Steel and Its Many Kinds

Steel. Whenever we hear it, we get the image of strength and durability. But what is steel? Steel is basically iron that has none of the impurities that pollute it and has a consistent amount of carbon along it. The greatest thing about steel is that, this is one alloy that has multiple uses. Steel can be used for marine stainless steel products, jewellery chain accessories as well as steel chain & wire rope. Moreover, you can create different types of steel for different purposes.

Do not think that the same steel that is used for jewellery chain accessories is used for steel chain & wire rope. The difference is that different types of steel come from different metals that are introduced into the alloy. For example, for stainless steel, a substantial amount of chromium is added to the mix. This chromium forms a thin layer of chromium oxide on the metal surface that protects the metal from rust, thus giving us ‘stainless’ steel.

Speaking of different types of steels, did you know that there are different types of steel chains as well? Steel chain & wire rope are a common sight wherever there is heavy lifting involved. But the two are very different in their appearance. The wire rope can tolerate quite a bit of wear and tear and even if several wires break within the rope, the rope is still functional, provided all the breaks are not in a concentrated area. In steel ropes on the other hand, a breakage in even a single link is enough to discard the entire chain. Even so, there are many functions where chains are preferred to ropes.

When you consider steel chains, there are primarily three types out there: grad 70, grad 80 and grade 100. The grade 70 is the kind that is used as tie-downs over the road trailers and not meant for overhead lifting. It is painted bright gold to make the distinction. The grade 80 and 100 are both meant for overhead lifting, the 100 is just more advanced providing 25% higher work load limits.

Make Your Own Jewellery and Flaunt Your Creativity

Have you ever made anything you use from scratch and worn it? And I am not talking about cutting the ends of your t-shirts and jeans and wearing them; I mean really create something. Well youngsters of this age are not very interested in sewing; it seems like a very grandmotherly hobby, no offense! Then what is a girl to do if she wants to get creative with her wardrobe? Well there is always jewellery making. A lot of young girls are taking up jewellery making these day. The reason: rising prices of accessories in niche stores, and the ready availability of information.

You may have walked into an accessories store, picked up a necklace, then gaped at the price. There are many things floating about in the market which we look at and think we could have surely made this at home! But then you doubt yourself thinking that maybe the materials are hard to come by, or maybe it is difficult to create and that is why it is so high priced. Well, that is not always true. Just take a trip down to the store that sells all your jewellery chain accessories and ask the price, you may never buy accessories again!

Jewellery, especially those that do not involve any precious metal or stones, is very cheap to make. You can always choose stainless steel to create your exclusive jewellery. Stainless steel is a multipurpose metal. On one hand it can be used for marine stainless steel products, on the other, you find steel chain & wire rope. These prove the tensile strength of steel. And when you add the word stainless, you know it is going to last you a long time!
However, while making jewellery, stainless steel may be a bit difficult to handle for a start up project. Since it is a tough metal, it is difficult to mold. But then you have endless options. The easiest option is beads. Just string a few together, and add jewellery chain accessories and you are done. Now how unique they look depends entirely on your creativity.

Stainless Steel: Strength, Durability and Class

Stainless steel has been a revolutionary invention in the field of metallurgy. No other material is as versatile as the steel. From jewellery and chain accessories to industrial steel chain & wire rope to humble house fittings, steel can be used in all. But what makes it so universal? Well if you have ever used steel, two things will strike you the most: its durability and its high shine. The high shining surface of steel always gives it a clean look, while the durability ensures that it lasts for years to come. That also ensures that you get value for your money.

Iron had always been the main metal used in all heavy duty equipments that were needed throughout the ages. No complaint about iron in the strength department but then it has a serious problem – it rusts. You have all learned in school that the iron reacts with the moisture and oxygen in the air to form iron oxide, or better known as rust. This is a flaky, reddish material that develops on the metal surface and eventually falls off making the metal thinner and weaker over time. People have tried over the years to protect the iron from rust using paint and other coating. Although it stalled the rusting it did not stop it completely. A void was created in the metal industry for a tough, durable, non deteriorating metal that is where steel stepped in.

Steel is an alloy made up of iron, chromium and traces of other metals. It is the chromium that plays a major role in the non-rusting. The chromium comes in contact with oxygen to create chromium oxide. This creates a thin layer on the metal’s surface. Although the layer is too thin to be visible, it still forms a robust barrier protecting the iron components from air. This makes it an ideal choice for making jewellery chain accessories and steel chain & wire rope. The chromium not only prevents rusting, it creates the shiny surface we so love in steel. Strength and looks packed into one amazing product!

Safety First When Going Sailing

Sailing can be a wonderful way to pass those sunny breezy weekends. You can spend time with family and friends and enjoy the sun all in a private space. You can have a full-on party the entire way and make it a trip that you will not forget. However, no matter how much you might hate to think about the precautionary measures, you must think about them. A Mariner’s favorite phrase has always been ‘Be Prepared’. You might think all this safety and precautionary clauses will dampen the fun on the boat, but you will surely enjoy more if everyone returns healthy and sound.

First you need to set some ground rules, instruct everyone that if they are not experienced they should not fiddle with any marine stainless steel products that they may find onboard, especially if there are kids. Moreover, hand each one a life jacket that they can keep handy if there is an emergency. Children on board should be constantly monitored and each one should be responsible for their own belongings. Now here are some of the things you should and should not bring onboard.

•    Limit the Alcohol – Yes, the sunset might not seem as beautiful without a brew in hand, but make sure you do not go overboard with the drink as you can literally go – overboard!
•    Bring Some Meds – Some medicines should be onboard at all times including sea sickness pills, band-aids and bandages; meds for cuts, bruises, burns, aches and pains etc. And don’t forget your daily meds.
•    Proper Attire – The weather while sailing can be quite deceiving, while it can be warm and sunny in the morning by evening it can quickly go cool and chilly. Make sure you have breezy cotton clothes for the day and some sort of warm wear for the evenings. Some kind of windcheater jackets should work well.
•    Food and Water – Make sure you have plenty of supplies of food and drinking water onboard.

To make sure you have a safe, enjoyable trip, use all the appropriate marine stainless steel products and take care of all the safety measures.