Metal art bathroom decor bathroom accessories for all themes in western, rustic, cabin, cottage, or lodge. Choose from bear, deer, moose, elk, cowboys, horses, maple leaves, trees and many more metal art designs for any decorations.

Metal art bath sets make the perfect decor decorations for all themes in the log home, cabin or ski lodge. Smoky Mountain Metal Arts designs and make custom bathroom accessories for customers.

Educational information provided for the notice and the professional metal crafter. Visit more links on articles to learn more about working with metals. From traditional blacksmithing to contemporary art forms. The arts and trades of our members include, but are not limited to, general blacksmithing, sculpture, tinsmithing, coppersmithing, furniture making and architectural wrought iron; as well as bronze casting, knife making, jewelry, gold and silver smithing.

Making Your First Custom Knife Your first attempt at custom knife making should reflect a knife built to fill a specific need or function. A knife in simplest terms is a tool designed to accomplish a certain end result.

For example, to cut a steak into smaller edible pieces, to skin a trophy deer or cut up a carcass into pieces to put in a freezer. Each of these knife designs would look and function differently.

So, the first thing you need to do is decide what the end function of the custom knife you are building will be. For a steak knife it will be relatively slim and light and made from steel that will tend not to rust. The handle material would be capable of withstanding a lot of cycles in a dish washer.

Therefore, it would best be made of stainless steel and have a handle of a material like micarta or a stabilized wood that is impregnated with plastic resin.

A skinning knife would be shorter and have a more rounded blade design possibly with a gut hook cut into the top of the blade. The steel would be one that would hold a keen edge and not require frequent sharpening. The handle material should be one that is comfortable to hold and not be bulky or to large in relation to the blade.

You might find that a design that lets you hold your index finger on the back of the blade and grip the handle with three fingers easiest to use while skinning.

A knife used to cut up a carcass for freezing would be designed for slicing and chopping actions. The kitchen butcher knife fits this form very well.

So, the main thing to keep in mind when designing your custom knife is that, form always follows function. It would be difficult to skin a deer with a steak knife. It would be easier with a butcher knife but so much easier with a skinner designed for the purpose.

Here are a few things to consider when designing your own custom knife.

Design steps: 1. What is the main purpose of the knife?

2. What is the environment where the knife is used?

3. Will it be an abrasive use?

4. Will the knife be likely to hit something harder than itself?

5. Is the design for one purpose or multi-functional?

6. Do I have the tools to make this knife?

7. Are the parts required on hand or do I have to buy them somewhere?

8. Is this design available in a quality kit form?

9. Is it cheaper to buy a kit or purchase parts separately?

10. Make your design choice after considering all the above.

There are several places you can find materials to build a custom knife to your design specifications. One of the most reliable is Texas Knife Supply Company. They have anything and everything a first time knife maker could want. You can us and old files, worn out saw blades and other pieces of tool steel. Also you can visit a local scrap metal yard and get lots of knife making materials that are as good as any you can buy at a custom knife making supply house. For example car springs make excellent blades as do old files. They both have enough carbon in them to enable hardening and tempering the blade to be tough and still hold an edge. I will have a tutorial on hardening and tempering steel in another page since it is too long to cover here.

If you decide to use a piece of spring steel or an old file, you need to anneal it first to make it soft enough to work with. An easy way to do this is to put it in a fire and get it red hot to the point that it is non-magnetic. An easy way to check this is with a small magnet laid on the ground next to the fire and when you think it is hot enough remove it from the fire and touch it to the magnet. If it won`t pick up the magnet it is hot enough. You need for the steel to cool very slowly. The best way I have found is to immerse the future blade in vermiculite and let it set overnight. In the morning it will be cool and as soft as it will ever be.

Handle materials are easy to find also. You can use wood of just about any variety with good results if it is seasoned and sealed against moisture. I have made some beautiful handles from spalted maple that I stabilized with cyanoacrylate, which is simply the chemical name for crazy glue. Just don`t glue your fingers together.

Deer antlers are often used for making handles for hunting and utility knives. If you burn wood, look in your wood pile for crotch grain wood and wood close to knots that has interesting grain. You can cut pieces into knife scale blanks about 3/8`s to 1/2 inch thick by 1 and 1/2 inches wide by 5 to 6 inches long. Put these in a warm, dry place, such an attic for a few weeks and they will be usable for knife handle material.

Moved into a new house with a fireplace to decorate? Or maybe you have used an inexpensive fireplace toolset for a couple of years and it is already falling apart. Here are a few tips to guide you when buying new fireplace tools. We`ll look at both decorative and functional considerations to help you make your choice.

On the decorative side you need to consider the set`s materials and style. By far the most common materials for toolsets are brass or iron, which you will find alone or combined to make sets from casual to very formal.

Traditional Brass Tools Solid brass sets tend to be more traditional and formal looking. You often see them gracing fireplaces in Williamsburg and other early American sites. Brass sets have a variety of finial treatments from simple ball to elaborately turned tops, to suit a range of decorating styles.

Although some handmade wrought iron sets are equally pricey, the most expensive sets tend to be made from solid brass. The rich color, satisfying heft, and brilliant finish of a well-made solid brass set can be truly beguiling. Sometimes, to increase strength and to cut costs, solid brass sets have tools shafts made from steel sheathed with solid brass tubing.

Brass toolsets in the middle price range are usually a little lighter weight and have less hand finishing than the most expensive sets. The better ones are hard to distinguish from the most expensive sets. They represent a good value and can last a lifetime.

At the lowest price level are brass plated steel sets. They are often used as promotional sets and are generally not suited for regular heavy use. They may be practical, however, as a decorative accent for a fireplace that is not used frequently.

Iron Toolsets Can Be Casual and Decorative Iron toolsets have gained popularity along with more casual trends in decorating. However, just because they are more casual does not mean that they cannot be decorative.

Handmade wrought iron sets can be decorated with scrollwork, leaves, and other details. Even machine made sets can have stamped accents and gracefully curved handles. Some iron sets combine the beauty of brass handles with the durability of steel shafts and tool ends.

Individual Tools or Set?

Functional concerns include whether to buy individual tools or a set with a stand, how the handles and tips attach to the tool shafts, and the design of the tools. Considering how you intend to use the tools will increase your long-term satisfaction with your choice. The individual parts of a toolset include the poker, shovel, broom, tongs, and stand. If you use your fireplace infrequently, you may decide to buy only the individual tools that you use most with hooks for hanging at fireside. A poker is generally the most popular tool. In addition to a stand, three-piece sets include a poker for adjusting logs in the fire, and a shovel and broom for cleanup.

If you use your fireplace a lot, look for a shovel with a larger scoop and a broom with a full set of stiff bristles to make ash removal easier. Four-piece sets add a pair of log tongs for folks who really like to play with the fire. The grabbing end of the tongs has either two or three points of contact with the log. While the two point tong is more traditional, the three point style makes log moving a little easier.

The same information on finishes for the fire place screen can also be valuable, wheather to buy Brass or wrought iron. If the propose is for an inexpensive screen then there are many brass plated designs to choose from.

Wrought iron design metal art fire screens will last longer and add more rustic beauty to your log home, cabin, or lodge.

Additional articeles of information on gardening, home decorating, outdoor living, Cabin building, cabin decorating and more.

One of the fastest ways to add a dose of interest to a home is to bring in some texture . Rustic furnishings do that with charm and style. Rustic used to mean `rickety and cheap`, but rustic style is all grown up and now borders on sophisticated and trendy.

Beautiful woods, polished logs, and twiggy charm, metal art, wrought iron has made rustic one of the most popular styles in the market today.

If you love the look of rustic furnishings, here are some tips on adding it to your own home. Since rustic furniture is extremely textural , add it in small amounts. An entire roomful may be too much to take in, while a few pieces allow each item to stand out and be a star.

For example, you might add some bent willow chairs around an old oak table, or include a few pieces in a cozy fireplace grouping.

Warm up rustic seating pieces with cushions and pillows. These will soften the chairs visually and provide an additional level of comfort. Fabric will also serve as a unifying element to tie in a rustic piece with other items already in the room.

Metal art decorative switch plate covers add functional rustic decor to any log home, cabin or ski lodge. These designs can be found made by Smoky Mountain Metal Arts. Choose from hundreds of designs and styles.

Consider using rustic accent pieces such as tables, mirrors, coat racks, coat trees or other bathroom accessories in guestrooms and powder rooms like metal art vanity lights and towel bars where interest and charm is especially appreciated. Smaller spaces like this can be theme-decorated in a rustic style around a few interesting items like switch plate covers, key racks, bathroom towel bars, rings, tissue dispensers in metal art designs, without committing yourself to an entire house full of rustic decor.

In the den, kitchen or living area, consider using a metal art design window valance with moose, deer or bears to complete the rustic decor in the log home, cabin or lodge.

See additional articles on home decor, gardening, wrought iron, and many others in our articles link.

It seems whenever the word butterfly is mentioned it is immediately connected with the word nectar. This is entirely appropriate, since nectar is without a doubt the primary food source of butterflies.

There are, however, additional elements some butterflies need to augment their survival. Butterflies will seek these needs until they find them, whether in your garden, your neighbor’s, or in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, their natural habitats are dwindling, either from adverse environmental changes or from the need for man to develop still more homes, factories, and roads. However, zealous butterfly gardeners can provide or help restore some of these important elements.

About puddles for butterflies

Remember how much you enjoyed playing in puddles when you were a youngster? I surely do! I went out of my way to walk right through a puddle, rather than skirt around it. Even knowing I’d get into a peck of trouble from my dad or mom for getting my only pair of shoes soaking wet didn’t stop me.

Unlike children, butterflies don’t need puddles simply for play. Neither do they need them for cooling off--they prefer shady places for that.

Why then do they need water from puddles in addition to nectar? Do they just get thirsty from imbibing all that sweet nectar? Read on, my friend, for more on butterfly puddles.

In researching this question, I found several answers. Referring to one of my previous articles, Gardening for Flying Flowers, you will find a brief outline of the anatomy of butterflies. The butterfly`s mouthpart, or proboscis, is used to probe for and drink nectar from flowers. Their proboscis is like a long, spiral-like tube and works in a remarkable way, similar to that of an elephant’s trunk. As the butterfly forces blood into this spiral-like tube, it then becomes straight. This type of mouthpart means that the butterfly feeds primarily on liquids as opposed to their caterpillars, which have chewing mouthparts.

There are certain minerals that some butterflies, such as swallowtails, sulfurs, and blues need that are not provided in a diet of nectar alone. These minerals are found in standing water, or mud puddles. On learning this, you may be inspired to dash right out into your garden and make a mud puddle or two so your butterflies can get their daily “mineral fix.” Not a bad idea! Just another healthful way to attract butterflies to your yard.

You have probably noticed butterflies drinking from almost anyplace they can find water. Maybe you’ve seen them fluttering around your drippy outdoor faucet, or checking out a water sprinkler that left a small puddle. In natural habitats they often drink from the edges of streams or beneath waterfalls. I found it remarkable that butterflies release the water they drink almost immediately after drinking it. Yet amazingly, they manage to absorb the minerals they need in the process.

There is yet another reason why butterflies--especially males of certain species--enjoy puddles. They love to congregate at puddles, much like men in many parts of the world enjoy gathering at Starbucks™ for a great cup of espresso! Can’t you just picture a flock of these colorful fellows perched around their favorite puddles, perhaps discussing the latest reports about the price of nectar and such? Or, are they maybe gloating about which female they just won for their mate? I’ll leave this up to your imagination.

Simple puddle-making ideas

There is really no specific way to create a puddle that is better than another. The best puddles are probably natural puddles formed after a gentle rain. But who wants rain every day just to please a butterfly? Or, what if you live in an arid area where rainfall is sparse?

Butterfly puddles can be created using most any type of containers that will hold water. These can be clay or plastic flower pots, buckets, milk or juice containers, or any similar container that holds a half gallon of water or so. Select a spot where the container won’t be in your way, but will be easy for butterflies to spot. Choose a nice sunny spot, as this is what butterflies prefer. Dig a hole deep enough to bury your container to the top of its rim, then fill it with a combination of small rocks and soil. Use the soil from your garden, as it contains the minerals butterflies seek from puddles. Consider creating several puddles in different areas of your yard. Even if you have a very small yard with just some flowering planter boxes, you can still create “puddles” and place them nearby. Butterflies don’t care how large your yard is; they only care that what is in it meets their needs.

Next, fill your buried container with water. Do this for several days until the soil in it becomes saturated, leaving a standing puddle. Continue to check the container often, making sure it always contains standing water. If watering your yard with a sprinkler, the container will usually get enough water to maintain a daily puddle. Otherwise, simply add water regularly with a hose or watering can. Either way, it won’t be long until butterflies will begin to frequent your “handmade” puddles.

If you don’t wish to create permanent puddles, choose an area where you can make several shallow depressions in the soil in different places using a spade or your hand. Following a refreshing rain or an irrigation session, water will stand in these depressions long enough for butterflies to find the puddles. Although butterflies are very self-sufficient, enthusiastic butterfly gardeners can help by supplying this one simple thing--a puddle!

Basking areas--what and where?

Have you noticed that butterflies are rarely seen on cloudy days? This is because all insects are cold-blooded and can’t regulate their body temperatures like we humans. Gardeners should also provide areas where butterflies can bask when it is sunny and warm. This helps to warm their wings for flying. Basking areas can be made by interspersing several flat rocks in your flower beds. In rural areas, an old tree stump, a log, or a piece of driftwood will serve as a perfect basking spot.

Another popular basking place can be made right in your birdbath by placing several smooth flat rocks in it for butterfly landing strips. They will love sitting there with folded wings just to rest and warm their colorful wings. Butterflies have many natural instincts that serve them well in all weather conditions. Wise gardeners need only provide their props!

Cover and shelter

Butterflies need protection from wind, weather, and predators. They like shady places such as trees, shrubs, or vines where they can sit to keep warm on cool or cloudy days. Both shelter and cover can be easily provided by blending areas of shrubbery, trees, or rockeries into your landscape design. When taking cover from predators, butterflies also hide in such areas. Mother Nature has been extremely kind to butterflies, and the gardener can be her greatest helper!

Butterfly feeders as a nectar supplement

Butterfly feeders have become very popular and many garden centers and catalogs sell them. They differ in design from hummingbird feeders in that they provide a flat surface on which the butterfly can land easily. Butterflies have a keen sense of smell and are attracted to nectar in feeders just as they are to flowers. Nectar mixes can be purchased or made from sugar and water. It is critical to clean butterfly feeders regularly as this prevents deadly bacteria from growing in the nectar. Some enthusiasts using butterfly feeders have seen both butterflies AND hummingbirds attracted to them. What could be more delightful than seeing both “flying flowers” nd “jewels of the sky” sipping sweet nectar together?

How to Hang Art
You’ve selected a beautiful piece of art to complement your interior. Now it`s time to hang it. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
•Avoid hanging one small picture on a huge expanse of wall - art looks better when it seems to extend the lines of furniture, windows or doorways.
•Decide where to hang the artwork, keeping in mind the type of feel you`d like your room to have. The way in which you hang art can make a big difference. Smaller pieces hung together will overwhelm a small room. However, grouping multiple pieces in a larger room adds interest. The right piece of art also makes nooks and crannies more warm and inviting.
•Art tends to look best when it seems to extend the lines of furniture, windows or doorways, or when several small pieces are grouped together.
•Sketching the wall, furniture, and artwork on graph paper beforehand can help you decide where to hang your art by allowing you to visualize the final room and by conveying the size and the scale of the pieces you are working with.
Large pictures look best centered over sofas or consoles. They are meant to be the focal point of the room and work well within a large expanse of wall space. Allow 4 to 5 inches from the top of a sofa, slightly higher for a console. Also be aware that how you display your art is as personal a statement as the work itself. For example, you may want to hang a painting where it’s visible to you when seated in your favorite reading chair.
Once you’ve decided where you’d like to hang your art, measure to find the center of the piece. Allow for the drop of wire, and make a mark on the wall where you will put the hanger.
Use more than just nails. Choose an appropriate hook. You might want a two-piece nail-and-hook, or a one-piece hook with a disk that keeps the straight part from going completely through the wall.
Heavier art should be hung with a hollow-wall anchor. A picture hook will protect your walls and bear the weight of the picture. If this sounds confusing, the easiest thing to do is purchase a picture hanging kit at your local hardware store. It contains everything you need to hang your art.
•You can prevent the plaster or drywall from cracking by placing a piece of Scotch tape on the wall where you will insert the hook.
•If your artwork is larger than 8" x 10", use 2 hooks to hang the piece. This helps it remain balanced by distributing the weight evenly. Use a carpenters level to determine where the hooks should be placed. Your painting will remain straight without constant vigilance.
•If your artwork is particularly heavy and you are hanging it on drywall only, you may want to use a stud or beam to hang your art. A stud is a slender wood or metal vertical structure that is placed as a supporting element in a wall. However, your standard nail and anchor hook that comes in a picture framing kit will suffice.
•Nail the picture hook into the wall where you`ve made a mark and carefully place the artwork on the wall, catching the wire on the hook. Straighten, step back, and enjoy.
Proper Care For Your Art Now that you have bought your art, you want to enjoy it. But how do you protect your investment and guarantee its preservation? We would like you to enjoy your art for years to come. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help conserve your fine artwork and maintain the integrity of its original state.
•Keep your art away from direct sunlight, as anything that will fade your carpet will fade your art. Be careful not to let direct sunlight shine on your art.
•Hang your art in neutral climates, away from excessive humidity or dryness. Too much moisture can cause mats and prints to buckle or mold over time. Extreme dryness can also unfavorably affect the artwork.
•Framing your artwork adds to the life of your art. Be sure to ask for 100% conservation materials when framing your art, such as cotton-rag matboard and acid-free backings. This combination results in the best long-term protection of your art.
•Keep an eye out for pollutants and contaminants in the environment. Art is just as susceptible to environmental damage as we are.
•Check your framed artwork about every 6 months, front and back, for signs of damage such as cracking and molding. There are paper conservators who may be able to repair any damage that has been done and help you with preventative maintenance for the future.
•Do not spray cleaner of any kind directly onto the framed piece. Rather, spray cleaner onto a cloth and then apply it to the glass or Plexiglas.
•If you are a renter, you may want to consider purchasing Renter’s Insurance. Landlords have insurance for the apartment building itself, but this does not cover your personal belongings within the building. Renter’s Insurance would cover the value of your artwork should anything happen to it.
•If you are a homeowner, be assured that your artwork is included in your Homeowner’s Insurance. However, it is a good idea to take out a rider for artwork valued over $2,500.
Visit this link for online gallery of giclee prints, original oil paintings, acrylic art originals and prints along with greeting and gifts cards and many other great decorating themes at www.thepaintedsisters.com to see more beautiful piece of art masterpiece for wall decor decorations.

There are a few men out there who simply cannot understand a woman`s need to decorate (and redecorate) their home. And shopping for furniture? That gives most men a sharp pain - usually in the area of their wallet. To m Just think of home decorating in terms of "guy stuff"!
You know that little flutter in the stomach when you see a fully-restored, cherry red, vintage muscle car? Complete with air-brushed flames? Chrome everywhere? Well, women can get the same flutter looking at a vintage armoire, dresser or sideboard. (Well, ok…we don`t get quite as excited if it is covered with air-brushed flames and chrome!)
So the next time your wife or girl friend brings home an antique table…think Shelby Cobra!
And for some men, hunting or fishing mean the thrill of the chase or the big catch. I have felt that same thrill when finding the perfect fabric or just the right painting for a room. (And I didn`t have to put up with the mosquitos!) So when your wife brings home new metal art piece for your mantle, or wall decor….think of it as a big game trophy!
Remember the fun and excitement you feel when watching football or hockey? Your wife can feel the same excitement watching Trading Spaces or Extreme Home Makeover! (Some rooms score a touchdown, others are fumbles, and yet others are definite fouls!) So rather than complaining the next time your wife watches one of those home improvement shows, think Super Bowl!
Yes, home décor is a sport! Games of "New Paint Bingo" and "Antique Auction Sprint" are being played daily in your neighborhood. So instead of discouraging your wife, support her with a few cheers like: "Way to go with that red trim, honey!" "Stuff that pillow! Stuff that pillow!" (No need to don the short skirt and pompoms!) Now, if I can just get the man in my life to buy this, I can start on that new bedroom décor. Honey? What do you think of Bubble Gum Pink paint?!?
Try suggesting a room that you can decorate with metal art wrought iron in a rustic, cowboy, western, southerwestern, or lodge decor. This will be something that can be shared in the family. Click on the title to link to a site that will give you ideals for this type of decor.

History of Wrought Iron

Smoky Mountain Metal Arts 5227 Hwy 411 South Maryville, TN 37801 866-689-7061

CHARCOAl IRON

There are two types of wrought iron, the iron of antiquity, now known as charcoal iron. This was the metal that blacksmiths used to before the turn of the sixteenth century. Iron was melted directly by heating ore in a forge with charcoal, which served as both a fuel and a reducing agent. While still hot the iron and slag mixture was removed as a lump and worked (wrought) and welded the iron into a coherent mass. Charcoal Iron can withstand corrosion for hundereds of years.

PUDDLE IRON

In the nineteenth century the demand for stronger wrought iron, brought to the industry a method to mass produce puddle iron. This new wrought iron with a higher tensile strength and as small increase in carbon content making the chemical composition and consistency easier to control.

Carbon

A naturally abundant nonmetallic element that occurs in many inorganic and in all organic compounds, exists freely as graphite and diamond and as a constituent of coal, limestone, and petroleum, and is capable of chemical self-bonding to form an enormous number of chemically, biologically, and commercially important molecules.Carbon is added to iron to make steel.

Carbon steel

Carbon Steel is a metal, a combination of two elements, iron and carbon, where other elements are present in quantities too small to affect the properties. With a low carbon content it has the same properties as iron, soft but easily formed. As carbon content rises the metal becomes harder and stronger but less ductile.

Cast iron

Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but can mean any of a group of iron-based alloys containing more than 2% carbon (alloys with less carbon are carbon steel by definition). It is made by remelting pig iron, often along with substantial quantities of scrap iron and scrap steel, and taking various steps to remove undesirable contaminants such as phousphorus and sulfer, which weaken the material. Carbon and silicon content are reduced to the desired levels, which may be anywhere from 2% to 3.5% for carbon and 1% to 3% for silicon depending on the application. Other elements are then added to the melt before the final form is produced by casting. Mild steel is the most common form of steel as its price is relatively low while it provides material properties that are acceptable for many applications. Mild steel has medium carbon contents (up to 0.8%) and is therefore neither extremely brittle nor ductile. It is also often used where large amounts of steel need to be formed, for example as structural steel. Another popular use is in steel wire mesh.

MILD STEEL

With it`s higher and greater strength mild steel has superiority over wrought iron in it`s strength and consistency which it gives a much wider range of it`s application, it also can be hardened by heat treatment. Mild steel has just about replaced wrought iron in the last century. Mild steel does tend to corrode steel, alloy of iron, carbon, and small proportions of other elements. Iron contains impurities in the form of silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and manganese; steelmaking involves the removal of these impurities, known as slag, and the addition of desirable alloying elements. Steel industry, the business of processing iron ore into steel, which in its simplest form is an iron-carbon alloy, and in some cases, turning that metal into partially finished products or recycling scrap metal into steel.

The steel industry grew out of the need for stronger and more easily produced metals. Technological advances in steelmaking during the last half of the 19th cent. played a key role in creating modern economies dependent on rails, automobiles, girders, bridges, and a variety of other steel products. Iron working can be traced as far back as 3,500 B.C. in Armenia. The Bessamer process, created independently by Henry Bessemer in England and William Kelly in the United States during the 1850s, allowed the mass production of low-cost steel; the open-hearth process, first introduced in the United States in 1888, made it easier to use domestic iron ores. By the 1880s, the growing demand for steel rails made the United States the world`s largest producer.

The open-hearth process dominated the steel industry between 1910 and 1960, when it converted to the basic-oxygen process, which produces steel faster, and the electric-arc furnace process, which makes it easier to produce alloys such as stainless steel and to recycle scrap steel.

After World War II, the U.S. steel industry faced increased competition from Japanese and European producers, who rebuilt and modernized their industries.

Later, many Third World countries, such as Brazil, built their own steel industries, and large U.S. steelmakers faced increased competition from smaller, nonunion mills (“mini-mills”) that recycle scrap steel. The U.S. produced about half of the world`s steel in 1945; in 1999 it was the second largest producer, with 12% of the world market, behind China and ahead of Japan and Russia.

Since the 1970s, growing competition and the increasing availability of alternative materials, such as plastic, slowed steel industry growth; employment in the U.S. steel industry dropped from 2.5 million in 1974 to to less than a million in 1998.

Global production stood at 773 million tons in 1997, down from 786 million tons in 1988. U.S. steel production has remained constant since the 1970s at about 100 million tons, but 50% of that total is now produced by mini-mill companies.

An increase in U.S. demand during the 1990s was largely met by imports, which now account for from about a fifth to a quarter of all steel used annually in the United States. The old-line U.S. steelmakers, losing market share and with higher wage, health, and retirement costs, experienced a string of bankruptcies beginning in the late 1990s, leading to industry and union pressure for protective tariffs, which were imposed by President George W. Bush in 2002 on most steel from non-NAFTA industrialized nations. Later reduced, the tariffs were found in 2003 to be illegal under World Trade Organization rules, and President Bush reversed the tariffs.

Aluminum

Aluminium is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silver-gray appearance. Aluminium is about one-third as dense as steel or copper is malleable ductile, and easily machined and cast; and has excellent corrosion resistance and durability due to the protective oxide layer. It is also nonmagnetic and nonsparking and is the second most malleable metal (most being gold) and the sixth most ductile.Whether measured in terms of quantity or value, the use of aluminium exceeds that of any other metal except iron and it is important in virtually all segments of the world economy. Aluminium alloys form vital components of aircrafts and rockets as a result of their high strength to weight ratio. Aluminium was selected as the material to be used for the apex of the

Washinton Monument, at a time when one ounce cost twice the daily wages of a labourer.

Aluminium was, when it was first discovered, extremely difficult to separate from the rocks it was part of. Since the whole of Earth`s aluminium was bound up in the form of compounds, it was the most difficult metal on earth to get, despite the fact that it is one of the planet`s most common. The reason is that aluminium is oxidized very rapidly and that its oxide is an extremely stable compound that, unlike rust on steel, does not flake off. The very reason for which aluminium is used in many applications is why it is so hard to produce.

Recovery of this metal from scrap (via recycling) has become an important component of the aluminium industry. Recycling involves simply melting the metal, which is far less expensive than creating it from ore. Refining aluminium requires enormous amounts of electricity; recycling it requires only 5% of the energy to produce it. A common practice since the early 1900`s, aluminium recycling is not new. It was, however, a low-profile activity until the late 1960`s when the exploding popularity of aluminium beverage can finally placed recycling into the public consciousness.

Electric power represents about 20 to 40% of the cost of producing aluminium, depending on the location of the aluminium smelter. Smelters tend to be located where electric power is plentiful and inexpensive, China is currently (2004) the top world producer of aluminium.

Cabin Decor Your cabin can serve as a marvelous place of respite, provided you plan it to be so. In fact, it doesn`t take much to turn your cabin into a place where you can rejuvenate your body and your mind. A few simple changes can greatly enhance the environment of your cabin. < How do you decorate your cabin? To start with, decide what type of environment soothes you the most. This is indeed a pretty confusing task as many find it simply difficult to assess which environment is best for them. Try rustics. Rustic cabin decor is one of the best and the most cost effective ways of revitalizing your cabin. Extensions of American country style decorating cabins, rustic cabin decor is marked for its handmade appearance with unfinished yet sophisticated qualities and providing a delightfully simple and soothing ambience. Plenty of reasons add to the growing acceptance of Rustic cabin decor, not only in America, but also in the rest of the world. First are the materials that constitute rustic cabin decor. Rustic includes the use of aged wood with rough handmade finishes that are so natural that it automatically comforts the humans and give them a feeling of being in tune with the nature. This is the only reason why cabins decorated with rustic cabin decor are always comfortable, modest, and quaint. Secondly, decorating your home with rustic cabin decor will be simple, uncomplicated, and inexpensive. Rustic cabin decor primarily uses simple designs, furnishings, and most importantly natural decorations to enhance the style of your room. In other words, with rustic cabin decor, you need not turn your home into a highly fortified steel castle, but a simple and cozy place that radiates nature. Another notable aspect that adds to the credibility of rustics is its all time popularity. Your storage chest may be a classic example of the most modern piece of art. Remember, something more modern will surely come up in future and then you might not still be happy of owning the chest. A rustic look on the other hand has persisted for decades and will become more endearing when we set out more towards the future. In other words, investing for rustic cabin decor is a one-time investment, which you will cherish throughout your life.

Always reveiw products at www.smokyart.com for decorating cabins and log homes. No matter if you are a home owner or interior designer this is the best site to buy cabin rustic decor items to decorate with. From bear bath sets to deer lamps, and moose coat racks. Their finish on each item is produced with a powder coated finish either in hammered black or rustic that looks like real rust! So visit their site and if you have any questions on custom items then you will find their personal easy to contact and deal with. article by a happy customer. Debbie Entrekin

The very word `rustic` evokes a feeling of traditional and rich countrified ambience, something that undeniably takes us back to our roots. A rustic ambience has some advantages…it is unique, traditional, and durable, some aspects that are making them widely accepted all over the world by individuals seeking a rural ambience amidst a busy metropolitan lifestyle. Rustic lighting fixtures go a long way in enhancing the ambience of any house with their characteristic, down-to-earth appeal, and a casual elegance. The specialty of rustic lighting lies with the materials used... wood, metal, stoneware, antlers, etc., that help create an environment that is quite rural, yet sophisticated. The most appealing characteristic of rustic lighting is that even the most common objects can be transformed to create a superb piece of rustic lighting fixture such as a piece of wood, branch of a tree, etc. Different types of rustic lighting decor are now in demand. Adirondack, southwest, log, wagon wheels, etc are some specific rustic lighting decorations that are gaining huge popularity for their simplicity and uniqueness. In many cases, no two pieces of these are alike, giving the owner the pride of owning the only piece of rustic lighting fixture. Rustic lighting fixtures can also be theme based... wagon wheel, antler, branch, etc. However, a theme looks perfect when all furniture in a room or a house is correctly arranged according to a specific theme. For example, an antler lighting fixture goes perfect with a wooden table with stands made of branch or featuring antlers. It is mainly due to this wide range of choices of decor that rustic lighting is gaining so much popularity. Check out our collection of rustic lighting fixtures. We do have a wide selection of theme based as well as individual rustic lighting fixtures, packaged in a style that is rich, traditional, yet sophisticated. Visit www.smokyart.com for more lighting ideas.