Copper Bee Die for Wood Burning

I have studied bugs and insects all my life.

Bees are so critical to us - I like to make people aware of bees value – beyond honey.

By putting the image of a bee on some of my wood projects - opens up a good opportunity for a conversation on bees.

So I made a copper metal die to make a wood burned image of a Bee.

The bee pattern die is mounted in an electric 35 watt heating wood burning tool.

I printed a small bee pattern on standard paper.

With a little glue on the back of paper, I placed the pattern onto a piece of 1mm thick copper.

I wanted to get going faster then the glue, so I also used clear packing tape over the top to attach to the copper.

Using a jewelers saw, I cut out the bee pattern.

Using the same 1 mm copper I used a shear to cut the backing plate (slightly larger than the cut out bee pattern).

I sanded with 400 emery paper and then cleaned the copper pieces with liquid soap – let dry

I put in both pieces in liquid flux, this serves two purposes,one to let the solder flow and the second is to reduce the fire scale (blackening) of the copper.

Shown is the shops soldering station, it uses fire bricks, copper pickle (removes some scale) and neutralizer of the copper pickle solution.
Note: I always rinse and wash my projects with tap water after dipping in the neutralizer tank.

I used hard solder to attach the bee pattern to the backing plate.

Solder - Hard
Melt temp F - 1450

Silver content - 75%

Copper content - 22%

Zinc Content - 3%

I use a torch to heat and flow the solder to attach the two pieces.

Then they go into pickle tank – neutralizer tank – final wash

I trimmed a little more backing plate with shear and then I used 400 emery paper to clean up the top of the bee pattern.

The wood burner had a 3/16 inch diameter rod opening (35 watt heating iron).

Note: the rod opening seems to be different on other models, so measure first.

I found a uncoated steel nail that had the same diameter.

I cut it down the nail to a 1 inch length.

Using a metal file, I flatten the head of the nail.

In order to have the solder hold the best, two clean flat surfaces is best.

NOTE: do not use galvanize nails, when heated it gives off poisonous fumes.

3/16 copper rod can also be used.

Using the same soldering technique, I used easy solder to attach the heating rod to the backing plate.

Solder - easy
Melt temp F -1325
Silver content - 65%
Copper content - 20%
Zinc Content - 15%

I use a torch to heat and flow the solder to attach the two pieces.
Then they go into pickle tank – neutralizer tank – final wash

400 emery was used again to clean up the face of the bee pattern.

After mounting the heating rod of the die into the heating iron (wood burner).

I let the bee pattern die heat up.

With light pressure of the heated die onto the wood - it created the burned bee pattern.

Thank you for viewing my instructables on a Copper bee die for Wood burning.

I am already thinking of other patterns to make.