Copper chassis for tube amp

[hookymonster]

Because I work in a environment with a lot of copper.. I'd like to build the chassis out of 1/8" copper flat stock because of its conductive properties.

I know the nature of dissimilar metals and I was curious as to the thoughts around here if I would need to plate the copper.. also to prevent oxidation.

Has nobody ever worked with copper before?

Thanks

[TubeGeek]

The only reason I haven't used copper is the expense. I am assuming it'd be costly.

Also oxidation, maybe plating is a good idea but I am not knowledgeable with this.

[PRR]

Sell the copper.

Copper is often soft, though I suppose 1/8" copper will take much abuse.

"Good" chassis were often steel with heavy copper plate. The ones I have seen do not show much tarnish, I assume a tough lacquer was applied.

I don't see a problem, except copper theft. (Grounding around my house is dubious enough without frikkin scumbags axeing the ground wires off of poles.)

[HotBluePlates]

Leo Fender used a flat copper sheet bent at and angle to form the chassis of the earliest Champ amps. The fold formed the back panel for the jack and volume control. He obviously didn't stay with it long, and by the beginning of the 50's he was using a steel chassis.

Notice that good chrome chassis are triple-plated: copper, nickel and chrome over the steel chassis itself.

[kagliostro]

Just as a curiosity

the method used to protect the copper from oxidation inside the  cooking pots using tin and rockwool

is possible also using silver instead of tin, but is more difficult

the video is in italian, but looking at it you can easily understand the method

May be also a copper chassis will benefit of such a treatment

La stagnatura - The tinning

K