Copper Skinned Teardrop -Thoughts?

[MrMatt]

I'm thinking about the possibility of skinning a tear with copper instead of aluminum. It isn't that much more expensive (I know you'd think it was) and I have a friend who owns a custom copper company. He does roofs and hood ranges and stuff.

Has anybody done this or thought of doing this? I can just picture it polished to a mirror shine like a brand new penny.

I wouldn't go steam punk or anything with it but I think it would look awesome.

[working on it]

I'm thinking about the possibility of skinning a tear with copper instead of aluminum. It isn't that much more expensive (I know you'd think it was) and I have a friend who owns a custom copper company. He does roofs and hood ranges and stuff.

Has anybody done this or thought of doing this? I can just picture it polished to a mirror shine like a brand new penny.

I wouldn't go steam punk or anything with it but I think it would look awesome.

Don't leave it parked on the street, copper attracts thieves around here (you'd be surprised at the number of copper and A/C unit thefts I've heard about; including copper pipes in a church being stolen- sawed off, with water under pressure still in 'em). But it would look terrific, especially if allowed to tarnish, and pulled by a rat rod....hmmm.

[MrMatt]

Definitely love the rat rod idea!

[CarlLaFong]

I guess I don't understand the obsession with rat rods. To me, they are just exactly what they look like. Impractical, ugly piles of cast off junk. Some that I have seen are frightening. Poor design, dangerous suspension and steering setups, old tools and rebar used for critical items, no floors, bird crap welds, etc., etc.
I'll take a proper hot rod, please

[MrMatt]

Here is the kind of finish I'd like to put on it.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1377720735.488033.jpg (45.12 KiB) Viewed 812 times

[doug hodder]

Check the build journals....Jackdaw has a copper trolley top build in it. Doug

[grantstew8]

There are some vinyl "body" wrap colours available. They last about 5-8 years and can be any colour. I looked at chrome for a while but decided it would be a hazard to other drivers with the sun reflecting off it. Copper/steam punk graphic could be amazing.

[Bogo]

I like the idea, but if it was me, I'd go for naturally weathered bronze with the painted bits in burgundy, or vice-versa.

[Shadow Catcher]

I really like the idea, and the security concern brought a vision of a solar powered fence charger hooked to the skin
My bet is that few would recognize polished copper for what it is.

[Bogo]

Add 5% to 7% gold to that copper skin, and let it naturally corrode. It'll turn purple.

[MrMatt]

There are some amazing colors you can get from a few simple chemical reactions, I've seen just about every color of the rainbow on copper. That's where my buddy Tillman comes in (the copper guy).

[wagondude]

I guess I don't understand the obsession with rat rods. To me, they are just exactly what they look like. Impractical, ugly piles of cast off junk. Some that I have seen are frightening. Poor design, dangerous suspension and steering setups, old tools and rebar used for critical items, no floors, bird crap welds, etc., etc.
I'll take a proper hot rod, please

A true rat rod is properly and safely built. Those things you have seen are just amateur posers, and yes, very unsafe. Then there is the other extreme, The mega-buck builds with fake patina. A true rat rod is a body with natural patina on a fully restored/ quality modified chassis built to handle the included drivetrain. If properly executed, they are easily as nice as any chrome and polish hot rod, IMO

[Lesbest]

You'd have to be armed ALL the time around here. Stealing copper gutters, downspouts, pipes, wire, you name it. Sometimes we get 1 or 2 thieves, they can't tell if the power is on or off. Last body found--power went off in factory at 11:30 PM and a worker coming in the morning found it, police said they couldn't tell if the electricity got him or the fall off the ladder did. It would look nice no matter what you did with the surface, but people can't keep their hands to themselves.
Les

[PKCSPT]

I think it would look great, definitely an eye catcher. Looking at our Cathedral here in Saint Paul with it's copper roof durable too.

However I am not sure how long before someone swiped the copper. It sure disappears around here pretty fast.

But as far as looks go,, be pretty sharp.

[bc toys]

I like the ideal of cooper go for it and welcome to this great site