From artistic tables to landscaping, Home Expo offers wide variety

When Scott Yocco looks at a copper pipe, he sees possibilities way beyond plumbing.

Yocco, a retired Racine firefighter, has come up with techniques that turn 1-inch copper pipes into sculptural table supports each of which is a unique work of art, as well as a functional home furnishing. And hell give his first public showing of his Creations in Copper tables at the Journal Times Home Expo on Feb. 28 and March 1 at Festival Hall. 5 Fifth St.

Creative invention is something Yocco seems to have a knack for, having registered two patents, including one for a life-saving harness device for firefighters called the YocStrap. In addition to his 22 years with the Racine Fire Department, his background includes 10-plus years in the home construction business and it was Yoccos father, Ray, who taught him everything he knows about carpentry, he said.

Yoccos glass-topped copper tables grew out of a vision he had for making decorative copper balusters. When he shared his baluster idea with Dave Kellner, a master mechanic with the Racine Fire Department, Kellner built him a machine that uses an extrusion process to reshape round copper pipes into square shapes, Yocco explained.

These days, Yocco uses Kellners machine to shape legs for coffee tables, pub tables, rectangular console tables and more. He then uses an inverted miter box, which he designed and built, to saw some of the legs on an angle, exposing their polished interior. When welded and soldered together into geometric forms, the copper legs form the base which supports a glass table top.

Yoccos table-making process also involves pre-polishing each pipe, as well as a second hand-polishing of exposed interior surfaces. He also uses a variety of acid washes to create different patinas on the exterior copper surfaces a process he enjoys experimenting with to achieve various effects and one that can take up to three days to complete. You are letting the colors work together during that time, he said.

All together, Yocco estimates that he puts a minimum of 100 hours into each table he makes, working out of his Caledonia home. Its time that is obviously a pleasure for Yocco, who said that being able to pursue this passion is one of many blessings he is grateful for in his life.

There are a lot of good people out there with great ideas and Id like to be an inspiration to them to follow through with those ideas, he said.

Creations in Copper is one of close to 70 vendors to be featured at this years Home Expo. Exhibits will feature everything from flooring and window options to state-of-the-art fireplaces, archival photo restoration, solar energy, home Internet service and medical supply items that can make homes safer and more comfortable for families.

We have another great vendor lineup this year, including some very unique items featured by local Racine businesses, said Donna Mueller, Journal Times advertising director.

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From artistic tables to landscaping, Home Expo offers wide variety