Stainless steel is an industrial breakthrough that has led to stronger buildings and more hygienic food preparation surfaces. Stainless steel is known for its ability to withstand corrosion. Most metals will become encrusted with rust after being exposed to the elements; stainless steel lasts...
Ripping a CD does not mean tearing it up into two. (That’s actually impossible—and when you think about it, pointless.) Ripping a CD means to copy music from a compact disk (or, in its more familiar abbreviated form, CD) to a computer. You can copy it file by file or use special software that...
Ruching is kind of sewing method. Here, small strips or fabric are gathered, following a pattern, to create beautiful petals, scallops or ruffles. In fact, “ruching” is the French word for ruffle. It is commonly used to decorate waistbands, collars, and sleeves. To make a ruching flower, the...
Resin is an ingredient used in making artwork and polymers. It is also used in the manufacturing of many consumer products. For example, varnish and lacquer—common finishes for furniture—contain resin. It is sometimes incorporated into ink, jewelry and even perfume. Not many people know that amber...
Raku pottery is a ceramic firing process. Here, beautiful patterns and designs are created with the application of fire and smoke. It makes use of a specialized raku kiln, which is hooked up to a propane source. Temperatures of the kiln can skyrocket to 1800°F (approximately 982°C). The pots are...
Raffia is a natural fiber (similar to jute or hemp twine) that is made from leaves of a particular variety of palm tree called Raphia farinifera that is endemic to Madagascar. This tree has very large leaves which are harvested, cut and torn apart into long parallel lines, then dried to produce...
There’s more than one way to cut wood, with each method presenting different pros and cons. The methods include plainsawn, riftsawn, and quartersawn. Plainsawn wood is the simplest and most straightforward, and maximizes the amount of wood that can be “harvested” from a single log. Basically, it...
Polyvinyl chloride (also called PVC) is a type of plastic. Many people are actually familiar with it. Nearly all homes are fitted with PVC pipes. It is also used to make anything from water bottles to wall pipes, window frames to wall panels, credit cards to cling film, pens to credit cards. Even...
Polyurethane is a type of synthetic material that grew in popularity during World War II. It is known for being quite durable yet flexible, and is used to make a number of products. Depending on its use, it can appear in many forms. For example, polyurethane can be used to make fiberglass (often...
Polycarbonate is a type of plastic that is used in many kinds of industrial and manufacturing applications. The bulletproof windows that are attached to security vans and the compact discs (CDs) that hold music and video are all made from polycarbonate. One of the most important features of...
