Stainless Steel Blog

It may be hard to believe, but our banding products are making big projects happen!  After all, who would have thought that a simple 2” wide band would be strong enough to hold cable that goes miles beneath a river, tunnel or road project?

Horizontal Directional Drilling – The New Way to Work

Horizontal directional drilling is a complicated term describing the need to drill parallel to the surface of the earth to connect one point to another without destroying or re-building everything in between.  In our industry it is most often used to bundle conduit in drill casing (pipe).

Outside of the oil and gas industry horizontal directional drilling is commonly used in construction projects to drill below something such as a road or a waterway.  For instance, if you need to lay cables beneath a roadway, the most cost effective way to do so is to drill underneath and pull the cables through the casing.

 

Another growing use for this type of drilling involves crossing waterways.  For instance, if you needed to run cables or wires across a canal, it would be easier and less expensive to drill UNDER the canal rather than building supports to run over the top of the canal.

Benefits of drilling horizontally include:

• Lower cost & environmental impact
• Equipment setup times & construction requirements are relatively short
• Holes do not have to be straight making it easy to avoid obstacles
• The pipe is guided exactly where it needs to go without hitting pilings, pipelines, etc.
• No impact to traffic, shipping, etc. in the affected area

Uses for Banding in Horizontal Drilling

So now that you’ve gotten the idea of what’s involved, the question becomes how do you actually feed heavy cable conduit through a long pipe?  After all, the distance might be quite large and the weight of the cable being pulled quite heavy.

Our heavy duty banding stainless is wrapped around the bundle of conduit to hold the bundle together.  Without the toughness and strength of US made stainless steel bands, the entire operation might not be possible.  That’s why it’s important to use only the highest quality stainless when assembling our bands, and for us that means we use only US made stainless steel.

If you're interested in investing in stainless steel, you'd do well to learn about how steel prices ebb and flow over time. Like many other commodities, steel experiences dramatic fluctuations in its price value, depending on many external economic factors. According to analysts' reports, the highs and lows of steel price values can swing as much as 84 percent.

Peaks and Trenches in Steel Value

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any particular schedule for the price peaks. The  market has seen steel prices soar in July of 2000, May of 2003, March of 2005, July of 2006, and August of 2008. Sometimes the price peaks are three years apart and sometimes they are just over a year apart, so there's no way for an investor to time his sale of steel based on the calendar.

Similarly, there doesn't appear to be a timed schedule for dips in steel's price either. In the past, there have been significant price drops in steel during May of 1999, April of 2002, August of 2003, February of 2006, and June of 2009. However, investors who use market averages to decide their investment strategy will notice that the average time between steel price rises is 24 months, while the average time between steel price drops is about 30 months.

Understanding the Steel Price Cycle

If you look at the rise and fall of steel prices as one cycle, you'll notice that the industry itself is quite volatile. Generally, steel can swing 42 percent above its average price or fall 42 percent below its average price. This makes the steel commodity a particularly difficult one to invest in. Depending on when you get into the market, your revenue could either rise or fall by as much as 65 percent from one year to the next.

Some analysts have claimed that the price fluctuations are largely due to an increase in demand, followed by an increase in competition. As demand for steel rises (especially involving construction or municipal needs), its price value goes up. However, when more steel companies enter the market to meet the demand, competition drives the average price of the metal down, causing values to fall once again. If this is true, a savvy investor could observe the changes in steel supply and demand and time his or her purchases accordingly.

Image c/o: born1945

We all recognize the importance of traffic signs, but without the proper hardware and maintenance, traffic signs would not be able to exist in the environment. There are a variety of materials and supports used that withstand the various changes in temperature and weather, as well as protect the sign from theft. The types of pole mounting hardware used also ensure that the traffic signs are visible to drivers and pedestrians, won’t suffer from glares from the sun and will pass all inspections conducted by the state and government.

Here are the most basic types of traffic sign hardware that you’ll find being used on a day-to-day basis:

Band Straps: Made from stainless steel, these straps secure signs to their posts. This prevents theft and enables the sign to remain fixated to the pole.

Band Strap Brackets: These stainless steel brackets are used with band straps to mount the signs to the post. There are two different types of brackets: straight leg style and flared leg style.

Steel Posts: Many traffic signs sit on U-Channel steel posts that are lightweight, sturdy and easy to push into the ground. They can be made from galvanized steel or baked enamel steel.

Stainless Steel Buckles: These steel buckles are used in heavy duty applications where a band needs to be wrapped around the pole once or twice.

Crosspiece: Made from stainless steel, these crosspieces are designed for street signs at a cross-intersection to enable several street signs on one post.

Steel Clamps: These heavy duty steel clamps are used to secure one sign to its post. Unlike a band that needs to be clipped, clamps are sealed shut with the existing hardware.

Acorn Caps: These caps have a rounded, acorn top and cover the tops of round posts.

Drive Caps: Drive caps are designed for square posts and make it easier to drive the post into the ground.

Flat Caps: Flat caps cover the tops of round posts for a clean look.

Pyramid Caps: Like drive caps, pyramid caps are designed to cover the tops of square posts.

Decorative Finials: Finials go on top of street signs to add extra character in a neighborhood.

Bolts and Nuts: Bolts and nuts connect the signs to their posts. Additional pieces such as wrenches, break away posts and channel posts can also be used in these applications.

Image Source: isostainless.com

What is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel has always been a favored metal, but recently, it has been the preferred choice for modern-day homes, as homeowners welcome sinks, stoves, microwave ovens and refrigerators that boast stainless steel exteriors. Stainless steel is an iron-based alloy that contains 10.5 percent chromium or more. Chromium is a self-healing oxide, which is why stainless steels are known for being stainless or resistant to corrosion. There are different levels of chromium added to each type of metal, as well as other components such as nickel or manganese.

Where is Steel Found?

Steel is produced from iron ore, which occurs naturally in our earth’s crust. The iron ore is then subjected to very high temperatures in order to extract it from the ground. This method is also referred to as smelting. There are other agents added that give steel its hardness properties. Carbon for example, can be added to the iron ore to give the steel its added durability. Other examples of added agents include nickel, silicon, phosphorous, sulfur, manganese and chromium. Sometimes these agents occur naturally and other times, they are added intentionally to the metal.

How is Steel Made?

Generally speaking, iron ore, coke (made from coal) and limestone are gathered and melted in a blast furnace in temperatures over 3000 F. These blasts of hot air heat the iron, coke and limestone until they are molten and then oxygen is removed to produce the iron. Traditionally, steel was made in open-hearth furnaces, but have since been replaced by basic oxygen furnaces that are more efficient for large-scale productions.

In fact, a basic oxygen furnace can produce the same amount of steel in one hour as an open-hearth furnace could in eight hours. Once the steel reaches the ladle metallurgy center, it can be customized to customer and government regulations. The composition of the steel is analyzed and here is where certain agents can be added to make the steel what it is. Some types of steel are hot rolled and sold as hot bands, while other types of steel are welded into pipes or tubing.

Interestingly, steel is one of the least expensive metals available and together with iron, the two metals comprise for 95 percent of all metals produced each year.

Image Source: flickr.com

Stainless Steel Properties

Stainless steel is an alloy-based metal that contains at least 10.5 percent of chromium. Stainless steels vary based on how much chromium is added, although there are other agents that can be added as well to enhance the properties of stainless steel. On the whole, all stainless steel has the following properties:

-          Ductility

-          Strength and hardness

-          Hot strength

-          Work hardening rate

-          Corrosion resistance

-          Cryogenic toughness

Grades of Stainless Steel

There are various grades of stainless steel that have more specific properties. These include:

Stainless Steel 200 Series

This group of stainless steel is non-magnetic and features an austenitic structure. They contain 17 percent chromium, 4 percent nickel and 7 percent manganese. These stainless steels may be more resistant to attack than other series of metal, but they still have their vulnerabilities. They are susceptible to concentration cell corrosion and pitting corrosion attack. If this happens, the corrosion process speeds up very rapidly. Stainless steel in the 200 series has an incubation period of 1 to 3 months when immersed in seawater.

Stainless Steel 300 Series

This group of stainless steel is non-magnetic and has an austenitic structure, similar to the 200 series. They are made up of 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel and are vulnerable to pitting corrosion and crevice corrosion. With these limitations, the 300 series of stainless steel is not ideal in certain applications where the chloride levels are high. If however, the chloride can be maintained or concentration cell corrosion can be avoided, this type of stainless steel can do well. It does have excellent welding capabilities, making it easy to work with.

Stainless Steel 400 Series

Different from the 200 and 300 series, the 400 series of stainless steel has a martensitic structure. They contain 11 percent chromium and 1 percent manganese. These metals have a low resistance to corrosion and are vulnerable to seawater attack, with short incubation periods of only a few hours to a few days. Although these grades of stainless steel are not ideal for seawater or other similar environments, they can be protected for a longer incubation period.

Stainless Steel 600 Series

The 600 Series is also referred to as the 'precipitation hardening' stainless steels, as they can be heat treated for better strength levels. The 600 series metals are prone to stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement. Due to these vulnerabilities, precipitation hardening stainless steels are not ideal for seawater applications and have a short incubation period of a few days. These steels also do not do well in environments where chloride levels are high.

Image Source: stainlesssteelgrades.net

When buying stainless steel band, how do we choose the width, thickness, type of stainless, and which closure to use (buckle or wing seal)?

Let’s start with the type of stainless.

Type 201 stainless is the MOST POPULAR type for stainless steel applications.  201 stainless is a very high strength band--good for almost any application. Read more about type 201 by clicking here.

Type 316 stainless is the most corrosion resistant type of stainless. Read more about 315 by clicking here.

Type 304 stainless is less corrosion resistant but costs less and is stronger.How do we decide if we should use a BUCKLE or a WING SEAL?  It is the thickness of the steel that determines which one to use.  rule of thumb is that band with a thickness of .015 or .020 should use WING SEALS. 

All other band thicknesses such as .025, .030, and .044 should use BUCKLES .

Stainless steel tensioning tools must be used to get the band as tight as possible.  The TOO1 “cool tool” (blue-colored) is used on everything except the .044 band.  This band is so strong that it requires a very heavy duty tool, our T402 “bigger tool.”

Please feel free to contact us with any questions!

What is Stainless Steel Sheet Metal?

Sheet metal is metal that is formed into thin, flat pieces and serves as one of the fundamental building blocks used in metalworking. Thanks to the thin pieces, sheet metal is easy to work with and can be cut into a variety of shapes. Stainless steel is one of the most common types of metals found in sheet form, with the grades being 304, 316 and 410.

Understanding Sheet Metal Gauges

The thickness of sheet metal is referred to as its gauge, and all metals vary in their thicknesses. Gauges are specific to iron based metals, otherwise known as ferrous metals, whereas non-ferrous metals are measured in ounces. The most commonly used gauges of steel are between 8 and 30 gauges, although charts range as high as 44 gauges and as low as 1 gauge. The larger the number, the thinner the metal will be.

Sheet metal thickness gauges are determined by the weight of the steel. This allows the gauges to be most accurate so that the cost will reflect the weight of the steel. Steel weighs in at 41.82 pounds per square foot per inch of thickness.

Which Gauge is Best?

Since sheet metal is used in so many applications, it’s hard to say that one gauge of metal is better than another. What you must remember is that with each gauge increase, you lose the hardness of the metal. Thicker stainless steel has a lot of advantages, as the steel will not discolor as fast, be more durable and less resistant to scratches and corrosion. Thinner pieces of stainless steel are generally easier to work with since they can be welded and formed into various shapes. On the downside, they are less durable and less resistant to discoloration.

Applications that Favor Lower Gauges

If you’re choosing to install a sink, opting for a 16 or 15 gauge stainless steel sink is best. You may find this to be surprising since many stores carry 22 to 18 gauge sinks, which are thinner metals than what the professionals recommend.

It’s also recommended that steel pieces of furniture such as office desks, file cabinets and safes should be made from 16 or 15 gauge steel. Another area is cooking utensils and pots and pans, which range from 19 to 15 gauge, on average. Even though a higher gauge cooking sheet will be most economical, a lower gauge cooking sheet will be sturdier, more resistant to heat and enable even cooking.

Applications that Favor Higher Gauges

So what are some applications where thinner types of metal should be used? Roofing is one area that calls for a thinner metal, with 29 gauge being the thinnest metal recommended. Many professional companies will offer their heavy duty 24 gauge metal that offers protection from inclement weather conditions, while being lightweight enough that the structure of the home can handle the metal roof. Many tools in jewelry making are preferred in their higher gauge forms, as the materials are easier to work with, more bendable and more comfortable to wear.

On the whole, lower gauges of stainless steel are favored because that indicates that the thickness of the metal is better. Because thickness and durability go hand in hand, many products are best served by this added strength. However, there are some applications that fare best with lightweight stainless steel and in turn, require the higher gauges of steel.

Image Source: tomsguide.com

Steel is the most widely used metal alloy, as it can be commercially used by most machines. Steel is an alloy of iron that includes other metals such as nickel and chromium. Today, you’ll find that steel is used to make many things around the world such as ships, cars, weapons and buildings. Not only is steel the most commonly used alloy, but also it is one of the oldest alloys known to man. In fact, people started making a type of steel back in 250 BC in India.

Historically Different

Although steel was being used in India, it was much different than the U.S. steel we know today. It was more flexible and capable of breaking, compared to today’s steel that is hard and dense. In 400 and 500 AD, China and Europe started using steel after the fall of Rome. There is some recent research that shows steel may have been used in 300 AD in the Netherlands, as well as during the Han Dynasty in 200 AD. Until this research was found however, it has been believed that steel made its impact during 400 and 500 AD.

New Elements, New Strength

It wasn’t until 1000 AD that new elements were added to steel to make it stronger. This new steel was called Damascus steel and it was the same steel that the Crusaders used in their weapons. Although the new, stronger steel was a major advancement, by 1300 AD, Damascus steel had been forgotten, in part because the elements that went into the steel had been forgotten.

Many Applications

Steel was used for a number of applications since then such as sharpening knives, razors and swords. It could also be used for springs like those found in watches and clocks. Steel was a great metal to work with, as it was strong and durable. The downside however, was that it was expensive. There were other types of materials used in steel’s place where possible, but up until the 20^th century, these materials were far and few between. In the 20^th century, plastics become available and were used in place of steel in certain applications, as it was cheaper, lighter and easier to obtain.

Today, steel can be used for a number of uses such railways, vehicles, marine environments, construction settings and industrial clamping. The recent downturn of the economy had a negative effect on the industry, but the price of steel has been slowly creeping up in recent years, helping the industry to catch up.

Image Source: artlex.com

More people are considering new ways to lower their carbon footprint and recycle everyday materials. The exciting news is that many of the products we come into contact with each day can be recycled in unique ways. For example, old traffic signs and parking signs can be re-purposed with a bit of creativity. It can make a fun afternoon project with the kids or something to keep you busy on a rainy afternoon.

 

1. Wall Art: Who doesn’t like bright, colorful wall art in their homes? The downside is that wall art is expensive. By recycling an old traffic sign however, you can have the base for your wall art without spending any money, except for the materials you choose to use to decorate with. Consider that metal 3D wall art is super popular, so your art will look trendy, unique and stylish.
2. Garage Décor: If the one room in the home you get to decorate is the garage, have fun using old street signs. People love collecting street signs where the name may have significance or fond memories. And because the garage is one area where there’s more flexibility, you can start a collection of street signs.
3. Re-purpose for Household Items: If you’re crafty and have the time and patience to really do something with old traffic signs, read up on re-purposing the signs into something else. Some people have used the metal to make coasters, light switch plates and decoratives.
4. House Numbers: Make your home stand out by cutting out your address numbers and hanging them on the garage or front door. Instead of paying for each number, you can make your own in any size or font that you desire. And, visitors won’t go driving past your house anymore.
5. Jewelry: Where do you think jewelry comes from in the first place? Recycled jewelry is becoming more popular, so get a piece of the action by making your own jewelry re-purposed from old traffic signs. Look for recycled gems to fill out your creations.
6. Magnets: If the kids love playing with magnets on your refrigerator and you’re tired of losing them underneath the fridge, try something new. The metal from the old traffic signs can be cut and applied to a magnet, then used for fun on the fridge.
7. Recycle: If you have old metal signs and don’t know what to do with them, take them down to your local scrap yard. Most traffic and parking signs can be recycled, and you may even get some cash for your effort.

Image Source: treehugger.com

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive around town without traffic signs? We take these simple signs for granted, but they are an essential communication system for drivers and pedestrians. Not only are signs necessary for telling us where to go, what the road conditions are like and what obstructions may lay ahead, but they can even be used to alert people of missing children, accidents and travel times. Thanks to traffic signs, the roads are much safer. In fact, many of the fatal accidents that do occur happen because drivers are being reckless and ignoring the traffic signs.

Before you get your driver’s license, you must be familiar with what the various traffic signs indicate. You should be able to see the shape or color and identify which sign it is. Unfortunately, many of us don’t deal with all types of signs on a regular basis and forget what they mean over time. It’s not a bad idea to review the traffic signs so that you remember what they mean and are prepared for exams when you renew your license.

So what are the different traffic signs you need to be familiar with?

Generally speaking, yellow signs are used to depict warnings or changes in road conditions ahead. These changes can be attributed to school zones, intersections or crossroads and are designed to alert the driver so that he or she slows down and drives safely.

Green signs are used to direct drivers, so you’ll find this bright green color on street signs, as well as distance and destination signs. Blue signs are used to communicate where services are such as gas, lodging and food. When you see these blue signs, you know that some type of service lies ahead, which is great for long travels. Brown signs tell you about historic landmarks such as parks, recreational activities and scenic sites, so look for these when you travel as well.

Orange signs are respective of construction sites and road repair work. Orange is a bright color and one that is instantly recognized by drivers, keeping not only them safe, but also construction workers who risk their lives by working on the road. Finally, red stop signs are easily identified by their shape and color, especially as red is associated with stopping. Yield signs are also to be adhered to, as you’ll want to slow and yield to the cars that cross your path.

Since traffic signs need to be dependable and visible for drivers, you can expect to see them secured using stainless steel sign brackets. There are different brackets available and these include both flared leg and straight leg styles. Companies such as ISO Stainless provide these high grade stainless steel clamps that are dependable for displaying traffic signs and keeping the roads as safe as possible.