Home made copper boppers

**Erratus Animus** · 08-05-2010, 07:07 PM

Well I am just starting to learn the art of knapping, however my wife says I Nap pretty well now ! YUCK YUCK YUCK

Anyway I don't like to buy something unless I must so too that end I made a few copper boppers today.

I scrounged up some copper pipe and end caps from my Dads shop, don't you just love networking

, and a few lead weights from my brothers tackle box, keeping it in the family !

Next I formed the rounded ends for the caps by placing them on a punch held in the vice and working the hammer around the punch. This forms a good dome to strike with.

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Here are the pieces assembled , just prior to having the lead melted and poured in to them. I made 3 separate pour one for each bopper. The lead filled the full depth of the cap.

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Here they are after They have cooled and had some tape placed on them. The bottom rounds have been prepared with the boppers. easy peezy !

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**crashdive123** · 08-05-2010, 08:20 PM

Nicely done.

**Rick** · 08-05-2010, 09:11 PM

Oh, man. I know how that game is played.

"Hey hon. Have you seen those copper end caps I had?"
"No. But Erratus was out there earlier today."
"Why that dirty......
"Now, now, dear. He's your baby boy."

**Erratus Animus** · 08-06-2010, 07:44 AM

I am not the baby but I am Mom's favorite so I have power over my father lol !! No they dont mind. All our properties connect and we have multiple shops. we work together as a family to do what needs to be done. We are a family of fire fighters and know what it means to work together as well as cherishing the time we have.

**BENESSE** · 08-06-2010, 07:51 AM

Didn't want to seem ignorant (which I actually am) by asking what a bopper is, so I googled it and not a single definition had anything to do with the pictorial here. E.g.

bopper - Definition
[bŏp]
(n.) A post–World War II style of jazz characterized by rhythmic and…
(v.) To dance or move to the beat of this music.
(v.) To go: bopped off to the movies.
Dictionary.com · The American Heritage® Dictionary

So now I have to ask. What do you use a bopper for?

**Erratus Animus** · 08-06-2010, 08:00 AM

Let me help ya out Benesse " little bunny foo foo was hopping through the forest picking up field mice and BOPPING them on the head...." lol

It is like a knapping billet I believe but since it is used to percuss or "Bop" the stone or glass it is call a copper bopper.

Hope you like my singing

**BENESSE** · 08-06-2010, 08:08 AM

I Googled knapping billet and now I get it.

You're taking the whole knapping thing to the next level by actually making the tools to make stuff with.
Wow!

**Erratus Animus** · 08-06-2010, 09:28 AM

So easy a caveman can do it or so they say. Any takers on Stonehenge?

**your_comforting_company** · 08-07-2010, 10:30 AM

I am of the impression that they are rather agressive. Would you agree that you have to hold back some of your force when percussing? I borrowed Craigs for about 15 minutes one day (my mentor) and broke several pieces.

All our properties connect and we have multiple shops. we work together as a family to do what needs to be done.

Sounds like where I live.. this neighborhood is practically overrun by our family lol.

**Erratus Animus** · 08-07-2010, 12:18 PM

I found that using the bopper was much easier for me by using the side of the copper rather than hitting with the tip. I did not brake any with the bopper and shaped them quickly. I broke them all by pressure flaking. I am not grasping a concept right i assume.

As for family I think that is where the real value in survival comes from, but that is another topic.

**your_comforting_company** · 08-07-2010, 12:48 PM

next chance I get to "bop" some, I'll try your method, using the edge of the cap. Thanks for the tip! I traded for an antler billet and I like it much better than the copper, but that might be because I have more experience with the antler.

**crashdive123** · 08-07-2010, 04:28 PM

I've got a fairly heavy copper bopper, but really only use it for making a spall from a larger piece. It just feels like I have more control with the elk antler billet I use.