Copper comes in many forms and thicknesses. Copper sheet is thick, ridged and can be difficult to bend and cut by hand, but it is strong and durable. Copper flashing is flexible and has a soft temper which means it can more easily formed and cut by hand. Altough used primarily in roofing applications, copper flashing has many craft and decorating a uses. Copper foil is the thinest and most flexible copper sheeting available. The flexibility and durability varies with the specific thickness of the foil used. To learn more about cutting and forming copper, please review our article on the characteriestics of Art and Craft Copper Supplies.

Listed below are some of the cutting and forming characteristics of copper foil and sheet. We hope this infomation is useful in determining the correct thickness of material for your requirement.

.001" copper foil - Can tear with fingers, cuts perfectly with normal scissors, really feels like aluminum foil that you would find in your kitchen cabinet.

.003" copper foil - Can not tear with fingers, cuts perfectly with normal scissors, easily shaped by hand.

.005" copper foil - Cuts perfectly with normal scissors, shaped easily by hand, retains shape but still fairly flimsy.

.010" copper foil - Can still be cut with scissors, shaped easily by hand, can make 90 degree bends by hand, retains shape well.

.0216" copper coil - Need metal snips to cut, can be bent by hand, 90 degree bends by hand are difficult.