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Types of Metal

While some of the metals found around the home are in their pure state, alloys are more common. An alloy is a metal which has been combined with another metal or non metal to produce a material with improved properties. Some household items are electroplated (coated with a thin layer of metal or metals by electrolysis) to improve their appearance or anti-corrosive properties.

Alloy Steel

Iron with other metals added, such as chromium, nickel, manganese, tungsten or molybdenum. Alloy steel is harder than mild steel, but it also rusts quickly. Used for chisels, saws and springs.

Aluminum

Used where lightness is essential. Aluminum is easily worked and resistant to corrosion. It can be highly polished. The major drawback is its lack of strength. Used for cooking foil, beer cans and cooking pans.

Aluminum Alloy

Small amounts of copper, manganese and magnesium are added to aluminum to make aluminum alloy. Most commonly it has a six percent copper content. Aluminum alloy is light, resistant to corrosion and almost as strong as mild steel. In its original state it is hard to work, but after annealing (when it is heated and allowed to cool slowly) it will bend, fold and work well. Available as sheet, rod and section, aluminum alloy has many uses in construction such as for window frames, greenhouses, trailers and caravans and is used for kitchen utensils, handles and knobs.

Brass

Heavy, strong and brittle, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and its color varies from red-bronze to yellow-gold depending on the amount of zinc it contains. Brass resists corrosion and polishes to a good shine. It is used for plumbing and heating fittings, screws, ornaments, door knobs and knockers.

Brass Plate

A coating of brass on steel, mazak or plastic. Many 'brass' items are really brass plate - you can test it by holding a magnet to it - magnetism shows that it is brass-plated steel and not pure brass. Brass plate is used for door knockers, fire tongs and ornaments.

Britannia Metal

An alloy of tin, antimony and copper. Britannia metal is grey-coloured and was commonly used by the Victorians for cutlery, teapots, tankards and trays. These days it is used as blanks for silver plating.

Bronze

An alloy of copper and tin, bronze is particularly suited for casting where metal is shaped by being poured in a molten state into a mould. It is resistant to corrosion and easy to work and join. Not a common metal for everyday use, bronze can be used in DIY work in the same way as brass. Bronze is used for door knockers and ornaments. Note that many of the Victorian 'bronze' items are really just lead-treated copper plate.

Cast lron

Strong and heavy, but brittle - a sharp blow can fracture it. Not easy to work - objects are molded (cast - metal cannot be drawn or twisted). On older houses found as gutter down pipes and brackets, manhole covers and door and gate fittings. Also used for saucepans and stove parts. Corrodes very slowly.

Cast Steel

This has a high carbon content and can be hardened and tempered for a wide variety of purposes including making cutting tools and drills. Cast steel can be drilled, cut, filed and joined by normal methods but this work should be carried out while the material is in its soft state. Heat treatment consists of heating the steel to cherry red, quenching it and then tempering by a further heating and cooling process so the brittleness caused by quenching is eliminated.

Chromium Plate

Has a mirror-bright surface, and so is used where a gleaming finish is required. Often used for cheap cutlery, modern furniture, handles, knobs and picture frames.

Copper

Soft and easily worked and soldered. Copper is reddish-brown in color, and is a soft metal which can be easily bent, shaped, sawn, filed and joined. If it is worked repeatedly, however, it tends to harden and is likely to require annealing. It takes a good polish, but the color darkens on exposure to air; to maintain the finish it needs to be protected by a coating of clear lacquer. If copper is left unprotected for a prolonged period, it will acquire a green patina which protects the metal from further corrosion. Because it is an excellent conductor of electricity, it is widely used in the electrical industry for cables. It is also a good conductor of heat so it is used for pipes and fittings on central heating systems. Copper is also used for saucepans and decorative items such as bowls, name plates, trays and ornaments.

Copper Plate

A coating of copper is often used in electroplating, but it is also used to as an undercoating for another metal such as chromium (for chromium plate).

Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS)

The most popular type of silver plate produced in Britain. For domestic cutlery the silver thickness should be 20 microns. EPNS is used for cutlery, trays and fittings.

Galvanized Iron

A mild steel sheet coated with zinc. If the surface is scratched, the iron core will rust. Galvanized iron is used for nails, wire netting, water tanks, guttering and ventilation pipes.

Gold

The most expensive of all household metals. Normally pure gold is only used for expensive rings and jewelry. The purity is measured in carats - 24 carats is pure gold.

Gold Plate

Tarnish-free and gleaming, such items can be a sign of extravagance - gold-plated bathroom fittings, or economy - gold-plated jewelry.

Lead

A very heavy, soft metal. It is easy to work but lacks strength. Lead is highly resistant to corrosion. Used for roof flashings and solder. In the past lead was used for water pipes but is no longer used due to the risk of lead poisoning.

Mazak

An alloy of zinc and aluminium. Mazak is often used to produce die-cast blanks which are then brass plated to produce 'brass' objects. Real brass is heavier. Mazak is used for ornaments, door knobs and handles.

Mild steel

The most commonly used metal for manufactured items. Despite the name, mild steel is almost pure iron - the carbon content is less than 0.1%. Easy to file, bend, saw and drill, it can also be soldered and welded. Mild steel corrodes rapidly if left unprotected. Used for brackets, hinges, screws, nuts and bolts and in thin sheet for casing washing machines, refrigerators, freezers, etc.

Nickel Silver

It does not actually contains any silver, it is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. Used for knives and trays. Nickel silver blanks are plated with silver to produce EPNS.

Ormolu

An alloy of copper, zinc and tin. Ormolu is used for the decorative mountings of clocks, furniture and statuettes.

Pewter

An alloy of lead and tin, when polished pewter has a silvery sheen. It is easy to work but considerable skill is required for joining it. Uses include mugs, plates and other utensils for containing food and drink. No longer used for food and drink items due to the lead content. Still used for statuettes.

Rolled Gold

Gold sheet rolled on to one or both sides of a sheet of base metal. Used for the cases of pocket watches, jewelry and artwork.

Sheffield Plate

Silver sheet rolled on to one or both sides of a copper sheet. It is not the same as silver plate, which is made by electrolysis. Sheffield plate is longer made. Was used for trays and dishes.

Silver

A soft easily worked metal which is also easily scratched. Silver tarnishes with age so needs regular polishing. Used for cutlery, ornaments and jewelry. Sterling Silver contains 92.5% pure silver.

Silver Plate

Silver coated on to a material such as steel, copper, pewter, or plastic. Silver plate is used to make cutlery, trays and jewelry.

Silver Steel

Silvery in color, this is really cast steel in its soft state, ground to accurate sizes and ready for immediate use in making workshop tools. It is readily available, usually in 330 mm (or 8 in) lengths and dimensionally accurate round and square shapes.

Stainless Steel

An alloy steel containing nickel and chromium. Stainless steel is strong and bright, is not easy to work but is easily soldered. Resists corrosion well and does not tarnish. Used for saucepans, sinks, kitchen utensils and cutlery.

Tin

This is a bright, soft, tarnish-free metal. It is rarely worked in its pure state, but is used for tin plate and for alloying with lead and zinc.

Tin Plate

A mild steel sheet coated with tin. Tin plate will remain rust-free as long as the surface is not scratched to expose the steel sheet underneath. It can be soldered and are easily bent into boxes, cylinders and tubing. Tin plate is used for tin cans, baking tins and other baking utensils.

Tungsten Carbide

Extremely hard. Used for the cutting tips of masonry drills and on saw blades and cutters for man-made boards.

Wrought Iron

Iron with carbon and slag. Can be worked in many ways - twisted, bent, shaped, cut, soldered or welded. Wrought iron rusts relatively slowly but needs protection by painting. Used for gates, chains and screens.

Zinc

It is not very often used in its pure state. Zinc is a soft corrosion-resistant metal with a low melting point and it can be soft-soldered. Its main uses are as an alloy with copper to make brass and in galvanizing mild steel. Zinc can be used as a substitute for lead in flashings and linings and perforated zinc is extremely useful when used with epoxy resin fillers for repair work.