Is there a cheaper source for copper backup plate?

[4EyedTurd]

Besides Eastwoods $50.00 set
http://www.eastwood.com/welders-helper-3x3-set-flat-curve-anglecop-plates.html?reltype=3

Has anyone else seen a more inexpensive copper backup plate to weld up holes? I'm drawing a blank trying to find some

 

[coby65]

I used some old copper plumbing pipe when I was rebuilding my Jeep tub.

Just heated one end and folded it then hammered to a shape I needed

 

[efb16acrx]

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welding-accessories/welding-spoon-66785.html

 

[A_Pmech]

3/16" x 2" copper flat is about $20 a foot in short order quantities. I use old copper buss bar.

 

[Doc]

I use the one from Harbor Freight. works great!

 

[4EyedTurd]

Ah I wouldn't expect HF to have that

 

[TEXACMAN]

I cut down a scrap piece of 3/4 copper water line to around 8 " , hammered the end down flat , also made one curved abit.

 

[383 240z]

Ive had the HF one for a few years, works perfect. Keith

 

[22george]

l had an old piece of copper water pipe. l split it. hammered it flat. l can "form" it to what ever shape l need

 

[crewchief888]

i picked up a couple pieces of flat copper bar at a scrap yard..

 

[zkling]

About the cheapest would be a small piece of buss bar off of ebay or I've used and made a few spoons out of large (~2" dia) copper pipe by smashing it between two plates in the arbor press those work pretty good actually if you are just doing sheet metal hole filling.

 

[b_bueno]

Ive used larger graphite scrap pieces and/or Al plate with Spatter Shield sprayed on it.

 

[ZRX61]

Plumber left a 8ft section of 1in copper pipe at my house some years ago. It got hammered flat, cut into various lengths & some of them went through the slip roller. Made all the copper backing plates I'll ever need.

 

[azhatchback]

What are you welding?

Sometimes the various shapes are really helpful. I use different sizes that I cut up for plugin holes or **** welding sheet metal in cars and hold the copper plates in place with welding magnets. Get the triangle shaped welding magnets. They usually have a corner that is angled up a little and you can place a magnet on each side of the plate on this edge to hold it as copper does not have magnetic properties. I can post a pic later if I don't make sense Lots of times the spoons are worthless if hand holding is not an option.

This guy is a better option of plugin holes:
http://www.eastwood.com/magnetic-hole-plug-welding-tool-not-for-gas-welde.html

Or this guy for **** seams:
http://www.eastwood.com/magnetic-plug-welding-tool-horizontal.html

They may look small but if welding thin sheet metal you want to do a little at a time and let it cool or you will warp the hell out of it. The eastwood copper plates with little magnets ****. Once you heat the copper a few times the magnets fall out.

When I weld sheet metal I will often do an inch at a time then I lay a piece of copper on the bead to **** the heat out it to reduce warping. The copper spoons are really nice for this or you can get a cold bar.

I see your user name is 4 eyed turd. You smoothing out the engine bay in that 4 eyed turd?

 

[dr_clyde]

I cheated use drops from the water jet, and leftovers from making copper vise jaws. McMaster Carr sells small quantities of copper. Otherwise hit up your local scrap yard. They usually have hunks of copper for sale.

The little magnets, BTW, are a total gimmick. My uncle has the eastwood set, used them and they are lame. I can't think of a car that has perfectly flat panels such that the magnets stick and the copper is actually behind the weld where it counts. Plus they fall out anyway when the copper gets hot.