Scrap copper from a steam loco - a weird request

Mods, feel free to move this if there's a more appropriate location for it.

This is a bit of an odd request but I figure there's no harm in asking.

Are there any loco owning groups or organisations out there that have a few grams of scrap copper they would be willing to sell me? Ideally from a firebox (it being sort of the heart of a locomotive) but ultimately anywhere will do.

I'm getting married in August and I always wanted a copper wedding ring. I met a jeweller at a party last night who specialises in working with reclaimed copper and the idea hit me about having a ring made from a bit of steam loco.

Any leads would be appreciated. I was thinking costs + delivery + a donation to the work of the group.

 

Just a thought, isn't firebox material deanodised arsenical copper and is that suitable to be worn and, as important, worked by a jeweller.

(No idea, but it's worth checking)

Patrick

 

Well, congratulations anyway.

I am sure that there must be plenty of suitable copper elsewhere on a locomotive

 

It occurred to me that there may be some issue like this. One of the reasons I asked a forum, as it's full of people who know things I don't.

 

I have a short length of copper pipe that has been attached to a pressure gauge that I have had since 1965. PM me if you want a couple of inches...

 

Copper will make your finger green and is soft so will distort easily.
Maybe bronze would be more suitable, although maybe not for wearing daily.

 

Mine did until a build up of grime covered it!!!

 

On your wrist or the bracelet?

 

Ha, Both!!

 

My copper bracelet certainly turned my wrist green, particularly when I got a sweat on


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Not often then !

 

I didn't realise this was THAT kind of forum....

 

Well the OP did say it was " an odd request"!.......

 

Don't you mean THE Plymouth Argyle fan?

 

To much information , serious question, copper is a soft metal, whilst I know copper is said to have some medical benefits, are there any known adverse effects from wearing copper bands and bracelets?

 

Well the GWR obviously thought it had benefits as they put it round their chimneys.

Sorry, that's not a serious answer to your question.

 

Well, there's this (not exactly on point, but it is about copper and biology).

Noel

 

I suspect the significant issue might be that copper is considerably less inert than gold. So it will tarnish in air over time, and you'll need to spend considerable time cleaning it.

The other issue would be stability against certain household chemicals - ammonia would be one, found in some household cleaners - it will dissolve the green tarnish of copper oxide, which at one level will clean up the copper back to bright metal, but prolonged exposure might gradually erode the metal away. By contrast, there is practically nothing that you would find in a typical household that will have any effect on gold.

Tom