It’s time for a festive family or holiday dinner at your home. You’ve made your shopping list and checked it several times. The good linen tablecloth has been refreshed and is sitting in wait of table settings, the centerpiece, and the decorative finishing touches. The dinner is in the oven, the dessert is arriving with [...]
Aluminum is a light-weight metal with a bright silvery luster. Small amounts of other metals are added to aluminum to make harder alloys for most uses. Its affinity for oxygen makes it resistant to corrosion and attack by most chemicals. Most aluminum used in visible parts of appliances is lacquered or [...]
True brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It tends to oxidize (tarnish) quickly when exposed to air, which is a major reason why most brass is given a clear coating of lacquer to prevent this condition. Most conventional polishes such as “Brasso®,” “Twinkle®,” etc. coat the raw metal with a [...]
Bronze is copper alloy. In modern times, bronze is an alloy of copper and any metal except zinc. It is generally more expensive than brass and more corrosion resistant. Bronze forms a patina (green color) which is protective to the metal and is often seen on artwork. Reproduced it is called Verde. [...]
Sterling silver is an alloy of 92 1/2 percent silver and 7 1/2 percent copper. Its beauty increases with use, which causes a patina or soft sheen to form. Plated silver is silver that has been electroplated over another metal. Silver tarnishes when exposed to air. This occurs more quickly in damp [...]
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that contains more than 10 percent chromium. Stainless steel resists stains but occasionally dulls or will show oily finger prints. This steel is noted for its hardness and is used for utensils, tableware, sinks, counter tops and small appliances. In the process of making [...]
Copper is valued for strength, malleability, ductility, and ability to conduct electricity and heat. It is also non-magnetic, resists wear, and forms a green patina which makes it resistant to corrosion. Copper is used to coat bottoms of steel pans to improve heat conduction, for decorative items, and in a few other cookware applications. It [...]
Nails and moisture make an ugly duo. The result can be rusty nail stains all along your exterior wood siding and indoors too. Don’t just paint over the problem. Fix it so the stains don’t magically reappear.
Nail heads can rust and create spots on painted surfaces in your home. This problem is caused by using [...]
Pewter may be pitted or stained by acids and other chemicals in some foods, so wash immediately after using. Be careful not to dent or scratch it.
Antique pewter is an alloy of lead and tin. The lead makes it darken to its characteristic shade. Because of the lead, these antique pieces should not be used [...]
Metal is a great material with a lot of advantages like easy maintenance and great durability. But metal has also one important disadvantage because it can rust when it’s exposed to humid weather conditions. Removing rust is not so difficult if you follow next steps.
First thing is to protect your hands with rubber gloves. The [...]
