Cutting thin stuff

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I saw a really cool lampshade while shopping with my wife at a Southwest place here in Arizona. The lampshade was made of copper and it was pretty thin. I am terrible at identifying gauge without measuring it. Has anyone cut thin stuff with detail reliefs in it? They had cut some Kokopelli and some cacti. Is there anything special to cutting thin stuff as opposed to thick stuff? Just curious as I have not had a chance to use my plasma yet.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:I'm assuming you want to cut a design in the middle of the panel. Depending how thin it is a scroll saw would be idea. I wouldn't use something that reciprocates._________________Chris
Reply:Back in my jewelery making days, I did a bit of copper. I cut it with whatever would do the job. Aircraft shears for heavier material, especially for large pieces, nibbler for where that was indicated, jewlers saw for detail work and fitting. For thin enough gauges, surgical scisors and scrapers work, and for foils, scisors and xacto knife. For a saw, it is REAL important to keep enough teeth in the metal and not try to force it. It you have too course a blade, the cut wil be difficult and the finosh will be horrid.Finish with files and scrapers. Copper is nice and easy to work, even in a half-hard condition. Much tougher than that, annealing shold be done.
Reply:If  you start with a flat piece, you can use cold chisels to cut the designs, a file to dress the edges, and then roll the piece in to the final shape.
Reply:Originally Posted by lorenzoI'm assuming you want to cut a design in the middle of the panel. Depending how thin it is a scroll saw would be idea. I wouldn't use something that reciprocates.
Reply:If it is flat, sandwich it between two pieces of thin plywood or MDF, trace the design onto the wood and cut it out with a scroll saw.  This works well and leaves a nice edge.
Reply:See the attached link.  I have used a Bad Dog Biter for years on thin materials. All of their stuff is of great quality.http://www.baddogtools.com/new/cat.php?id=1Mike