Anonymous wrote:Copper is easy to work with and is well suited for outdoors, it gets a nice weathered patina. Even if your craftsmanship isn't perfect it still has rustic charm.
Go to a roofing supply store and buy some copper flashing, you can usually buy it by the foot and it will come in widths of 16 or 18 inches. If you don't have a roofing supply store nearby or you want a wider width, you can buy it online here:
https://basiccopper.com/36-x-10-10-mil-30-ga-copper-sheet/
You can cut it with tin snips from Home Depot. If you need to join it, use copper pop rivets like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075D7GMFD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They're super easy, you just line up two pieces and drill a 1/8" hole and put the rivet in. To set the rivet you use a pop rivet gun which you can get on Amazon or Home Depot for about $25.
If you need to make a straight bend clamp the copper between two boards and then bend and press against a table. If you need to make the bend tighter you can hammer it but that will affect the surface.
To ease the cut edges rub them with coarse sandpaper.