Copper Foil

by Mike
(Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)

Again, I love your site. One question, how do I protect the foil applied to the glass if I am not going to foil the whole project in one sitting. Also, can I foil a project and leave it till later for soldering, and if so, how do I protect it. Thanks

Answer

Hi Mike,

Thanks for asking that question. I'm sure it is something many people have wondered about.

For both questions that you asked, just slip it in a zip lock bag. They make some very big zip lock bags for storage purposes, so almost anything you make would fit in one.

If you don't have access to a zip lock bag, just wrap it in plastic. You are trying to keep it from being exposed to the air, humidity, dust, and a reaction from chemicals that are left open in your work area. Any of those things will cause the copper to oxidize over a period of time.

If you have started to solder, and need to leave it for a few days, wipe it off with a cloth dipped in flux neutralizer, dry it and slip it in a plastic bag.

I spoke about chemicals that are left open in your work area. Flux is probably the worse and something that gets left open frequently. An open bottle of flux will cause your tools to rust, oxidize lead and copper, and is one of many reasons that copper foiled projects, sitting in your work area, get that white or grey stuff along the seams. Try to remember to close all chemicals when you're done with them.

Thanks, again, for your question, and for the nice comment about this web site.

Sue