Copper fixtures do age nicely outdoors, gotta admit. Just a heads-up though—if you're repurposing old pipes or fixtures, especially for lighting or anything electrical, double-check they're not compromised structurally. I've seen some older copper pipes get pretty thin from corrosion over the years, and you don't want them snapping or failing unexpectedly. A quick inspection beforehand can save you headaches later... better safe than sorry, right?
Good points about corrosion and structural integrity. I've repurposed copper fixtures before, and one thing I always do is a basic stress test—just gently flexing or tapping the pipe to check for weak spots. Sometimes corrosion isn't obvious visually, so a quick physical check can reveal hidden issues. Curious though, has anyone tried sealing or treating older copper to slow down further corrosion outdoors? Wondering if that's practical or just overkill...
I've never personally sealed older copper pipes, but honestly, I'm not sure it's worth the effort outdoors. Copper naturally develops a patina that actually helps protect it from further corrosion. I have some old copper garden fixtures that've been outside for years, and while they look a bit weathered, they're still solid and holding up just fine.
I get the idea behind sealing them—probably makes sense if you're aiming for a certain aesthetic or if you're worried about structural integrity—but practically speaking, copper is pretty resilient on its own. Plus, adding sealants or treatments might mean introducing chemicals or products that aren't exactly eco-friendly. For me, part of the appeal of repurposing older materials is keeping things simple and sustainable.
That said, your point about hidden corrosion is spot on. I've definitely had a couple of surprises when reusing old pipes indoors—tiny pinholes that weren't obvious until water pressure hit them. But outdoors, with non-pressurized fixtures like garden trellises or decorative elements, I haven't really found it to be an issue.
Maybe instead of sealing, just give them a good clean-up now and then to remove any dirt or debris that traps moisture? A quick scrub with something gentle can go a long way without needing to coat them in anything extra. Just my two cents though...
I learned the hard way that sealing outdoor copper isn't always worth the hassle. A few years back, I spent an entire weekend meticulously coating some old copper fixtures I repurposed for a garden trellis. Thought I was being clever... until a year later when they looked exactly like the unsealed ones sitting right next to them. Lesson learned: nature always wins, and sometimes it's better to just let copper do its thing.
Haha, been there myself. A couple summers ago, I proudly turned some old copper pipes into these artsy garden stakes—spent hours polishing and sealing them, convinced they'd stay shiny forever. Fast forward a year, and they looked just as weathered as the ones I didn't touch. Honestly though, the patina kinda grew on me... nature's DIY finish, right? At least we saved some cash by recycling instead of buying new stuff.
