Kathleen Kay

 

Many varied shapes are commercially stamped out of copper ready for us to enjoy enamel ling, but it's not so difficult to design and cut shapes of our own. As an easy introduction to copper cutting, I have drawn some suggestions of ways in which we can quickly change rectangles and circles to matching sets of triangles and segments.

The first example starts as an exact square, and is accurately marked across the diagonal to show two triangles. One of the triangles is then marked across the other diagonal (of the square), to subdivide into two half size triangles. Marking is easily done, using a transparent rule as a straightedge, and drawing the line with one of the modern fine markers which will write on copper, e.g. Staedler's Pancolor F permanent liner (for all surfaces).

Cutting these straight lines is carefully done with sharp, straight-bladed tin snips, or metal cutting shears, using them as you would scissors, but never closing the blades so much that the points are used.

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