A sheet of copper or aluminum roof flashing, a couple hours in the shop and an internet pattern can allow even a fumble-fingered klutz to make a personalized Christmas present that has the appeal of roses with the durability of sheet metal.
There are dozens of videos on the internet that show how to make “metal roses.” A Google search using the words “instructions for metal rose” produces a simple guide to the process. I bought a sheet of copper flashing and used a template from that website to cut out the petals and leaves as explained in the video. It helps to have left- and right-handed tin snips for some of the compound curves.
Drill holes in the center of each copper-plated petal and in the end of each leaf, then slide them onto a “stem” of 12-gauge copper wire.
Use needle-nose pliers to bend and curl each petal to create the bloom. The hardest part was affixing the bloom and two or three copper leaves to the stem. Brazing is one option. Super Glue also works.
Don’t worry if the tin snips leave striated edges, or the pliers leave marks as you bend the petals and leaves. No rose is perfect, and the imperfections — if not obnoxious —personalize the piece.
I got along well with copper roof flashing. Aluminum flashing produces a silver rose. A few industrious metal workers use 1/8”-thick steel sheets, or even ¼” steel plates and heat and bend them with a torch, to create industrial “steam punk” roses. To each his own.
Other stories from Dan Anderson
3 Special Tools to Drill Large-Diameter Holes in Thick Steel
A Helpful List of Grease Gun Guidelines
6 Ideas to Make Shop Work Easier and More Comfortable
