Making A Copper Finial

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By Kent White

A local architect came by my shop with some drawings for a copper finial, recently. It was to be made of three different elements joined together and then it was to be placed on the roof peak of a fine new home.

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The top of the finial was a cone, so I had to lay out the math using the drawings as a guide for the dimensions.
The copper was cut to size and then rolled into a cone, using a long tapered “candlestick” bench stake
The next element was the bowl shape in the center of the finial. (Reminded me of Humpty Dumpty’s profile.) This also was a conic shape so I laid it out that way.
I rolled up the blank and hammered it on the Angle Post Air Hammer, Model 2500
I checked the contour regularly with one of the Profile Gages, until the bowl had both the contour and the circular diameter.
Then I use the Air Power Hammer to turn in the edge of the bowl, a “Flanger Die” operation that also shrunk the edge of the copper just enough so that the finished circle matched a steel template that I had cut just for the job!
The third element needed laying out because it was also a conic shape.
I used the Reverse Dies to flare the conic after I rolled it up.
This made a nice reverse shape, that I could flange the edges on, one in and one out.
Steel patterns check my geometry.
The Air Hammer easily flanges out the foot of the base conic.
When fits are good and trimming is complete, then I tin the mating surfaces for soldering.
Clecos hold the parts temporarily, while I rivet and then solder all of the seams.
Final view of finished finial. This is a “vaastu” element of harmonious construction, similar to Feng Shui; so shape, size, and location are vitally important.