- 1). Create a design for your metal trellis on paper. Try to be as detailed as possible, including the various thicknesses of the pipes, the joints, the dimensions, everything. Using graph paper can help keep everything to scale.
- 2). Transfer the drawing you made on paper onto a piece of plywood. Do the drawing on the plywood to scale. Record the sizes of the pipe as well. Use this drawing as a map for creating your metal trellis. Lay it on the work surface.
- 3). Cut copper tubing to the lengths you need with a pipe cutter and lay them in their place on the plywood.
- 4). Measure the flexible tubing and arrange it in the manner you need to create any arches on your trellis. Cut the flexible tubing to the lengths you need and lay them in place as well. If you need to, tap on the piping with a rubber mallet.
- 5). Connect the pieces of of pipes together by inserting the pipe fittings. Straighten the curves if needed so the fittings can insert properly. Do not force the fittings in as you could distort the pipe.
- 6). Take one of the pipe joints apart and brush flux on the inside of the pipe and the fittings and on the outside as well. Lay a fireproof mat on the table beneath that joint. Put the fitting and pipe back together.
- 7). Put on gloves and safety glasses. Heat the joint with the soldering torch. Hold solder to the joints and heat it with the torch, securing the joints. Cool the joint down when you've finished soldering by spraying it with a spray bottle. Repeat steps 6 and 7 with all of the joints.
- 8). Cut and bend the flexible tubing into the curves and coils you need for your metal trellis. Heat the pipe up for the more intricate curves. Secure the curves to the frame with copper wire or tape. Apply flux to the points where the piping touches the frame and solder them in place.
- 9). Drive metal stakes in the ground and slip the copper pipe over them. This makes your metal trellis free-standing.
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