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Restoring old picture frames

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Restoring old picture frames

I love how much work went into old picture frames. They often told as much of a story as the picture inside. I see lots of frames in my business that have not been treated well, that have been stored badly in sheds or sat in rooms with smoke building up on them for years. It's great to be able to get the frames back to their glory days and let their beauty shine on through. If you are looking to do some restoration of your own, my site has a collection of the tips and tricks I've learnt over the years to get the best effects.

Uses and benefits of steel tubes and what you should consider when purchasing

21 January 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Stainless steel is a popular material for tubing. Steel tubes are made from standard steel alloy and minimal quantities of chromium. Below, you will learn about the types of steel tubes and some considerations when purchasing them.

Types of steel tubes

  • Seamless. The tubes are manufactured by extrusion in either a hot or cold environment. Long sections of a steel bar are forced through a die that forms the shape of the tube. The tubes are thinner and weigh less. They are suited for transmitting low pressure liquids.
  • Electric resistant welded tubes. A rolled sheet of steel is passed through two weld rollers with a groove around their circumference. A contact at the roller transmits electricity at a high current that closes the sheet together. The resulting weld is very small because the heat can be controlled easily.

Applications

  • Pharmaceutical production
  • Food manufacturing
  • Petrochemical uses
  • Plumbing
  • Construction of handrails and bicycle frames
  • Manufacture of refrigeration units
  • Creating flagpoles and street lamps
  • Construction of automotive parts like exhaust pipes

Advantages

  • Less Corrosive. Steel does not corrode easily in either acidic or alkaline environment. This property makes it more versatile in many different industries. It also does not rust easily due to the presence of chromium. This makes it more preferable than other materials such as iron.
  • Heat resistant. Stainless steel is both fire and heat resistant and can be used even in high temperatures without losing shape.
  • Hygiene. The material can be cleaned easily and also does not allow microbes such as bacteria to pass through. This makes it suitable for industries or places requiring strict hygiene such as water purification.
  • Fabrication. Stainless steel can be easily fabricated to suit your operations.
  • Impact resistance. Stainless steel is a sustainable material that is impact resistant and is more durable than other materials.

Factors to consider when getting steel tubes

  • Shape. The tubes are available in many different shapes. Round shaped tubes are used to transfer fluids while square and rectangular tubes are used in the construction industry. You should get a tube shaped to suit your line of work.
  • Grade. The structural strength of steel is determined by the grade. Lower grade steel tubes are suitable for general purposes like transmission of fluids. Higher grade steel tubes are better suited for applications with a lot of stress.
  • Polishing. Polishing gives stainless steel products a shiny finish that is not only easy to clean but also aesthetically pleasing. You should consider getting polished steel for these reasons. You can also have the tubes polished inside using grit to ease flow of liquids when in use.