Himesh Patel
Metallurgical Engineer & Manager
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Co-authored Articles (26)
How to
Harden Steel
Steel is a common durable alloy, and while most steel used in tools is already tough, you can harden it even more to prevent wear and tear. Hardened steel prevents knife blades from dulling and tools from bending and bre...
How to
Melt Silver
Silver is the most common of the precious metals. It’s used in jewelry, electronics, medical supplies, and a number of industrial uses. Until the end of the nineteenth century, silver was also a major medium of currenc...
How to Oxidize Copper at Home
Achieve a vibrant patina quickly and affordably If you want to give your copper jewelry or copper decorations a rustic or antique look, you’re looking to oxidize the copper to create a patina. Copper starts off natural...
How to
Cut Aluminum
If you're interested in do-it-yourself home remodelling projects, cutting aluminum can give you plenty of material. And while it might seem intimidating, there are actually a few simple ways that you can accomplish this ...
How to
Melt Gold
Maybe you have gold jewelry that you want to melt. Or you’re an artist or jewelry designer who wants to create a new design by melting gold. There are several ways you can melt gold at home although you should always t...
How to
Extract Gold from a Rock
Prospecting for gold can be a fun hobby, though it’s a lot of work! You may be able to harvest gold flakes from rock if it contains gold among its minerals. The safest way to extract gold from rocks at home is to crush...
How to
Solder Stainless Steel
Unlike other metals, stainless steel is very difficult to solder. It has a thick oxide layer that prevents melted solder from sticking to its surface. While the job is a bit more complicated than regular soldering, you c...
How to
Magnetize Metal
Magnetism occurs when negative and positive particles in an object line up in a specific manner, causing an attraction or repulsion with nearby particles. As long as a metal has some iron in it, you can magnetize it usin...
How to
Melt Metal
If you want to melt metal, you need to find a way to apply a lot of heat to it. This can be done either with a foundry or a torch. With a foundry, the metal can be melted into a liquid that you can then mold into whateve...
How to
Solder Gold
Repairing a gold object or soldering gold objects together, requires a different approach than soldering with lead. Even if you have experience soldering other metals, you may wish to look through the section on gatherin...
How to
Remove Odor from Metal
We’ve all experienced it—that weird smell coming off a stainless steel coffee thermos or an odd odor from a jacket zipper. Whether it’s an offending piece of jewelry or a much-loved kitchen pan, your metal items ma...
How to
Identify a Metal
Knowing how to identify various metals can be useful if you work in a scientific or industrial setting, or if you’re simply curious about the natural world. When attempting to identify a sample of an unknown metal, the...
How to
Tell Bronze from Brass
Whether you're antiquing or scrapping, telling the difference between bronze and brass can help you determine the value of a piece. Unfortunately, since both metals are copper alloys, there aren't many things you can do ...
How to Nickel-Plate an Item Using Electroplating
The ultimate guide on coating old metal objects in nickel Nickel plating refers to any process that covers a metal object in a protective layer of nickel or nickel alloy. If you’re interested in doing this at home, nic...
How to
Melt Copper
Copper is a transition metal that readily conducts heat and electricity, making it a valuable substance in the construction of numerous items. Copper is melted either as ingots for storage or sale, or for casting another...
How to
Acid Etch Steel
Because copper and zinc have gone up in price, many artisans who etch designs in metals have turned to etching steel. Although not as fine a metal as copper, steel is finer than zinc, and it is also more durable--particu...
How to
Melt Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the most heavily used metals in modern manufacturing. Its durability and plasticity make it an ideal material for multiple functions. Because of this, aluminum is a great metal for DIY forging. With th...
How to
Clean a Solder Iron
If you have a solder iron and want to keep it in good shape, you'll want to clean it regularly. Because the iron tips come into contact with hot metals, they are vulnerable to corroding or rusting. But as long as you tho...
How to Make Copper Look Aged
Oxidize copper to achieve a rustic, charming patina When copper reacts with the oxygen in the air, copper oxide (CuO) is formed, giving the copper a greenish color which some people desire for its classical look. When al...
How to Bend Aluminum with Your Hands or a Press
The most reliable methods for adding curves to aluminum Knowing how to bend aluminum can be useful if you need to reshape a piece of the metal for a DIY repair job, crafting project, or similar task. There are a couple s...
