Whenever we talk about stainless steel, we always use numbers - 304, 163, 18/8 and many more. We also talk about the gauge of the steel, and it can all get very confusing. So, we thought we’d demystify the categorising and classification process by explaining what the different numbers mean. 18/8 and 18/10 are two…
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Uses of Stainless Steel Through The Ages
Stainless steel is one of the most widely used materials in existence today. Its combination of strength, durability and corrosion resistance makes it hard to beat in a wide variety of applications. Yet this hasn’t always been the case. Originally known as “rustless steel” stainless steel wasn’t an instant hit. In 1913, when Harry Brearley,…
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How Stainless Steel Saves you Money
It is interesting to discover how the benefits of stainless steel extend beyond personal cookware. Many home kitchens understand the advantages to cooking with this metal and that is why it is a preferred material for cookware and utensils. It’s durable, corrosion-resistant and has unsurpassed hygienic traits that other materials do not exhibit. But did you know…
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How Stainless Steel Is Recycled
Stainless steel is one of the most recyclable metals in the world, making it a far better environmental choice than many other materials. It’s true that stainless steel products have a very long life expectancy – often up to several decades – but there will eventually come a time when they will reach the end…
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What Factors Affect The Price of Stainless Steel in South Africa?
Commodity markets can be difficult to predict and even more difficult to understand, but there are certain factors that we can usually rely on to influence to price of metals, and which we can monitor to pick up trends in the market place. When it comes to stainless steel, the main reason for fluctuations in…
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Helpful Hints for the Holidays – Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Appliances
The holidays are great, but they usually mean our favourite appliances are worked even harder than usual as we buy more food, cook more meals and do a lot more washing of dishes! If you have a stainless steel fridge, dishwasher, stove, kitchen sink, toaster, kettle or microwave, you’re probably noticing they’re showing signs of…
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The Future Looks Bright For Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a low maintenance, high-performing product that is 100% recyclable at the end of its life. These characteristics help make it one of the most economical and preferred choices for consumer goods, such as washing machines, fridges and other domestic appliances, as well as for industrial applications in the transportation, construction, public works…
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Types of Stainless Steel
Although there is some debate as to when stainless steel was invented, and by whom, there’s no doubt that the metal is one of the most useful and versatile products around today. Stainless steel is usually divided into five types: Austenitic Also called the 300 series, this is by far the most commonly used steel,…
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Three Things We Bet You Didn’t Know About Stainless Steel
Most people know that stainless steel is one of the world’s most versatile and durable products, but there are a few things about this amazing alloy that we bet you didn’t know! Read on…. Stainless Steel Expands and Contracts Although stainless steel has a very high temperature resistance compared to other metals, it still expands…
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Stainless Steel – Perfect For Plumbing
Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant, good-looking and low maintenance material that has almost limitless applications in commercial, industrial, and residential environments. Its high resistance to corrosion, heat, and chemical damage, coupled with its significant strength to weight ratio, make it the ideal choice for plumbing fixtures and fittings. A huge plus in using stainless steel…
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Why support local steel suppliers?
In our current economy, most of the decisions to buy or not to buy are based on price. And when you are looking for a steel supplier, this is especially true. The international market has shrunk a great deal. Many industries find that their competition is no longer the guy up the road. Nowadays, it’s…
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Use and practicality – A closer look at metal strengths
As industry forges forward we see more and more of our world being built on and around metal frames. We rely on the strength of these various metals and trust that they are going to keep their form carry the weights we impose on them. The magic of these powerful metals rests in their various…
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The history of steel in South Africa
The history of steel in South Africa is certainly an interesting one. If you do not know the story behind how steel became an important source of income for people living in this country than you are about to find out. Hendrik van der Bijl is the man to thank for the production of steel…
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Stainless Steel Around the World
We’ve said it once, we’re saying it again, and we’re going to keep on saying it – stainless steel is truly one of the world’s most versatile products! To help you appreciate just how useful and adaptable this material really is, let’s have a look at some of its more famous applications around the world.…
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Steel Yourself – Braai Day Is Coming!
Stainless Steel is super versatile, and you will find it in pretty much every home and business in some form or another. In South Africa, Heritage Day is just around the corner, and vast numbers of us will be spending many happy hours standing over what is surely the most well used piece of stainless…
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Stainless Steel Sheets – Isn’t It Time You Changed?
Sheet metal is essentially what it says on the tin – thin, flat pieces of metal that can be cut or bent into a variety of shapes. Sheets can vary tremendously in terms of thickness – very thin sheets are often referred to as leaf or foil, while thicker pieces are called plate. Technically speaking,…
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What are the benefits of using stainless steel flanges?
In industry, flanges form a vital connecting link for piping, valves and other equipment. They provide an easy point of access for cleaning, inspection, modification, and for necessary repairs. A flanged joint provides a strong seal in a closed system, and is made by bolting together a gasket flanked by two flanges. In heavy industry,…
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Steel pipe versus copper pipe: What are the main differences?
The question of copper pipe versus stainless steel arises often, notably in plumbing. Is there a significant difference of one over the other? Are there major cost differences? Does it make any difference during installation? Let’s take a look. Steel is one of the strongest and most durable metals available for plumbing. When building a…
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The importance of steel in the shipping industry – how steel has changed over the centuries
In years gone by ships were made from wood and if anything, metal only played a part in the structure of the hull. Unlike the ships today, ships back then were primarily used to transport goods like spices and silks to all corners of the globe. There weren’t different decks and quarters for all the…
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What are the differences between steel pipe and tube?
Tube and pipe are terms often used interchangeably. To most people it doesn’t matter what the difference is, if any. After all, they are just hollow cylinders – right? There are notable differences between tubing and piping – both in how they are made and in how they are used. And it does matter. Let’s…
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Stainless steel – considered as one of the most versatile metals
Stainless steel is known for its adaptability as it can be used for a number of applications and in a variety of industries. The reason why it is the metal of choice is because of its corrosion resistance which means it is ideal for to use for piping, as fittings for pipes and quite honestly,…
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Sheet metal – what it is used for and the importance of sheet metal workers
When thinking about sheet metal the first uses that come into mind are the automobile industry and construction. Well, surprisingly enough sheet metal is used for a variety of applications. What sheet metal is, is metal that has been cut into thin pieces for use in a wide range of industries. Sheet metal can be…
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The pros and cons of stainless steel jewelry, specifically rings
Stainless steel jewelry rings are becoming increasingly popular. There are many who don’t like the idea of an inexpensive metal, technically an alloy, to replace the traditional custom of wearing rings made of precious metal or sporting gemstones. But there are many who love the idea of an inexpensive ring that can mean something and…
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Why choose structural steel fabrication for your next building project?
Structural steel Structural steel has been a top choice in all types of building constructions for many years around the world. Even the smallest bungalow will incorporate this material because it offers faster construction. Building your own home can be such a frustrating experience as you watch the weeks drag by and barely any work…
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The versatility of steel – steel containers that can be used for offices or homes!
Have you ever wandered what happens to shipping containers when they are no longer being used? We all know that they go to a container “graveyard”, but what happens once they are there? Thanks to the intelligence of man, there are now multiple uses for steel containers. They can be used for storage space, garages,…
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Tips on how steel fabrication is done
The fabrication is done with the help a number of per-determined steps and is considered to be a systematic step. Steel is considered to be one of the most essential elements for starting any construction business. The fabrication of steel helps in making a number of equipment which are required in a business. In other…
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Understanding how steel design is used in various projects
Steel is considered as one of the most important components of modern day engineering and construction. If you are in the construction and engineering trade, understanding how steel design is used properly is something that you need to know. Steel has become one of the crucial materials that we rely on to make sure that…
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What are stainless steel plates used for?
Stainless steel plates are extremely important for use in niche markets all over the world. It plays a vital role in the construction industries and assists in the creation of both buildings and other everyday items. The cost of stainless steel plate will vary depending on the size and quality. Often people will get confused…
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