Where can I find relatively cheap copper sheet metal?

I want to try my hand at making a hammered copper bowl, but I’m having a hard time finding copper sheet metal for a reasonable price. So far I’ve been quoted $50 per square foot at Metal Supermarkets in Plano and $100 for a 24x24 sheet by Metals 4 U in Dallas. I may be way off base here, but these quotes seem extremely high to me. I know that copper is an expensive metal now, but I was under the impression that it was something like $7-$10/lb based on my (admittedly fairly cursory) research.

Does anybody know where a good place to buy it would be, and also what kind of pricing I should consider reasonable? I’d like about a square about 2 to 3 foot, and I think it needs to be at least 16 gauge (12 or 14 would be better).

Try to find a roofer who does copper work (gables, etc) and see if they will sell you a piece.

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That’s a good idea, I hadn’t even considered that.

Depends on thickness but I get mine on amazon. $13 per foot for 24 gauge- https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Sheet-Metal-12/dp/B00AKMNNX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525890236&sr=8-1&keywords=copper+sheet+metal

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Yeah, I saw that when I first started looking. I think for the bowl I"m making I need a bit bigger than a square foot.

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McMurray Metals in Dee[ Ellum
12x12 sheets run around $5

you can get sheet cut to you size since they have sheets I think up to 6ft long

Really nice folks for copper brass and ‘bronze’

Walton is the cross street, the parking lot is off of Elm

How large a bowl are you making

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So much more efficient:

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I’ll give them a try.

I’m trying to make it maybe 18-20" in diameter. Its going to be the bowl for a small bird/bee bath that I plan to hang using some macrame rope. I was told by several sources that copper helps to keep the water cleaner (although even if that’s not necessarily true I still like the idea/look of a hammered copper bowl for this).

I’ve never done this before, although I’ve watched many, many youtube videos. I figured I could waste $10-$20 on the experience even if it doesn’t pan out right, but $50 is a bit much.

Copper ions kill algae.

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I know you are joking here, @Tapper, but I still have old copper based DSL at home (old neighborhood) and twice AT&T has had to replace the copper between the pole in my backyard and the one down the street.

Yep, that was the idea. I’ll still have to clean the water occasionally, but it would help a bit. Figured I’d put in a little fountain like this one to keep the water moving and keep it from becoming a mosquito lair.

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Data cable isn’t worth the time to recycle it. It is such a waste of effort to steal that stuff. The only time I’ve ever felt there was value in recycling jacketed, low voltage cable is when you’re picking it up to throw it away anyway. Power cable, on the other hand, can add up fast. I have seen supply lines stolen from construction sites fairly frequently.

Ace Iron on Irving Blvd.

They are really nice. Depends what they have. They are a scrap dealer. They sell by the pound not by the product type.

IF they have what you need. They will be the cheapest.

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I bought 7 lbs of new rolled roofing flashing from Ace several years ago

How are you going to make the bowl, hammered ro spun?

You may need to make some large stakes to help raise it over

Which YTs are you looking at?

On the plans are raising and Sinkiang c;asses this summer in JSM

Hammered. The methods I’ve seen online are all sinking. I’d be interested in taking more classes if they were offered.

What are YTs? Edit: YouTube. Got it. :woman_facepalming:

These are the two primary ones, but I’ve seen quite a few just to get a feel for the process.

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That looks great! Where did you get your copper and at what price?

I haven’t yet. I’m in no hurry on this project.

McMurray is the cheapest dependable source

Folks order from them from out of the area

What’s the minimum thickness you need? Bowls will tend to require thicker material based on size. Looking forward to seeing your work!