finish offered only on brass sheet.
These panels are produced from 16 oz. copper sheet (approximately .0216″ thick and weigh 1.00/lb. per square foot). It is important to note, over time, copper will darken with exposure to air. The oxygen in the air will actually corrode the metal. Over a number of years, a greenish patina will form on the metal. Most people find the character gained by copper through this corrosion process to be quite attractive. However, if you prefer the bright shinny look, sealers can be used to preserve the bright metal finish of newly rolled copper.
Another great feature of these hammered and textured copper sheets, is that the material can be offered in a variety of sizes. This allows a consumer to purchase only what is needed and it also allows most cut sizes to be shipped via UPS. In the past, you had to purchase a 3′ x 8′ sheet. This meant shipping the copper sheets palletized on a truck. Many times the freight expense would exceed the cost of the copper itself. Now, you can get almost any size you need, delivered to your doorstep, very cost effectively.