Is it bearings or barings?
Alright, let’s get something straight right from the start. As a man who has spent his life making things, there are few things that set my teeth on edge faster than the sloppy use of language. When a word has a precise, physical, world-building meaning, and people toss it around like a cheap plastic toy, […]
Which is larger, a #8 or a #10 screw?
You’re standing in the aisle at the hardware store, staring at two boxes of screws. One is labeled #8, the other #10. They look almost identical. You need the stronger one, the one with a bit more bite, but the numbers give you no intuitive clue. Is a #10 a tiny bit smaller than a […]
How difficult is tigger welding?
Alright, Clive here. Let’s get one thing straight right from the start. You’ve come here asking about “Tigger” welding, and while that brings to mind a rather bouncy, striped character, the process you’re actually looking for is TIG welding. Don’t worry about the typo. It’s one of the most common misspellings in the trade, and […]
Will aluminum rust if it gets wet?
Alright, Clive here. Let’s get straight to the point, because this is one of those questions where the simple answer is useless and the real answer is the key to understanding a huge chunk of modern engineering. The question is, “Will aluminum rust if it gets wet?” The short answer is an emphatic, unequivocal no. […]
Why is aluminium difficult to melt?
Right, Clive here. Let’s tackle a question that seems simple on the surface but sends home hobbyists, amateur welders, and even some engineers into fits of confusion. You look up the melting point of aluminum, you see a number—660.3°C (1221°F)—and you think, “That’s not so bad.” After all, your kitchen oven can get halfway there, […]
Do any magnets stick to aluminum?
Alright, Clive here. Let’s start with a scene I’ve witnessed a hundred times. Someone walks up to a gleaming aluminum window frame, a shiny boat railing, or a piece of high-end electronic equipment. They have a magnet in their hand—maybe they’re trying to hang a notice, test if it’s steel, or just satisfy a moment […]
What does it mean when something is annealed?
Alright, let’s get straight to it. You’ve asked what “annealed” means, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on who you’re asking. If you’re talking to a geneticist about a DNA sample, it means one thing. If you’re talking to a machinist like me about a block of steel, it means something entirely different […]
Do magnets stick to aluminium?
Core Question The Simple Answer The Engineering Reason Do magnets stick to aluminum? No. A standard magnet will not stick to any common form of aluminum. Aluminum is a paramagnetic material. It lacks the internal atomic structure (specifically, aligned magnetic domains) required for ferromagnetism, which is the strong attraction you feel with iron and steel. Why do magnets stick […]
What exactly does galvanized mean?
Clive here. It’s a question I get more often than you’d think, but it always requires a follow-up question from me: “Are you talking about a piece of steel, or a protest movement?” That usually gets a confused look. But the truth is, the word “galvanized” lives a fascinating double life. In one world—my world […]
What does it mean to be quenched?
Hello, Clive here. Every so often, a word comes along that seems simple on the surface but holds vastly different meanings depending on who you ask. “Quenched” is one of the best. Ask a weary traveler, and they’ll tell you it’s the sublime relief of cold water on a parched throat. Ask a firefighter, and […]
