buring metal

[diana]

Has anyone tried to burn metal, soda pop cans? I tried it on my glass top stove and it worked pretty good, but I doubt that is the proper way. After cutting the can open and flattening it, I placed it directly on the stove top and put a large pan on top of it. Once it started smoking, I used thongs & turned it. I turned it several time until I got a nice brown/tan look. Any better ideas? Embossing the metal has a nice effect.

[stampin stacy]

I've seen an embossing gun used on TV but never tried it. The fumes and smell are supposed to be bad. Atleast over the stove you can turn on the vent a hood.

Daniel, where are you, you've been working with soda pop cans a lot lately? Any advice for Diana?

[Inky Whiskers]

I haven't done pop cans, but I have used both a butane mini torch and a heat gun on embossing metal to good effect. The torch is faster, but the gun is safer. Either way, you want to open a window for ventilation (yes, Stacy, it is a bit stinky :lol: ) and use long tweezers, tongs, or forcepts to hold the metal so you don't burn yourself.

If you do try heating copper to get the pretty colors be careful to avoid over heating the metal or you'll find your copper has gone thru' all the colors and is back to copper colored and won't change anymore.

HTH :D

[XrayAmy]

Does it count if I turned on a burner with the burner cover still on and melted it....on accident? :laugh:

[inkieroo]

The gals that sell the copper and do the metal things like ten second studio and copper leaf designs use a butane mini torch and get wonderful colors. I have even seen Carol use just the alochol inks on them though annd get wonderful coloring

[Daniel R.]

Interesting, Diana... I've used heat to alter copper coloring, but never tried it with aluminum. Would love to see an example of what you've done.

A word about safety? Quite apart from potential burns, it's important to be aware of fumes... Applying heat--whether by heat gun or open flame--to many materials can create potentially toxic compounds [i.e. the ink on aluminum cans]. As others have said, always work in a well-ventilated area & consider wearing a mask. That said? I've ironed Styrofoam--drove the DOW people crazy!:lol:

Here are two of my 'can metal' pieces...http://twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?gallery=3&cmd=display&layout_id=1190244

http://twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?gallery=3&cmd=display&layout_id=1190899

[diana]

Thanks for all the advice and sharing. Guess I will put a torch on my shopping list!

[inkieroo]

wow your christmas angle metal work was delightful! Wonderful work

[Inky Whiskers]

I have even seen Carol use just the alochol inks on them though annd get wonderful coloring

Thanks for the reminder!

I once wanted copper colored mylar edging tape to match a piece of metal copper that I had embossed & heated. Alas, if one heats the tape it melts.
:( So I got out my trusty StaozOn inks and some cotton balls and colored the tape to match the heated copper. Worked just dandy did!!! I then tried it on some scraps of copper and it worked on that too. I think that StazOn would also work well on the inside of pop cans for color if one wanted to avoid the heat & toxic fumes of some of the other methods. (Tho' solvent inks have their own odor and should be used in a vented area as well!)

[Inky Whiskers]

Does it count if I turned on a burner with the burner cover still on and melted it....on accident? :laugh:

Did you stamp something on it and put it out where others could see it? :lol:

[diana]

I embossed the pieces I played with. I burnt some more and am going to try more with them. Sorry, way to timid to show & tell for now. MY guts are too musy, but am getting there. Just need to learn all this upload/download/sideload whatever load stuff! Burnt burner covers? Large collage art?

[stampin stacy]

Diana, been there done that mushy feeling about sharing and not knowing how to do any of it back in April when I first joined. When you are ready if you have problems uploading give a holler.

[Daniel R.]

I totally hear you, Diana! After years of having my stuff on public view, I still get that 'sinking feeling' when I put something out there for all to see. Glad to hear you are working up to it!:applause:

Far as the 'tech' part? I need all the help I can get! Glad there are folks like Stacy & others to help me find the 'right buttons' to push...:laugh:

[scrappinthedayaway]

i was wondering if anyone has instructions and uses for this it sounds really cool. am i understanding this you cut out a piece of the pop can and burn the side without a the label until it changes color. and then you stamp on it and cut it out. it sounds really cool i have been stamping for years and have never heard of this. thanks for any help on this

[diana]

I cut open the pop can (throw out the top & bottom) then flatten it. I have a glass top stove so I lay it directly on the burner turned to high and lay a heavy pan on top of it. With in seconds it is turning colors. Using tongs, I flip over. The printed side comes out neat, too. I keep it there until I like the results. I also put the vent fan on high to take out fumes. Mine vents to the outside which does help. Hope that helps. Experiment with putting it in a pan if you don't a glass top. Of course, if you have tourch, that is probably the best way, but I like the results I get on the stove. Have fun.

[scrappinthedayaway]

thanks that sounds great.