When it comes to an excellent combination of mechanical properties such as tensile strength, shear strength, toughness, hardness, and ductility, it is hard to beat carbon steel. When it comes to having all of those mechanical properties at an affordable rate, it is hard to beat hot rolled carbon steel. Hot rolled carbon steel is a metal alloy comprised mostly of iron with some carbon that is rolled down in size from an ingot, at a heat level above its recrystallization temperature. Forming hot rolled carbon steel at this high temperature gives it excellent mechanical properties while keeping costs lower than a cold-rolled carbon steel. There are many grades of hot rolled carbon steel available, which might raise the question: “What is the difference among all of the hot rolled steel grades?” This article answers that question.

While welding is often associated hot orange sparks and molten metal, there are several welding processes that do not fit this visual. One of the most notable of these welding processes is cold welding. It has been used at the industrial level for nearly a century and has several advantages that other welding processes do not possess.

Metals are often selected for their aesthetic appeal as much as their mechanical properties. In these cases, the metal needs to be polished to attain the desired look. There are several different ways to polish metal and certain considerations that need to be evaluated prior to selecting a polishing method.

It is not uncommon to think that all metal tubing is made the same way, and at first glance, differences among tubes might not be noticeable. However, metal tubes can be formed in several different ways. Two of the most common types of meta tube are welded tube and seamless tube. Understanding the differences between them is important when choosing metal tube for your project.