Copper compatible fasteners?

19 years ago

We recently installed a small oil-burning stove (an Efel 05) in our house. It sits in a corner on a tiled hearth. The clearances to the walls exceed both local code and the manufacturer's requirements, but we had a decorative copper heatshield for the walls fabricated at a local sheetmetal shop. I located a source of copper pop rivets to fasten the pieces together, but haven't found fasteners to attach it to the walls. On one side I can hit a stud, but everywhere else I'll have to use plastic drywall inserts (so copper nails are out). IF I use stainless screws will it eventually cause discoloration because of the two dissimilar metals in contact with each other - i.e. oxidize at a vastly accelerated rate than the rest of the sheets? Any ideas? I did find some decorative copper screw caps, but the base washers are steel - and perhaps would have a problem there as well. If anyone has done something similar with attaching copper I'd appreciate ideas.

Thanks, Dave

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

normel
19 years ago
You should be able to find brass screws and washers that will work just fine.
dseng
Original Author
19 years ago
So brass won't react with copper? If that's true, this gets real easy. Thanks!
Related Professionals
Tucson Home Remodeling · Wilmington Kitchen Remodelers · Dalton Kitchen Remodelers · Covington Kitchen Remodelers · Middletown Kitchen Remodelers · North Adams Kitchen Remodelers · Phoenix Kitchen Remodelers · Elizabethtown Bathroom Remodelers · Columbia Bathroom Remodelers · Charlotte Bathroom Remodelers · Fayetteville Bathroom Remodelers · Kankakee Bathroom Remodelers · Springfield Bathroom Remodelers · Pullman Bathroom Remodelers · York Bathroom Remodelers
bus_driver
19 years ago
Brass is a mixture of Copper and Zinc. Your application sounds as if it is for the interior of your home. If it is subjected to no more than interior atmospheric moisture, electrolysis will not be concern even with dissimilar metals. An electrolyte is necessary for the process. Several types of impurities/additives make water an electrolyte.
brickeyee
19 years ago
Stainless is also fine if you can tolerate the silver colored screw heads.
For galvanic corrosion to occur you also need an electrolyte. usually water. If teh installation is dry (and near a stove) it is pretty unlikely to ever be even damp.
Brass or bronze wil also work fine if you want to go to the trouble.
Plated screws could be a problem, but in a dry locationlike this would probably do fine.
lazypup
19 years ago
Why not just get copper screws?
woodbutcher_ca
19 years ago
Hi, I have installed many peices of stainless steel sheet metal behind gas and electric ranges between the range and range hood. I used panel adhesive to secure them to the wall. Never had a problem, heat , moisture. cooking grease, they held up well. Locktite makes a pretty good panel adhesive.I worked maintence so if they failed I would Know.
Good Luck Woodbutcher
dseng
Original Author
19 years ago
OK - just to wrap this thread up, I think I've figured out what I'm going to try. Here's a link to some decorative copper caps and poly washers - the cap snaps onto the washer to cover the screw head.

(http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-screw-caps-screw-covers/8-8-electroplated-snap-caps)

I'm going to go with the "better safe than sorry" route and use silicon bronze screws into standard drywall inserts.

Maybe this will be useful to someone else in the future.

Woodbutcher - good idea, but in this installation, the heatshield is offset from the wall by an inch and only contacts the wall at the edges (kind of a dogleg bend - flat against the wall for 1.25" then a 90 degree bend away from the wall for an inch and then another 90 degree bend so the sheet parallels the wall)

I couldn't get enough strength from only a small bonding area like this with an adhesive. (at least that's the assumption I'm making)

Thanks to all!!!!
Dave
Joel Crisafulli
5 years ago
Copper screws are available out there and also bronze screws. Both are compatible with copper and can give you the look you need.
millworkman
5 years ago
Joel Crisafulli, thanks Joel for that but I would be sure they figured out something after 14 years............................