Since I had finished up on hanging the lights. I could turn my attention to preparing the custom copper sink. I had looked around for an appropriate sink for the main part of the bathroom and had considered using a boulder that had been honed out however I didn’t find that which I sought.
The boulders, although handsome were either not deep enough or were of a diameter that was too wide for the space. I did however make note of them as I would like to possibly use them on the next bathroom project.
I turned my attention to a collection of copper and bronze sinks that were hand hammered in appearance. I found the sinks attractive and they would certainly fit in with the rest of the bathroom however they too had a diameter greater than what I could use or they were too manufactured.
There was a great variety of copper sinks to be had in catalogs but very few on display where I could actually touch and get a feel for them.
I eventually found the vessel I had been seeking. A copper sink of the right ‘diameter’ deep enough for a serious sink and appeared to be hand hammered. It could work. The color was raw copper slightly discolored by flame – it would fit in well.
Upon bringing home the sink I began to realize that it too was a bit ‘perfect’ when I compared it to the tub and the style of faucets that I was designing so I grabbed my mallet from the tool box and lit the torch.
I heated up the copper till it began to shine a bright orange. Smoke drifted off the sides as whatever finish or wax had been applied quickly burned away. Once it reached temperature I began to beat the crap out of it on my leather sandbag deforming the once ‘too perfect’ round bowl.
I stretched the metal into a somewhat off kilter oblong bowl till its perimeter no longer resembled the circular shape of the original sing but more that of an avocado shape. Its once proud rim was now a bit drooped on two sides.
My task was complete.
For those of you horrified that I would do such a thing, let me ask you: do you really eat Campbell’s soup just as it is out of the can or do you add some of your seasoning and ingredients to liven it up?
I took the now warped and odd-shaped sink and mounted it to a slice of a log that I had cut from a 189 year old timber stored in my barn to use as the sink top.
Next I’ll be making the copper faucets.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I always miss the good stuff! I purchased the sink that you beat the crap out of and returned it right before I read your blog! I exchanged it for a miner pan vessel, and plan to borrow your wonderful faucet design… do you think I should beat the crap out of the sinks, hadnels and all?
Hello Donna –
LOL – ahhh I’m always futzing with the stuff I pick up and trying to customize it in some way — like adding my own ingredients to canned soup to improve upon it. The faucets were easy you’ll have to send photos when you are done.
You could beat the crap out of it — I got the copper nice and hot using a torch to soften the copper – you can always try — although as you know the vessels are rather expensive so be careful – Let me know how it goes.