Jinx wrote:
>
> > I was thinking the hot copper vapor might oxidize in the air
> > before it got deposited, but again, I don't know.  If it did oxidize,
> > you couldn't solder to it and it wouldn't be a conductive layer
> > anyway.  If vacuum is impractical, how about inside a plastic
> > bag filled with nitrogen or carbon dioxide?
>
> A white hot oxy-acetylene flame is a very reactive environment
> and any metal vapours coming off would be oxides or other
> compounds from the carburising effect of unburnt acetylene.


Hi Jinx, actually I meant using an electric
current to vaporise the copper wire. From my
personal experience, often when a component fails
at high currents it vaporises the copper and makes
a very definite copper film on whatever is next to
it. Often this happens in a TV and I have the job
of scratching the (conductive) copper film off. :o)

I'm sure you could do something with enough copper
to solder to, even if it takes a few blasts. I
followed Olin's points about the vacuum with
interest, but I think that is more for getting a
high quality film over a larger area. Just blasting
the wire apart when it is next to something WILL
give you a copper film, i've seen it so many times.
-Roman

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