Pro tips
6 Tips For Preventing Rust
Rust is the name for the orange-brown flakes of iron oxide that form on the surface of any metal containing iron that is exposed to air and water. It is a type of corrosion that can be highly destructive, as well as unsightly. In this article, we will share tips on how to prevent rust.…
Read MoreHow Tool Steel is Made
Tool steel, as the name suggests, is often used to produce and repair machine tools and hand tools (among other applications). Known for its extreme hardness, tool steel has good abrasion resistance and can hold a cutting edge at high temperatures. Different grades of tool steel are made by adding different amounts of carbon, as…
Read More7 Tips to Advance your Welding Skills
Whatever your project – whether mending a metal fence or repairing teeth on a backhoe bucket, the following advanced welding tips will help you get the job done faster, and with less waste and effort. 1. Make Good Use of Magnets Choose from a wide range of specialized magnets or clamps to use as “third hands.” These…
Read MoreWhere Do Metals Come From?
To answer the question of where metals come from, first we need to define the word, “metal.” Pure metals are basic elements of matter. There are 118 known elements either found in nature or created in the lab. Most of these elements are metals, but there are a small number of non-metal elements, such as…
Read MoreLife Of An Order
At Industrial Metal Supply, we strive daily to live up to our slogan “Metal Made Easy.” Our fast response to customer needs is well-known, and businesses and consumers alike enjoy our clean and organized way of doing things, as well as our helpful and timely service. Our six convenient locations throughout Southern California and Arizona each…
Read MoreBest Metals for Conducting Heat
Thermal conductivity is the term that describes how quickly a material absorbs heat from areas of high temperature and moves it toward areas of lower temperature. The best heat-conducting metals have high thermal conductivity and are useful for many applications, such as cookware, heat exchangers, and heat sinks. On the other hand, metals with a…
Read MoreHow to Use and Read Calipers
Dial calipers, digital calipers, and digital micrometers are used to measure the dimensional characteristics of all metals. This article will discuss how to use calipers for measuring metal rod, sheet and plate, how to read calipers, and explain the differences and uses of each. Dial Calipers Dial calipers are used for measuring diameters, thicknesses, and lengths of…
Read MoreChoosing the Right Material: Metal Piping vs Plastic Piping
When planning your next plumbing project, you need to evaluate the various types of pipe for the job. Although stainless steel and brass tubing could be used, most projects will be completed with galvanized metal, copper tubing, or some sort of plastic pipes for plumbing applications. Lead pipes and lead solder used on copper pipes…
Read MoreThe Future of Bulletproof Metal
Every day, law enforcement, security officers, and military personnel (along with politicians and movie stars) depend on bulletproof vests for their very lives. The materials used can vary from bulletproof metal plates to man-made Kevlar fabric, to composites, which combine two different types of material together to produce one with superior characteristics. All of these…
Read MoreHow to Connect Metal by Threading with a Tap
While welding is one of the go-to methods to connect metal, it’s not the only option available. If you don’t want to worry about wearing a welder’s mask and igniting a blow torch, there are other less extreme options. For a safe and effective method of connecting metal, consider tapping. What is Tapping? A tap…
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