Winter Olympics: A Look at Steel's Role

Many of us have watched the Sochi Winter Olympics these past couple of weeks, marveling at the athletes and all they have accomplished in some amazing sports. At Wasatch Steel, we decided to take a look at how steel plays a role in the Olympics, in everything from the venues that they use to compete in each sport to the infrastructure and the equipment that athletes use. Without steel, the Olympics would look much different. 

The Venues
While there is not any specific data publicly available about all of the Winter Olympic venues that were built for the events in and around Sochi, we do know that steel plays a huge role in any architectural building, creating the backbone of the structure and allowing for some amazing designs to be built.

Just looking at the venues for the 2014 Winter Olympics, from the Iceberg Skating Palace to the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park and everywhere in between, steel plays a big role. It allowed for some amazingly beautiful designs in the structure that held the Olympic flame, and helped athletes perform incredible tricks in disciplines from freestyle skiing and snowboarding on the rails to the ski jumps and bobsled, skeleton, and luge track where athletes flew over 300 feet in the air or slid down a track at speeds nearing 100 mph.

The Transportation
Another area where steel, like what you can find at Wasatch Steel, plays a big role in any major event is the transportation. It has been reported in the media that much of the area around Sochi was undeveloped prior to the Winter Olympics, so over the past few years Russia has spent a significant amount of time and money constructing highways and roads to accommodate the vast influx of fans expected for the games. Steel is one of the most effective materials for infrastructure projects like roads and bridges because it is extremely durable and strong, but also very lightweight, making it easier to transport to building sites, and easier to build with.

The Athletes’ Equipment
Many of the athletes in the Winter Olympics also have steel as part of their equipment or uniform. Ice dancers and hockey players have skates with blades made of steel, bobsleds, skeletons, and luges rely on steel runners to get them down the ice safely and securely, with as little extra weight as possible in the equipment. In fact, USA skeleton athlete Noelle Pikus-Pace from Eagle Mountain, Utah was widely reported to be sliding on a sled made by her husband, who works for a steel fabrication company. Equipment from speed skaters’ skates to ski bindings might be made of different steel or steel alloys. The durability, strength, and lightweight nature of steel makes it a versatile choice for many different sporting applications.

Even if you’re not part of the Winter Olympics, come down to Wasatch Steel to check out our selection of steel and find whatever you might need for your next project—and Go Team USA!

Choosing Balusters or Spindles for Your New Stairs

The stairway in your home is often more than just a functional architectural element that gets people from one floor to another (although it can be that too). It can be a beautiful way to make a statement about your style, and help to complement your other home décor. This piece of steel home décor can be a focal point or fade into the background, but no matter what you want it to do, the first step in getting that perfect staircase is choosing the right stair railings.

Creating a Work of Art
The stair railings are a critical piece of any building project. Whether you are designing a new home or you are simply remodeling the staircase in your existing home, the railings are your way of expressing your style and turning the staircase into the work of art that you want it to be. That’s why it’s important to start your project at a place where you can see a wide variety of different options, such as the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel. There you can find every variety of baluster—also known as railings, the vertical spindles that make up the majority of a stair project and hold the handrails—and get the ones that are perfect for you.

Decide on the Function of the Stairway
In order to choose the right steel stair railings from Wasatch Steel, you must first know what you want the function of the stairway to be. Do you want it to be the focal point of the room? Do you have another focal point and you need the stairway to complement other elements? Once you know that you can determine whether the minimal appearance of simple balusters will suffice, or if you want to create a dramatic look with the design of your stair railings.

Look at Several Railings
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to stair railings, it’s something that should be customized for each home. Before you decide one a design, it’s important to look at several different options so you can get the exact one to fit your style. You should examine all types of designs, including straight, rounded, hammered, twisted, baskets, scrolls, ribbons, shapes, and hollow designs. You can find pre-made designs, or even work with the people at Wasatch Steel to create your own unique look if needed.

Combine Different Balusters for a Unique Look
Another option that you have is to combine two or more balusters to make a style statement. You might decide that you want to have stair railings with clean geometric shapes, such as squares or rectangles, then combine those with whimsical scroll designs every fourth or fifth railing to break it up visually. You can also create custom panels that include more intricate designs and install them in areas designed to draw the eye, such as at the top of bottom of a staircase, or in the center of a railing that overlooks another room.

Creating the perfect staircase is just another part of creating the right décor and architectural aesthetics for your home. Adding your own personality to your staircase is easy when you have a wide variety of styles to choose from at Wasatch Steel.

Building a Functional and Beautiful Steel Staircase

Staircases are perhaps one of the most functional—and one of the most underappreciated—aspects of modern architecture. They are a great way to get up and down in any building or home, but they can also play a crucial role in the aesthetics of your home or business. The right or wrong steel staircase can completely change the way your room looks. If you are ready to build stairs, here are some considerations to get the perfect steel staircase from Wasatch Steel for your home or business.

Consider Function

There are so many different types of steel out there that you can get the exact material you need for whatever kind of staircase you intend to build. If you are building a functional steel staircase for a work area that needs to have the right traction for safety reasons, you can get perforated steel, diamond plate, and other materials that will ensure the safety of your workforce. On the other hand, if you are hoping to add a beautiful accent piece to your existing architecture at home, the type of steel you choose will be entirely different. Perhaps you will prefer to go with a unique shape, color, or style that can add a new dimension to your home’s style. You can find several different options at the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel.

Consider Style

While steel might seem like a cold, characterless material to use for your stairs, it is in fact quite the opposite. The right stylistic touches can bring out the life of your steel in a way that no other material can. Finishes like powder coating can add color and life to your steel, while small details in the finish can allow you to have a one-of-a-kind staircase that truly matches your home. You can also get steel balusters and rails that come in a wide variety of styles, including nature shapes, geometric shapes, abstract shapes, and more.

Consider Costs

Steel is also a beneficial material to use for your staircase because it can be a cost-effective option. It is one of the strongest and most durable metals available, which means your steel staircase will be built to last. When you shop at Wasatch Steel, you can find the materials you need for just about any steel staircase that you can imagine, all at very reasonable prices. In addition steel is a very lightweight material, making it inexpensive to ship and keeping costs low when you purchase it for your staircase. The light weight also ensures that it can be used for just about any architectural setup.

Steel staircases can add dramatic flair to your home or office, or they can simply be a very functional and affordable option to ensure the safety of your employees.

Stay Warm with a Steel Fire Pit

When it comes to your outdoor living space, there are few things that can bring warmth and excitement to your yard better than a fire pit. Even in the winter, these decorative pieces can provide your family with a great way to come together and keep warm as the weather gets colder and colder. Here are some of the benefits of having your own steel fire pit in your yard, and you can find all that you need to make one at the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel.

Great for Entertaining
Entertaining guests is easy to do when you have a fire pit, whether it is family that is in town for the holidays or friends coming over for a night of fun and games. They are also a great way to increase the space that you have available, especially when the winter months can make your home seem a little bit smaller than in the summer. With a fire pit, you can take your guests outside and still keep warm, even when it’s cold. The entertaining can also continue into the summer months when you can extend your home’s party space with a fire pit.

Use it for Cooking
A steel fire pit can also be a fun way to cook up some food. Just like when you’re up in the mountains camping, you can bring home the taste of fire-grilled food with a do-it-yourself fire pit from Wasatch Steel. While it may not be the best option for gourmet food, cooking up some hot dogs, barbecuing some meat, and roasting marshmallows to make s’mores is the best with a fire pit. You can do it in the summer and the winter, whenever you want some delicious dinner or dessert.

Stay Warm at Night
The evening hours are a great time to spend with your family and friends, but if you want to be outside, it can get a little bit chilly out there. With a fire pit that you can build yourself (a DIY fire pit) with materials from Wasatch Steel, you can stay warm while you spend time outdoors. Even in the cold months of the year, the warmth of a fire can bring people together.

Create a Focal Point in Your Outdoor Space
There are a lot of things you can do to decorate your outdoor living space, but there are few things that can create a beautiful focal point for your décor like a steel fire pit. You can get all the materials you need to build the perfect size and shape fire pit from Wasatch Steel, and the benefit of using steel is that you can paint it and decorate it to match any style that you have at your home. It can be a great investment in your home, adding value and style with a great ambiance for your entire yard.

Once you have your fire pit, it’s important to take proper care of it, keeping it covered when you’re not using it to keep it in good shape. In addition, clean out the ashes and fuel on a regular basis to make sure there is no fire danger.

Renovate Your Home with Steel this Year

If one of your new year’s resolutions this year is to renovate your home, there are plenty of things you can do to make it look new and fresh again. One of the best building materials you can use when you’re getting ready for your remodel is steel, and you can find all that you need to update your entire home at the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

Update Your Kitchen
There are dozens of ways you can add steel to your kitchen to update the look of even an old, outdated room. You can add sheets of rolled or diamond steel to the wall for a quick backdrop, add hardware to your kitchen cabinets and drawers, or even do something unique like create kickboards or countertop edges with steel. If you want to look through all the bits and pieces of steel that are available at Wasatch Steel, you can even find several unique pieces to build your own DIY backsplash for your kitchen.

Add Steel Furniture
Another great way to accent your home and make it look like you did major renovations with a few simple changes is to use steel furniture. You could add a steel bench or chair, build a brand new shelf out of steel, or just accent your existing furniture with small steel finishes to make it stand out.

Build a New Steel Staircase
A steel staircase can make a grand statement, and Wasatch Steel has everything you need to build your own unique railing. From balusters and spindles to the tiny details that make the staircase your own, you can find all this and more when you shop at the steel supermarket. We have pre-made steel railings, or you can create your own design and we can help you make it into a reality with all the tools available at our shop. Come in and browse through the selection of staircase railings to see if there is something you want to add to your indoor or outdoor staircase as part of your remodeling project.

Add Steel Accents
There are literally hundreds of different steel accents that you can find at Wasatch Steel to update your home. We have the widest selection of “odds and ends” that you can find anywhere, and often these little treasures are just what you need to add that extra special touch to your home décor. In addition to artistic items, we have basics like steel numbers to put on the outside of your home, and even steel that can be cut to your specification if you want to make a sign or some other type of wall décor. If you are looking for ideas on how to decorate with steel, come down to the steel supermarket and browse through our selection of steel pieces to see what inspiration comes to mind.

If you want to revamp the look of your home this year, see what you can find at the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel to start your remodeling plans.

Overview of the Steelmaking Process

If you have ever wondered about how steel is made, there are a few things you should know about the process. Before steel was invented (and prior to the days of being able to simply visit the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel to get whatever you need), iron was used to fashion several different items, including weapons, housewares, gates, and more. In the mid-1800s Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer process, which added oxygen to the process and created steel. Today steel is still made using the Bessemer process, but it can also be done with the Siemens open hearth, electric arc, high frequency, or even the crucible process.

Bessemer Process

One of the oldest, and still very reliable, processes for making steel is the Bessemer process, which was perfected and brought into mainstream use in the mid- to late-1800s. This method uses an egg-shaped converter with several ton capacity to blow air through iron from the mouth of the converter and create steel. The acid Bessemer process (versus the basic process) was, for the most part, replaced by the acid open-hearth process, which was then replaced again by the electric arc process. There is a short window of only about 25 minutes when the steel is in the furnace, which makes it more difficult to get it just right.

Open Hearth Process
The Siemens open hearth process, which also has an acid and basic variety, uses oil or natural gas to supply the heat for melting and working the charge. Raw materials, including cold or molten pig iron, scrap, and lime are in the furnace for anywhere from 6 to 14 hours, which makes it easier to control the outcome than in the Bessemer process.

Electric Arc Method
This method begins with heat generated from electric arcs struck between carbon electrodes and a metal bath. Steel scrap is melted to remove phosphorus and sulphur, and deoxidize it in the furnace. What remains is a purified steel, which is very high quality as long as there is very little gas absorption and the proper temperature is maintained. This processes is often used today to create highly alloyed steels, such as stainless steel or heat-resisting steel. For some special alloys, the electric arc method is combined with vacuum degassing, which removes hydrogen, atmospheric and volatile impurities for an exceptional quality steel.

Crucible and High Frequency
The crucible method was developed centuries ago, and refers to the process of making steel using a crucible, refining steel that has been consolidated and melting it to become more uniform. It has been replaced in most cases by the high frequency method, where heat is generated in the metal by eddy currents from a magnetic field. When the frequency increases, eddy currents travel closer to the surface of the charge and develop heat to carry the current. The high frequency method is advantageous for eliminating contamination, so high quality steels such as magnet, die, tool steel, and ball bearing steel can be made economically.

Next Steps

Once the steel is made, the next step is to create whatever end-user product you intend to get from the steel. Here are some examples of the different types of steel that are made, and you can find these end-user products at Wasatch Steel:

Slab

• Hot or cold strip steel – used for cars and consumer goods
• Coils – used for ship building and welded pipes

Billet

• Hot rolled bars – often used for rebar
• Rods – for wire, nuts, and bolts
• Tube rounds – for use in making pipes

Bloom

• Structural steel – for use in construction and similar applications
• Rails – for use building railroads 

When you need steel, you can find all the different types of end-user steel products at the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel.

Benefits of Using Powder Coating for Steel

Many people choose to work with steel over other metals because it offers several advantages that not all metals can provide. It is an extremely durable and strong metal, and also very lightweight so it is a cost-effective option. Finally, it’s extremely customizable and even recyclable, so you can get exactly the steel you want from the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel while still being earth-friendly. Powder coating is one finish that you can use for steel that allows you to customize the color of your steel and protect it, and there are several benefits to using this process.

What is Powder Coating?
The process of powder coating uses a dry powdered paint compound that fuses together to create a paint finish on your steel from Wasatch Steel that is durable and long-lasting. During the process, electrostatically charged powder particles are sprayed at a low velocity from a paint gun, and the electrostatic charge keeps the paint particles on the surface; these specialized pigments, resins, and fillers then fuse together during a high-temperature curing process (which can be 350 degrees or more).

Benefits of Powder Coating
Durability. One of the main benefits of using a powder coating on steel is corrosion resistance. Over time, when steel is exposed to the elements, it can corrode over time. It is a strong and durable metal, but in order to preserve it and keep it strong for many years, you want to prevent water from damaging the steel. It is also resistant to cracking and peeling, which makes it ideal for many different applications.

Environmentally Friendly. Another reason that many people prefer to use powder coating over other options for protecting steel is that it is an environmentally-friendly process. There are no chemicals or other solvents used during the process, which is different from using wet paint systems on steel. Powder coating processes use electrostatic charges to hold the paint on instead of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), so you don’t have emissions problems.

Versatility. There are hundreds of different paint colors and textures that you can use with powder coating, and it can be used for almost any kind of steel that you can get at Wasatch Steel, as long as it can hold an electrostatic charge and tolerate the high level of heat used in the curing process. Everything from mild steel to galvanized and electroplated steel, as well as stainless steel and most steel alloys can be powder coated.

Keys to Good Powder Coating

In order to get the best powder coating, there are a few things to consider:

• First, do you have experienced technicians to help finish the project with high quality and in a timely manner?
• Second, are you using high quality paint so you get a good finish every time?
• Third, will your project require disassembly in order to do the powder coating? If so, you need to make sure you can complete the tear down service, or you work with someone who can disassemble it in a timely manner.

Once you have these questions answered, you can get your steel from the steel supermarket powder coated so it looks great and is protected for the future.