I got up to skill level 7 making copper ingots then making copper hair pins. I just bought a ton of fire crystals and wind crystals and went to the merchant in port bastok that is next to the airship. you have to pay to get into the airship boarding area but he sells unlimited amounts of copper ores for around 10 gil depending on fame and he never closes. So just get lots of crystals and hang out by the airship for a while.
Edited, Nov 27th 2008 7:13am by jadom