If your job requires you to work extensively with metal and you are silly enough to do so without the use of the proper safety equipment, one of the injuries that you may be forced to deal with is getting metal in your eye. Whilst it is recommended that you seek professional medical attention for these injuries as soon as possible, you may be able to begin first aid yourself.

First, you will need to decide whether it is safe for you to attempt first aid or whether you should just leave it. If the metals (like brass ,copper or steel) shard is embedded in your eye or is affecting your vision, you should leave it for the professionals. The same goes for if the injury is a result of hammering or grinding.

If you think that it is safe for you to attempt first aid, you will need to wash your hands thoroughly. Then, try and spot the metal shard. Pull your lower eyelid down; look left to right, up and down. Pull your upper eyelid up; look left to right, up and down.

Once you spot the metal shard, you should try flushing it out, but only if it is floating on your eye’s surface. Fill a small glass with a saline solution (or warm water). Then, put your head down, place the glass at the base of your eye socket and tilt your head back slowly. You may need to repeat this process.

If you have been unsuccessful in removing the metal shard from your eye, it is imperative that you immediately make your way to a doctor or even the emergency room. If you think that you have removed the shard but notice that your eye is still irritated or red, you should also seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Brass is a wonderful metal for decorative elements, but it has a tendency of tarnishing. The longer it stays open in air, the quicker it gets tarnished. This is exactly why this metal is lacquered, especially when they are in the form of decorative piece. While lacquering is so common in brass, most of the people don’t know about lacquering and there are other sets of brass users who can’t differentiate between lacquered or non- lacquered brass.

For people who don’t know about lacquering, it is a process of adding a coating of lacquer on brass. This prevents air getting to the brass that in turn prevents tarnishing. Some brass decorative item manufacturers use polymer or plastic coating to prevent tarnishing. But any coating doesn’t last forever. Time may come when you will find coated or lacquered brass losing its shine. When it happens, mark it that is an alarming sign that means the coating is worn off and air is passing to the metal. If that happens, you would need to strip the metal, clean them and reapply the coating. Or else, if you do not want the coating anymore, keep it as it is and perform periodic cleaning.

Even if you get the metal item coated, you will have to clean them time to time. Remember, lacquer protects the metal from tarnishing, not dirt. To make them look as beautiful as ever, wipe the item with dry soft cotton cloth. If necessary you can use mild or diluted utensil cleaner to remove sticky dirt that are tough to remove when dry. Being little informed about brass lacquering can keep your decorative items shining and beautiful forever.

Brass is a man-made alloy that is made up of varying combinations of copper and zinc. Other metals can be added to the mix, however, in order to create brass that embodies different properties, such as colour and strength. If you have an item that you think might be brass, there is a way to test it both at home and in the workplace to determine whether you are correct or not.

Step 1: Weigh the metal (in pounds) using a set of scales. Then, convert this number to kilograms by dividing it by 2.2046 (since this is how heavy a single kilogram is in pounds).

Step 2: Take a graduated beaker and fill it with water until you reach the 100ml line. Drop the item you suspect is brass into the beaker, watching how high the water level rises. Record the new level. Then, subtract the first water level from the second, which leaves you with the volume of the item.

Step 3: As a milliliter is equivalent to a cubic centimeter, you are now able to convert the volume of the suspected brass item into cubic meters by dividing it by 1,000,000 cubic centimeters per cubic meter.

Step 4: Now you can divide the mass of the item by the volume, which will leave you with the density of the item in kilograms per cubic meter. If the density falls into the known range for brass, you can conclude that that is the metal you are working with.

Whilst this is not the easiest of tests to complete, as you are required to have a number of unusual tools on hand, it is one way that you can definitively determine whether the metal you are working with is brass or not. If the density is not in the known range for brass, check other ranges to work out what type of metal the item is.

These days purchase rate of aluminium is recorded all time high in construction industry. A decade back steel was considered the only material used in building structures, however in recent time things have changed and the uses of aluminium has rapidly increased in past few years. But what has made this metal so much in demand? Well, there are various for this.

Firstly, they are resistant to corrosion that is highly beneficial for buildings as they are likely get wet in almost every season. It is not necessary that only rain can be the cause of corrosion, but moisture in the air can also decay metallic element. However, aluminium cannot alone be 100% resistant to corrosion, because they have the tendency to oxidize. Therefore it has to be mixed with other alloys.

Secondly, it has light weight. Anything made with aluminium is lighter in weight that in turn makes the product easier to install and creates less pressure on the structure. With this metal a large varieties of product can be created, for instance door frames, windows, skylights, cladding, gutters and roofing. Another benefit of using aluminium cladding which is insulated is that they are thermally efficient. They can keep home warm in winters and cool in summers. The plus point is that single layer of insulated aluminium cladding is equally effective as four inches brick or stone wall.

Next, aluminium can be cut into any shape and size. It can be welded, curved, bonded and tapered for any job because of its ductile nature. Also, it can be a good beauty booster for building. By painting this metal with desired color and using it with other material it can be used as beauty feature in any building. With so much of benefit, it is not surprising if they are being widely accepted in construction.

If you regularly work with copper sheeting as a part of your day-to-day working tasks or a weekend hobby, you may have come across situations that have required you to cut it into a certain shape. Thankfully, there is no need to pay a professional to do this for you, as, with the right tools and correct measurements, you will be able to cut through your copper sheeting by yourself.

Copper Sheeting

Step 1: Lay the copper out on a flat surface that is large enough to support the entire sheet (a workbench is usually sufficient). Take a tape measure and begin working out the dimensions that you require, marking them onto the sheet using a texta or grease pencil and a straight edge.

Step 2: Elevate one end of the copper and support it with your free hand. You need to ensure that there is enough clearance for your metal cutting shears or electric jigsaw to fit underneath.

Step 3: Begin cutting the copper with the shears or electric jigsaw, making sure that you move forwards with slow and steady motions. Try to complete individual lines in one action.

Step 4: Take the deburring tool and pull it firmly across all of the freshly cut edges; this will take the sharp edge off and make the copper much safer for handling and transportation.

Continue cutting your copper sheeting in this way until you are left with your desired shape or size. Regardless of whether you are using the manual sheers or the powered jigsaw to cut through the metal, you will need to wear safety glasses and thick work gloves when working to ensure that you are protected.

If you are an avid scrap metal collector or you have found that you have mounds of junk lying around your workshop, shed or garage, you may be wondering how to best dispose of it. One way of doing this is to melt it all down into one larger piece of metal, either to sell to a scrap dealer or to make something new out of yourself. If either of these solutions appeals to you, you can use this guide to help you properly melt the scrap down.

Scrap Metal

Step 1: Separate all of your scraps according to type. This is highly important, as different metals will melt at different temperatures and this knowledge will allow you to adjust the heat accordingly.

Step 2: Put all of the scrap metal of one type into a crucible that is large enough to fit all of the pieces in. Pour a layer of baking soda over the pieces.

Step 3: Take a butane torch and adjust the flame according to the type of metal that you are melting. Copper, brass and gold, for example, will melt between about 926 degrees Celsius and 1,100 degrees Celsius.

Step 4: Put on a pair of thick work gloves and direct the torch’s flame towards the crucible. Wait until the scrap metal has melted into a liquid form. You can speed up this process by having a second person hold a second butane torch to the crucible as well.

Step 5: Once the metal has been liquefied, you can pour it into an ingot or other type of mould in order to form whatever shape you want. To avoid burning yourself, use tongs to move and tip the crucible.

You can repeat the same procedure for each of the different scrap metals that you have in your possession. If you are taking the materials to a scrap dealer, it is recommended that you place the liquefied material into ingot forms (as this are easier to weigh and transport).

Unfortunately, if metals are not stored correctly before they are used in production, they can be subjected to germs that like to live on the surface and could cause infections amongst the workers who are exposed to them. In order to prevent illnesses and diseases caused by the germs, metal must be sterilized before it is worked. This can be achieved by following a few easy steps:

Step 1: Place a pot onto a stove that is large enough to submerge the metal you will be working with in. You will also need to thoroughly wash your hands using soap and warm water, then put on a pair of sterile gloves to prevent re-contamination of the material.

Step 2: Give the metal a thorough clean using a solution of mild soap and warm water. You can then rinse the item with running water, checking it carefully for any traces of soapsuds.

Step 3: Place the metal item into the pot and cover it with water until it is completely submerged. Place the lid on the pot and turn the stove on to a setting that will cause the water to boil. Once the water is boiling, leave it like this for a full 15 minutes.

Step 4: Using a pair of oven mitts, take the pot off the stove and place it onto a heat resistant surface (such as a wooden chopping board). Leave the pot and the metal inside to cool to room temperature.

Step 5: Tip all of the water out of the pot, then change to a new pair of sterile gloves and remove the metal item. It should be used for working (or whatever use you have in mind) immediately.

As you can see, the sterilization process is a fairly simple one. The bigger factories and production companies are able to sterilize even the largest pieces of metal in a similar fashion, ensuring that their workers are not exposed to germs that could be potentially harmful.

If your home is filled with a number of antique metal items, it is likely that they have been constructed using either solid or plated brass (as this was a very popular metal at the time). Back when these items were produced, however, it was also very popular to paint the metal into a desired colour. If you would like to restore your brass items to their former glory by removing the paint, here’s how you do it:

Brass Rods

Step 1: Make sure that you are wearing the proper protective gear, as you will be working with some poisonous chemicals. At the minimum, you should be wearing a facemask, thick work gloves and goggles.

Step 2: Pour some paint thinner into a metal bucket. Ideally, you should have filled the bucket with enough paint thinner that the brass object will be completely submerged. If you are removing paint from a larger brass object, you should instead soak a cloth or a toothbrush in the thinner.

Step 3: Place the brass item into the bucket and let it soak for several minutes (skip this step if your item is much too large to fit).

Step 4: Take the toothbrush or cloth and use it to scrub at the painted areas of the brass. You will need to do this until all of the paint has been removed.

Step 5: Once all the paint has been removed, you will need to rinse the brass item thoroughly in warm water. Then, apply a specialized cleaner and run it into the item with a clean cloth. To finish, buff well with a proper buffing cloth.

Remember that, as paint thinner is a highly poisonous substance that could cause serious health problems, you should only use it in a well-ventilated area (preferably outdoors). If you do happen to get the thinner on your skin or in your eyes whilst cleaning your brass, you should go to your local emergency room immediately.

Since thousands of years metal is being used to make musical instruments, either the whole or some part of it. This is all because metal has been proved to be ideal for musical purpose. Today, almost every instrument has some part made of metal. Its contribution is extremely large, so much that musical world is hard to imagine as complete without it. Here are some metals which are used to craft instruments for music.

Brass
Brass (copper and zinc alloy) is also called musical instrument metal, because of its major contribution in this category. Almost all the instruments are crafted with this metal. For example, Trumpets, trombones, French horns, saxophones and tubas. It is also used in guitars to make slides.

Bronze
Musical instruments crafted with Bronze have historical background related to ancient China. The major characteristic of Bronze (copper and tin alloy) for which it is preferred is that when it is shaped properly can produce sound like bell. In early days, bronze was used to make bells, gongs and cymbals. This metal is still used in modern instruments such as trumpets and some types of guitar strings.

Nickel Silver
Nickel silver as an alloy of zinc, copper and nickel is extremely durable metal. It looks like silver and is similar to brass in terms of composition, because of which it is sometimes used to create silver-colored brass instruments, certain musical parts and accessories.


Steel
Steel is a modern day’s alloy metal that has recently entered into the world of music. Though steel has not much larger contribution, but still has significant role in manufacturing drums. Apart from that, the metal can be seen as electric and acoustic guitar strings, and parts/accessories of other instruments.

So far we have seen aluminum as foils to wrap food items, utensils to cook food, parts of vehicle, etc. Surprisingly there are also other uses of aluminium that we regular people are unaware of. The metal that we see around is pure aluminum, but when it is in impure, there are various ways it can be used. Say for an example aluminium chloride (AlCl3). This is a compound of aluminium and chlorine. Though, it is white in color but due to impurities like iron trichloride, it appears yellow.

Basically, it is consumed and produced during the production process of aluminium metal, though they are also extensively used in other areas of chemical industry.

• Petroleum Refining
  AlCl3 is extensively used in the manufacturing and refining petrochemicals such as ethylbenzene, alkylbenzene, ethyl chloride, alkyl aryl ketone, etc. 

• Chemical Industry
  In chemical companies it is largely used to manufacture pharmaceuticals. Dyes intermediates and other organic chemicals such as anthraquinone, phthalocyanines, acetophenone, butyl rubber and phenylethyl alcohols are some other products produced using this compound. Apart from that it is used as a nucleus inhibitor during titanium dioxide production. 

• Pure Aluminium Production
  Aluminum Chloride is an impure form of aluminium, hence it is used in aluminum production, in the metallurgical industry and as a flux in aluminium smelting. 

• Cosmetic industry
  The most strainge use of this compound is in cosmetic industry where it is used as an astringent, active ingredient in antiperspirants, etc. Other uses Other uses of AlCl3 are in the production of synthetic rubber, lubricants, wood preservatives, paint manufacturing, antiperspirants and making detergents.

Whilst glue is helpful for allowing us to glue one thing to another, when it gets onto a metal surface it can be near impossible to completely remove. Regardless of whether your have managed to get sticker residue, craft glue or a stronger adhesive (like wood glue) onto your metal, with a little elbow grease you’ll be able to completely remove it.

If you can, take the metal item outside or open up the windows and doors to provide plenty of ventilation. Put on a pair of protective gloves, like the rubber gloves you use to wash the dishes. Apply an adhesive remover to the metal’s surface, following the instructions that came with it. You will need to wait for the remover to work, which may take anywhere from five to fifteen minutes.

Take a plastic scraper and chip away at the glue. If the remover has softened some of the thicker clumps, you can use a paper towel to remove them from the metal without getting it all over your fingers.

Mix together some mild soap with warm water and soak into a sponge. Use it to wipe down the metal surface to remove any remaining glue, as well as any leftover adhesive remover. If you notice that there is glue still on the metal, you can reapply the remover and leave it to work once more.

Rinse the sponge and use it to wipe down the metal surface once again, this time to remove any remaining soap residue. As the sponge will probably leave some moist residue, you can use a dry cloth to wipe it off. If you don’t, you are inviting rust to develop. Your metal surface should now be free of glue.