Copper Birdbath

This is fun, easy way to add a birdbath to your garden. You can solder this (and I recommend that you learn to solder) but it's easier to use JB Kwik. *note: I tried epoxy and Gorilla Glue which both eventually failed. JB Kwik worked.

Materials

copper pan or dish (mine was from an old chaffing dish)

3/4" copper end cap

3/4" copper pipe

JB Kwik

copy paper

Tools

scissors

pencil

toothpick

Polish the back of a copper pan. I used the Martha method of salt and 1/2 a lemon.

I know there's probably a mathematical way to determine the center of a circle but this always works for me and I don't have to tax my wee brain. Trace around the circumference of the bottom of your pan on a piece of copy paper. Cut it out. Fold it in half both ways. Open it up and voila! we have a center point. Punch a little hole in the paper and scratch the center onto the pan with the tips of your scissors.

Mix both parts of the JB Kwik with a toothpick and apply it to the bottom of the copper cap. Place the copper cap on center point of the bottom of the pan. Allow to set up which should be in about 5 minutes. Place the cap on the end of a copper pipe.

Push the copper pipe into the soil. Fill with water and wait for the birds.

Here are two birdbaths that have been in my garden for years, embellished with copper wire tendrils and copper leaves I cut out of roof flashing. The aged copper looks spectacular among the plants. If you can't wait for the aging process, put a mixture of salt and water in a spray bottle and squirt away. That should hasten the patina.

UPDATE: Copper is also potentially toxic to birds although avian toxicity from this metal is less common. Acidic foods stored in copper containers may leach out copper, and occasionally copper piping for water is a potential source of increased copper in the diet if the water is slightly acidic and has been allowed to remain in contact with the piping for some length of time. Allowing the water from the tap to run for a few minutes before filling the water dishes will prevent this problem.


I suggest that you use some other pan than copper, brass or zinc. 


Sorry, I had no idea.