metal trim added to woodwork

[Ron Truitt]

I'm considering trying some copper angle mixed with oak plywood just to cover the edges and provide something a bit different.

Does anyone have any experience, advice, or sources for thin metals that would blend well with woodwork?

Thanks.

Ron T

[Joe]

I did not see copper but T molding comes in metal finishes as well as plastic

[RicodJour]

My favorite piece of woodworking of all time is mahogany with silver inlay. Cherry and stainless is nice. I've also used copper and oak. I wanted a metal dowel shape on one piece so I used 1/2" plumbing copper as one of the, ahem, elements. It coordinated nicely. I used Scotchbrite to clean up the copper, make it nice and shiny and remove the printing. As the copper patinated over time it still looked great. Got a lot of compliments on that one. I was concerned that the tannins in the oak might do something funky with the copper, stain the oak or whatever, but it never happened.

R

[nailshooter41]

I have an old "antique" chest that I got from a friend of mine that inherited a house full of old furniture that I am restoring. It is literally about 80 - 90 years old.

It was made from cedar and is made to be a blanket chest.

On all four vertical corners there were brass 2"X2" angles installed with little tiny brass screws. Didn't really like the style, but after cleaning up the cedar and metal, they look great together.

I buffed out the metal with tripoli to get off the crud and took it all the way down to jeweler's rouge. I cleaned off the pieces with lacquer thinner, and will probably lacquer them with some musical instrument lacquer.

The shiny metal and the red/blond wood look so good together I am thinking of making a matching piece since this may now become a coffee table.

Robert

[Lew Hodgett]

SFWIW, if you need to clean, copper, brass, bronze, etc, think Brasso.

Lew

[professorpaul]

I've had very good results with something called Simichrome. Got it in a motorcycle/auto parts store. Good for any non-ferros metal.