"Owain" wrote in message
...
On 1 July, 20:45, "Tim Downie" wrote:
I've an idea to create a memorial post for a departed friend which would
consist of a domed metal cap on a 4"x4" post.

Half a copper ball-cock ball?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2434355...554429/detail/

6" copper float about a tenner from BES, 8" also available.
http://www.bes.co.uk/product/120~PL~...r-Floats-.html

Other sizes here
http://www.mytub.co.uk/shop_display_...all%20F loats

Probably easier to panel-beat an attractive dimpled finish into an
existing hemisphere than try and form a hemisphere from flat sheet.

Owain

You still need a good hard and smooth anvil of the right curvature to get a
decent finish - and polish the face of the hammers first. It is not that
difficult to form a bowl from sheet, but you need to soften the copper
regularly with a torch, and have a sandbag or similar to get the initial
shape with hard blows from a round headed wooden hammer. Then you have a
long but satisfying bout of 'panishing' tapping to do, to get the final
shape and hardness.

S