coffee table (copper & steel)

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I just finished my coffee table. I have done a design very similar to this before, except I used wood and steel on the first one. At times I wished I used wood again, because copper is very picky to work with!!The middle is recessed again, but is unfinished. I have to buy a piece of steel to set in the middle. It will be similar in design to the peforated corner pieces for consistency and tie in.The tubing is tig welded. Some welds are left in, some are grinded off. I like the piece to have variety. The tubing is sanded with a right angle air grinder where the welds are grinded off, then feathered with scotch brite. The whole frame is then 'weathered' with scotchbrite so it appears aged. The copper was glued down using a poly adhesive. It is 20 oz copper, cut and glued over 5/8 inch MDF. The edges were then flush sanded and the two pieces were laid in and recessed with 1 inch angle. The whole piece (frame and copper) is then waxed....A note about copper. Wear gloves - a finger print can not be removed unless sanded out!! - When you finish sand it, make sure you have good clean air. I kept getting water in my line and would shoot out of my DA and frustrate the hell out of me!! - I finish saned the copper with 220 grit on a DA and ran my lines vertical thru the length of the piece. This leaves sanding marks and a direction, so it gives the piece depth. You might see in the pics....A good project all around. Learned a little about the way copper works. Thought I would share.Have a good one. Attached Images
Reply:Wow, now thats nice!I have been thinking of doing some tables and entertainment center for my house. You've provided me with a little inspiration.Bill
Reply:very nice (i would have rounded the corners on the angle iron in the third pic  )...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapstervery nice (i would have rounded the corners on the angle iron in the third pic  )...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by kshellrazorYeah, good point. I will do that! I don't have kids, but I plan on this table being around awhile, so when kids do come, they will have eyes....ha
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsteri could picture my knee and the corner...   ...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldordieSharp corners can do more than just cause pain.  As the story goes... gold medal springboard diver, Ken Sitzberger, hit his head on a coffee table in his livingroom when he leaned over to pick up something off the floor.  He went to bed with a headache and died the next morning of a brain hemorrhage.
Reply:wow i have been wanting to make a coffee table and this is by far the most impressive I have seen on the internet 'do it yourself' sites so far!  i really like the look of the copper.  just curious, how did you attach the MDF?  did you have pieces of metal that were welded width wise to hold the board in place?  how expensive is the copper and how has it held up to daily use?  need to use special cleaner?  prone to finger print smudges?  any other tips would be great!
Reply:What kind of wax did you use? A car wax? Great looking table. I like the look of the two metals together. Too bad I have a kid or I would build one. I can see my son getting his sticky little fingers all over that copper.
Reply:Very nice!I r 2 a perfessional
Reply:Nice work. I would add a little to what zap said. I would have used a sanding pad and flushed the visible welds. You don't lose anything and it looks really slick.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I like the welds. Looks industrial and classy.Nice job.
Reply:Nice job man, I just showed it to the fiancee and now I think "we" are making one, did you clear coat the copper? If it is so sensitive to fingerprints how can you keep it clean?Yup
Reply:Nice work,that looks great.pro-level dumpster diver                                     Hobart 125EZ
Reply:The table looks very nice. You can patina the copper to get it to turn the beautiful blues and greens if that suits the fancy. It is very easy and omly takes a day or two to turn.