Bar top “copper”. What is it?

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I was given some copper like material from a local pub. It was used in a refurb of the bar.

It looks a little like copper and is very shiny. Quite dense and very hard. Not easy too bend either. I have no idea what it is and I have a few square feet of it.

Obviously not boiler material! I am wondering what use I can put it too. Its a shame to see it in my material store without a potential use. So what is it?

Andrew.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Is it just copper that has work hardened ?

Try heating a bit up and see if it goes bendy.

Phil

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

sell it as a covid free surface – copper (along with Silver) is apparently an excellent material for work surfaces etc as it destroys the lipid coating of the virus

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

I had some thick 'copper' foil given to me that is aluminium with a copper finish. It is useful for wrapping round work in the chuck so as to not mark it.

From here I obviously can't tell if yours might be the same (I am good, but not that good ) but it could be an option perhaps?

Just looked and copper plated steel is a commercial product

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 19/06/2020 10:32:16

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

If you have an accurate weighing scale you can measure the density, which will give you some idea. Copper plated steel would be magnetic

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

I was given some mystery metal, covered in verdigris, that came from an old wooden exterior doorstep. It turned out to be brass – very useful.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I agree with Phil P, it is probably full hard copper, but could be an alloy, if you were in the USA, the local scrap merchant would be able to test it in a jiffy, maybe the UK ones could too, if it wasn't for the CO19 restrictions.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Poster gives no indication of thickness (to go with bendability). Self help like testing with a magnet, file, saw or angle grinder might be easy checks before asking remotely.

I would expect it to be ferrous with a coating of some description – if copper based, the fitters would likely be keeping it for scrappage income!

Edited By not done it yet on 19/06/2020 14:30:29

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

I was given an old table with what looked like a hammered copper top. It turned out to be copper plated fibre glass.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

http://www.metalsheets.co.uk/table-tops-and-bar-tops/

Might be real!

Neil

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

It might be copper clad stainless steel, and a magnet does not work with austenitic types, so a file at an angle on an edge would show up any colour change in the thickness.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Thanks gents.

I did all the obvious tests before asking people on the forum. It isn't magnetic and it isn't plated. Annealing it doesn't soften it and the filings are the same colour as the polished surface. It is a mixture of copper colour and silver.

I am certain that it is an alloy and asked here in case anyone knew of this peculiar stuff. The sheet shows no sign of oxidation and is as shiny as the day it was given to me several years ago. I tried some on my polishing mop and the finish was dazzling.

Andrew.

[MC Black 2Participant @mcblack2]

I recall hearing about French bar counters being covered in Zinc.

Have you tried dropping an acid on a fresh surface?

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