How to Repair a Copper Birdbath

Remove Tarnish and Rust

• 1

  Sand the entire birdbath, including the pedestal and the inside of the bowl, with the coarse 60-grit sandpaper. Rub vigorously to remove all the rust. If your birdbath is just tarnished and not rusted, proceed to Step 4.

• 2

  Sand the complete birdbath again with 220-grit sandpaper, going over all the areas you sanded with the coarser sandpaper. Try to remove any traces of remaining rust.

• 3

  Sand the birdbath with the fine 600-grit sandpaper, especially being sure to smooth the inside of the copper bowl.

• 4

  Apply metal polish to the birdbath with a soft cloth. Cover both the bowl and the pedestal.

• 5

  Seal the birdbath with a clear acrylic sealer spray after the metal polish has dried.

Replace Bowl on Pedestal

• 6

  Remove any nicks or dings from the copper bowl that may have occurred during a fall. Place a cloth over the bowl, and gently hammer the indentations through the cloth with a hammer to push them back.

• 7

  Put construction glue on the bottom of the bowl, the part that sits on the pedestal.

• 8

  Set the copper birdbath bowl back on the pedestal. Allow three hours for the glue to completely set before refilling the birdbath with water.