You are currently browsing the Starland Metals Blog blog archives for May, 2013.

Archive for May, 2013

Buy Stainless Steel Paperweight

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-30-2013

Stainless steel has many uses, so you always get the most out of your investment. Did you know we carry stainless steel paperweights at Starland Metals? You don’t have to worry about paperwork or light and sensitive materials flying away when you are outside completing a task. With our paperweights, you can ensure that your items are safe.

Stainless Steel At Affordable Prices

In addition to the paperweights that we have in stock, we also have a lot of other items as well. Feel free to browse our selection today – you never know what you are going to come across that will help you complete a new task. Keep in mind that we are always offering new deals, so be on the lookout for our current specials. You are definitely going to want to take advantage of these discounts when they are available. If you have any questions about our products, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Caring For Your Steel

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-28-2013

Stainless steel is beautiful. Whether you’ve redesigned your kitchen to a include a stainless steel backsplash or utilize a stainless steel grill to prepare some of your favorite foods, stainless steel’s durability and longevity make it a popular choice for many people today.

While many stainless steel applications work well as intended by the designer and fabricator, there are times when the purchaser feels less than satisfied by the performance of the material. Generally, a little knowledge of your product and a few helpful hints can foster the enjoyment of your product. Selecting a bright, polished surface provides maximum corrosion resistance. Using a directional polish that contains silicon carbide abrasives can provide adequate corrosion resistance even in the toughest environments. Post-weld treatment of the steel can dramatically improve its corrosion resistance. Welds in stainless steel usually lead to some degree of heat tint and a post-weld treatment would help improve the corrosion resistance of the material. This is something the fabricator does.

Many times people think that their stainless steel has rusted, when in actuality the rusting comes from the carbon steel in things like tools, cutting sparks or wire brushes that have contaminated the surface of the stainless steel. Selecting the right grade of steel in addition to regular cleaning and maintenance are things that improve the performance of your steel. Starland Metals has been in the business of top-quality metal manufacturing and parts fabrication since 1988.

Steel Just Got Greener

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-23-2013

Because of top-of-class sustainability initiatives and the reputation of being the very first steel mill in the world to have a documented negative carbon footprint, steel manufacturer Jersey Shore Steel Company was honored with the 2013 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Jersey Shore Metals is also a finalist for technology innovation and industry leadership in the 2013 Platts Global Metals Awards.

The Governor’s Award features the best in environmental innovation and expertise. Those presented with the honor represent conservation organizations, agricultural firms, energy consulting firms, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Boeing, and Harley Davidson.  The Governor’s Award is the highest statewide honor given to businesses and organizations for environmental innovation and expertise. Jersey Shore Steel has been committed to long-term sustainability of its operations, as well as educating consumer and industrial markets about the merits of JSS green steel. It has also been dubbed Penn State University as the world’s greenest steel.

Starland metals is your one stop shop for stainless steel metals, stainless steel tile backsplash, and stainless steel sheeting.

Personalizing Your Kitchen

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-21-2013

Personalizing your stainless steel kitchen means renovating or designing with you in mind. This can be achieved by adding your favorite color or integrating something special like a personal item or a family heirloom.

One great way to beautify and make your kitchen unique, is by using faux paint. Faux paint creates texture and visual interest; this is a look that you can actually get yourself by color washing, sponging or ragging. Use faux paint to create pictures on windows or even draw a bouquet of flowers on the ceiling above the island. Another creative way to make your kitchen stand out is by stenciling a border. Create a design on the floor using a stencil  for a look that is traditional or country. Other ideas include adding a backsplash design like inscribing family recipes or pictures or incorporating a brushed stainless steel backsplash. Decorate hardware like knobs, cabinet hinges, or doors.

These ideas add charm and character to your stainless steel kitchen and at the same time transforms it into a space that is rich in culture and character.

Starland Metals has the most competitive prices on stainless steel sheets anywhere. Starland can deliver the size and type of stainless steel you want for a great low price.

Stainless Steel Kitchen Cabinetry

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-16-2013

Investing in kitchen cabinetry is an important decision. Investing in stainless steel kitchen cabinetry is a smart decision. When you invest in in stainless steel, you’re adding to one of the most essential areas of the home. Stainless steel cabinets articulate the feel of a room, whether it’s traditional or contemporary, while depicting personality. Arranged in a thoughtful way, they enhance function and efficiency.

Generally, there are three major types of cabinets: stock or “off the shelf” cabinets. Supplied by a dealer or distributor’s existing inventory, these cabinets are made-to-order by the manufacturer. Cabinets are offered in a variety of sizes, styles, configurations, and finishes. Semi-custom cabinets are factory made, which can be customized to come in an assortment of sizes, configurations, styles, and finishes. There’s even room for some size adjustments and variations. Custom stainless steel cabinets are factory built to the specifications of your order. You get a wider selection of styles and finishes and you’ll pay a little more, but you get the kitchen you want.

Cabinet accessories are integral to the design and usability of the cabinets. Some accessories include roll out shelves, lazy susans, and full extension drawer slides. You can even decide from a number of work surfaces – from laminate to solid surface veneer. What ever you choose, it’s likely to make a great addition to the ever versatile and durable stainless steel. Starland Metals have been in the business of top-quality metal manufacturing and parts fabrication since 1988.

The 100th Anniversary of Stainless Steel

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-14-2013

It’s the 100th anniversary of stainless steel!  And as a visual tribute – a mural of the man who discovered one of the world’s most popular types of steel,

Harry Brealey, has been created.  Resident and original entrepreneur of  Sheffield England, Brealey came up the concept of stainless steel in his Brown Firth Laboratory a century ago. From his discovery others forms of steel were created like steel like stainless steel sheet metal, galvanized steel, and mild steel.

Today, the Howard Hotel in Sheffield showcases a 42 foot black and white portrait of the stainless steel hero that not only stands as a tribute, but also symbolizes innovation for the area. “The discovery of stainless steel is one of Sheffield’s greatest stories and we wanted to celebrate the discovery’s centenary by making the next generation of inventors and innovators aware of what can be achieved in this great city of ours,” said Director Brendan Moffett.

Blending old-fashioned craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, Starland metals is your place for stainless steel metals, coils, plate, and rods.

Stainless Steel And The Value Of Nickel

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-09-2013

There is currently a worldwide deficit of nickel. Stainless steel fabrication drives the prices of worldwide nickel just as much as the success of nickel depends on the pricing of stainless steel. The reason nickel and stainless steel have such a close relationship is that two-thirds of all nickel that the world mines and produces is incorporated into steel. By itself, nickel holds very little value.

It wasn’t until 1820 when Michael Faraday found that adding nickel to iron made a stronger metal. It was so strong in fact that the US military began producing nickel steel in 1885. They made weapons from nickel steel which became a critical commodity during times of war. Nickel is also combined with other metals like cobalt in order to produce super alloys used in military machinery like missiles and jet aircraft.  During the Korean conflict the U.S. the price of nickel shot up because of increased demand.  At that point the government took over production of nickel but then gave up control during the ceasefire in 1957.  Prices continued to rise and fall depending upon the demand. And while stainless steel sheet metal is composed mostly of chromium, nickel is less abundant, making up 60% of the cost of steel.

Shop Starland Metal for high-quality, stainless steel backsplash sheets, stainless steel backsplash tiles and other hard-to-find metal products.

New Visitor Center Set To Open at Stonehenge in 2013

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-07-2013

SH Structures has taken on the task of building a new visitor center at the Stonehenge, one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. Stonehenge rests in Wiltshire, England and is a center piece to some of the most dense complex of Broze and Neolithic monuments. It is estimated to have been built somewhere between 3000-2000 B.C.

The new project will include a new steel framed visitor center that will be made up of two braced 35m₂pod structures including an exhibition area, a café with indoor and outdoor seating, a shop and, an educational space.   The pods will be covered with an undulating canopy roof which will be supported by raking RHS columns. No stainless steel sheet metal will be used for the project. SH Structures will then constructed columns and a roof that needs to be supported with props and scaffolding.  Large ladder sections will be transported to the site. According to SH Structures Project Manager, Ian Mitchell, the process of lugging structural steel back and forth is a daunting task “It is a time-consuming job with a lot of on-site welding. Infilling between each ladder section involves welding a number of individual pieces.” The visitor center will open in late 2013.

Starland Metals has been in the business of top-quality metal manufacturing of stainlesss steel sheet metal and polished stainless steel plates since 1988.

Steel Bridges Support Nottingham’s New Tram System

 :: Posted by MelW on 05-02-2013

In Nottingham, England plans to extend the city’s NET tram network by adding two new lines to the southern and southwestern suburbs of Clifton and Chilwell. The additional lines will link into the existing network close to Nottingham’s main railway station and run 10 miles; requiring a great deal of steel construction.  Five major bridges will be built from steel materials – one of which, the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge, will run 104 miles.

Taylor Woodrow Alstorm Project Manger says there was only one choice of material when plans were made to build the bridges. Since stainless steel plates and structural steel have different amounts of chromium, structural steel was the best option for the bridges. Construction in any other material would have made the structure much heavier to launch and would have needed more supports.“  A steel warren truss bridge completes the design of the station. Nottingham has three other bridges that rely on steel construction: Wilford Toll Bridge, the Cleveland Bridge, and the Clifton Boulevard Bridge.

At Starland Metals we’re in the business of brokering and distributing stainless steel sheets, stainless steel hoppers and more! Call us - we’re ready to tackle the job.