Tungsten lighting is a term used by photographers to distinguish from fluorescent lighting or strobe lighting. Tungsten is a type of incandescent lighting using a bulb with a filament made of the metal tungsten, as opposed to, say, carbon or platinum. Unless you have switched to compact fluorescents, most of the lighting in your home is tungsten. In still photography, tungsten lighting gave studio photographers greater flexibility than the classic north sky light. Tungsten lights reigned supreme for many years in commercial studios until the introduction of strobes (or speed lights) and some workers still prefer tungsten for its controllability (what you see is what you get). For television and cinematography tungsten is essential.

Tungsten lamps specifically for photographic purposes are made to very tight tolerances since most photography or cinematography today is done in color. For photography, tungsten lamps are produced in two types, having very specific "color temperatures:" type B lamps, the most common, have a color temperature of 3200 degrees Kelvin (3200°K); type A lamps had a color temperature of 3400°K and were matched to Kodachrome Type A (ASA/ISO 40). This material is now discontinued and so far as I know there are no other Type A still stocks on the market.

Without getting too tediously technical we should try briefly to explain "color temperature:" The higher the color temperature, the bluer the light. The lower the color temperature, the more yellow to red the light. Noon daylight (sun shining, no cloud cover) in the area of the globe between the tropics is considered for practical purposes to have a color temperature of 5000 degrees Kelvin (5000°K). "Daylight" color films, or your default setting on your digital camera, are balanced for ±5000°K. Electronic flashes ("strobes" or "speed lights" or the little strobe on your camera) have a nominal color temperature equal to noon daylight. All other light sources have different color temperatures and theoretically require some sort of compensation to render "true" color, either by filtering the film or the light or by changing the film or settings on the camera. If you are using studio quality tungsten lighting, you should also use a type-B incandescent balanced film, or set your digital camera for either AUTO or incandescent. In practice, plain household tungsten lighting (color temperature around 2800°K) will yield a perfectly acceptable photograph with a type-B film or with your digital camera set on auto or incandescent.

Most 3200°K studio lamps used today are tungsten halogen. Halogen lamps have quartz envelopes and are filled with a halogen gas such as iodine or bromine. The gas combines with the evaporated tungsten from the filament during use and helps some of the tungsten plate back onto the filament when it cools, lengthening the life of the lamp. The quartz envelope does not darken over the life of the lamp, so the color temperature does not significantly change, nor does its brilliance.

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"No One In UK Safe As Big Chill Sets In," warns Sky News. BBC is less apocalyptic but, still, prepare for demand for ice tyres.

"Forecasters predict up to two weeks of wintry weather, with plummeting temperatures and snowfall possible in many areas," warns Sky News. The BBC is not so flustered: "this week may begin a transition to some colder weather. The rest of January looks as though it may continue to bring colder than average temperatures with an increased risk of some snowfall."

But if there's a long period of ice and snow in our future, bike shops should be prepared for a spike in sales of bike tyres dotted with tungsten carbide studs. Stocks of studded tyres are likely to dwindle as the cold weather approaches.

Gritted roads may be safe to cycle on but not all roads get gritted. And unlike in the Netherlands, very few bike paths in the UK get gritted (and even fewer are heated). So, more and more cyclists who wish to keep commuting by bike are now using tyres studded with 'spikes'. In previous cold snaps studded tyres from brands such as Nokian, Conti and Schwalbe sold out very quickly.

The Schwalbe supplier in the UK - Bohle - supplies studded tyres for MTBs, 700c road and cross bikes, and some folding bikes. Cambrian Tyres stocks spike tyres from Continental: the Spike Claw for MTBs and Nordic Spike for 700c bikes.

In 2010, an NHS study found that falls on black ice are a major cause of bike crashes. The study - by NHS Bristol - was the UK’s largest and most comprehensive survey into non-collision cycling incidents, ie crashes that do not involve another road user.

The survey revealed that slipping on ice is the most common non-collision incident, being mentioned by 26 percent of respondents. The next most common incident noted was slipping on wet roads, with 8 percent of reported incidents.

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ExOne, a North Huntingdon manufacturing company that relies on technology some speculate will fuel the next industrial revolution, has filed plans to raise up to $75 million through a public offering of an undisclosed number of shares.

Documents the company filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicate ExOne will use the proceeds to expand its capacity and capabilities, pay off a $9.6 million line of credit it has with its majority stockholder and repurchase production equipment it leases from two related entities for $3 million.

No information was provided about how the shares will be priced. The IPO is being managed by FBR Capital Markets.

The filing indicates ExOne lost $11.1 million in the first nine months of last year on revenue of $15.9 million. ExOne said 30 percent of its revenue for the nine-month period came from the Americas, 34 percent from Europe and 29 percent from Asia.

The company lost $8 million in 2011 on revenue of $15.3 million.

ExOne is one of a growing number of companies that rely on 3-D printing to make complex parts using digital imaging. Its customers include Boeing, Ford Motor, BMW, Caterpillar and Deere & Co.

So-called 3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, involves slicing digital images of industrial pumps, automotive equipment and other products into hundreds or thousands of layers the width of a human hair. That data is sent to a 3-D printer similar to an inkjet printer.

But instead of ink, the printer emits alternating layers of sand and powdered materials into a box, where a liquid binder holds the layers together, resulting in a physical version of the digital image.

The technology eliminates weeks of bending, molding, punching, grinding and machining parts that must then be assembled into a finished product. Advocates say 3-D printing will revolutionize industry by bringing more manufacturing back to the United States.

ExOne currently makes products out of ceramic, stainless steel, bronze and glass. The filing stated proceeds from the offering will help it move into titanium, aluminum, tungsten carbide and other materials.

ExOne grew out of Extrude Hone Corp. and was acquired for $7.2 million in 2007 by S. Kent Rockwell, ExOne's chairman and majority shareholder. Mr. Rockwell and other owners have invested another $40.7 million in equity and debt since then, the document states.

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Research findings on Nuclear Physics are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting originating from Erlangen, Germany, research stated, "A new Geant4-based code MCADS (Monte Carlo model for Accelerator Driven Systems) aimed at Monte Carlo simulations of Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) is developed and validated. It is used to study neutron production and energy deposition in spallation targets made of non-fissile and fissile materials."

 "Detailed simulations are performed for monolithic tungsten and uranium targets irradiated by 600 MeV protons. We have found that the number of produced neutrons per proton is about 3 times higher in the uranium target, while the energy deposition per neutron is almost the same in both targets. We have also considered a uranium target with admixture of Am-241 and estimated its burning rate."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Our conclusion is that up to 4-5 kg of minor actinides can be burnt by an ADS facility during the first year of its operation."

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When choosing their wedding band, many men and women choose to go the Tungsten ring route. This is a good choice. One advantage, especially for men, is that tungsten wedding bands require much less care and tend to maintain their look better than gold or platinum wedding rings. Unlike gold or platinum rings, which are softer metals, tungsten rings are very durable and scratch resistant. For example, gold rings can scratch even while you’re cleaning them.

However, just because tungsten carbide rings are extremely durable does not mean that they do not need to be cleaned at all. All forms of jewelry, including tungsten jewelry, require maintenance. However, you must take care to use the proper cleaning solutions and techniques so that you do not cause damage to your ring.

Cleaning your ring:

To get started, here are some suggested items to get started for cleaning your tungsten ring: a clean cotton towel, mild hand soap and an old toothbrush.

Turn on the water and rinse your ring. Place some of the mild hand soap you are using onto the toothbrush you are going to use. Then, simply clean the ring using the toothbrush. The bristles of the brush are great for getting into any grooves, if your ring has any.

If your ring is extremely dirty, you can soak your ring in a mixture of warm water and soap for about half an hour. After done soaking, clean as described above.

Important Information regarding cleaning your tungsten:

Do not, by any means, using any harsh cleaning materials/chemicals such as ammonia, bleach or chlorine. These chemicals can damage your tungsten ring. It would be wise to avoid any chlorine treated pools or Jacuzzis when using your ring. Avoid using jewelry cleaning solutions as they are generally designed for other types of jewelry materials.

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are not recommended either. Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners aren’t necessary to make your tungsten ring look its best. Moreover, the solutions ultrasonic jewelry cleaners tend to use, may damage your tungsten ring.

How to Properly Care for your Tungsten ring.

The key thing for the care of your ring is to avoid harsh chemicals. If you regularly use bleach in your household cleaning or laundry, it is best to remove your ring before engaging in those activities. If, however, you accidentally get some of these harsh chemicals on your ring, it is best to quickly rinse your ring off and clean the ring with soap and water as described above.

Now that your ring is looking sharp again after removing the grime, you’ll notice that your ring will not have any scratches. The ring, while scratch resistant, is not indestructible. Note: the ring is not indestructible and can be scratched, by diamonds, the hardest substance on earth. Given enough shock or pressure a tungsten ring (or even a diamond) can break. Reputable retailers usually offer a free lifetime warranty for these kinds of accidents.

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If you're looking for men's rings and you're in the market for a tungsten wedding band, you know that tungsten rings are the new industry standard for quality. Tungsten wedding rings have been referred to as the "Permanently Polished Ring." But not all tungsten wedding rings are created equal. Our tungsten carbide wedding bands are not cheap wedding bands in quality. EVERY SINGLE ONE of the tungsten wedding bands at Wedding Rings Forever upholds quality standards most companies choose to ignore in their wedding bands. Our mens wedding bands are cobalt free. This is VERY important! Most people are fooled by cheap tungsten rings which contain cobalt and take away the qualities of true tungsten carbide.

Tungsten carbide rings are 10 times harder than 18K Gold, 5 times harder than tool steel, and 4 times harder than titanium. Tungsten rings measure between 8 and 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. (Diamonds are a 10 - the highest). Tungsten wedding bands rings will not bend, scratch, or warp in any way. They are the toughest rings on the planet and will truly last FOREVER. In a medical emergency, our tungsten wedding rings can be easily removed by a medical professional or experienced jeweler.

Cobalt Rings

The newest player onto the market are the new cobalt rings from Wedding Rings Forever. These mens wedding rings are so unique because of their bright white color and their ability to hold stones. Cobalt wedding bands are a shatter proof ring, with a durability rating higher than titanium rings. Many people have expressed the desire to have a tough ring that better matches their companions white gold or platinum band, and cobalt is the solution. We are currently expanding our cobalt bands market with new styles arriving daily. We also do custom cobalt ring design, and the designs can be more intricate as the metal is better to work with.

Ceramic Rings

One of the newest trends in high quality wedding rings are the new ceramic rings. Available in many colors, though the most popular color has been the black ceramic ring. This is not your pottery class stuff here, but rather an incredibly hard and lightweight hi-tech compound which is the solid color all the way through. Tungsten rings that are black simply come with a plating, that can scratch and wear off. If you're looking for a black wedding ring, ceramic is the only way to go. Unless you're adamant about having a black tungsten wedding band, the ceramic rings will wear better, be lighter and offer the same look.

Platinum Wedding Rings

Simply put, platinum is the best there is. We use only PT950, with the remaining 5% being ruthenium for a lasting shine and durability unparalleled in the jewelry industry. Platinum wedding bands wear much better than gold, and never lose their brilliant color as white gold bands may after time and wear. Though not as scratch resistant as tungsten rings, platinum will always be able to look as good as new with a clean and polish. Platinum also looks good on both men and women, and is one of the most valuable metals on Earth.

Diamond Wedding Rings

The age old saying, "A diamond is forever!" still rings true at Wedding Rings Forever. We have breathtaking pave rings with upwards of 200 stones that offer sparkle and shine like never seen before. Diamond engagement rings and diamond bands alike are always the way to please your bride. We only work with quality genuine and certified diamonds, unless clearly stated as a CZ. Many of our tungsten wedding rings are set with CZ's for the cost sensitive shopper, but can be swapped for real stones on request. Though tungsten wedding bands are considered our bread and butter, we have been able to help countless couples with a custom diamond ring. In some applications, where cost is a concern, we use the highest quality cubic zirconia stones available on the market today. Call for a specialized bid on any gemstone and dream setting. Custom designs welcome! Please realize that different metals will yield different results, and that tungsten rings will not offer the same versatility as gold diamond rings. Let us save you thousands on your diamond purchase.

Gold Wedding Rings

Gold is timeless and will never go out of style. Whether is be white gold wedding bands, or men's gold rings, we offer anything and everything on the market at the lowest and cheapest price out there. Often times, tungsten rings can be an option for less than half the cost of gold. They match up quite well with your fiances white gold or platinum band. If it's yellow gold you're after, we can inlay 14K yellow gold into a tungsten wedding band for an incredible two tone look sure to stand out and wear better than other gold rings. We have a specialized program for custom design unique gold rings that allow you to see your ring in a wax before it's ever actually cast. Then you can choose to mount a $25 CZ or a $25000 dream diamond with any sort of gemstone in between. If we don't offer the best price, be careful. There are many jewelers out there offering enhanced stones and other product which is cheap and low quality. If you're after a complex design, setting it in gold may be a better option than doing it in a tungsten wedding ring. We now also offer many of our gold wedding bands in X1 white gold, which keeps it's bright white look 4 times as long and is the best gold money can buy.

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So you now own your very own precious Tungsten Ring or you are thinking about getting a Tungsten Carbide Ring. Maybe it is that you want to know more about what all the talk is with the tungsten wedding bands that you have been hearing before you go out looking for that special ring.
 
Tungsten carbide is the most durable material that can be used for rings.  However tungsten its self can brake because of its rare hardness, therefore adding a carbon alloy prevents this, making it even stronger and virtually indestructible. It rates between an 8 and 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.  To understand better you have to be able to compare it to other metals.
 
18k Gold = Mohs 2
Titanium = Mohs 4
Tungsten Carbide = Mohs 8
Diamonds = Mohs 10 (the highest rate on the scale)
 
Tungsten and carbon are ground up into a powder first then pressed with high pressure dies or molds.  Then they are fired or baked if you will in an oxygen-free furnace at about 6000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is called sintered and forms a ring blank of the hardest metal.
 
Once the ring blank is made, it can then be individually hand cut and polished using a variety of poly crystalline diamond tools and diamond abrasives. To cut and polish a tungsten carbide ring you have to have something stronger then the tungsten and diamonds are about the only thing stronger. There are still about 30 different steps in the process to get it right. It is all very close to how diamonds themselves are cut and polished.  This leaves a tungsten carbide wedding band with a polish and shine that will never fade therefore looking new forever, longer then the eternal love of the couple wearing it. Other metals are to soft to where they can’t hold the process so fade and scratch.
 
With in the cutting process many different things can be done to design the perfect tungsten Ring. You can have inlay of gold and sliver even tungsten ceramic rings. Faceted Tungsten Rings, the ever elegant and popular Celtic tungsten rings, Laser Etched, this is also the only time that an engraving can be done and the only time that the size of the ring can be determined.
 
Due to the hardness of the tungsten carbide you have to know what size you wear when you order your ring, because once the ring is completed it can not be resized.  Special ordering a ring can mean that you have to wait a little longer for your ring but the wait is defiantly worth it. You will have a ring that you are proud to wear and that will never tarnish, scratch, fade, bend, or need repair. Both men’s and ladies tungsten wedding bands have all the same properties and qualities.

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The woman behind the sales counter of the fancy jewelry store told us that if I was ever in an accident, the ring could not be cut off of my hand, and the finger would have to go instead; it was just that strong.  Additionally, the ring looked superior to anything else under the display. Noted. At least I was getting a ring I could not break. I was wrong.

While at the movies, I caught my tungsten ring on the back of a chair. Off of my finger and onto the floor it went. At first I could not find the ring. Then I found half of the ring. This was a problem.

Maybe this is a familiar story? Lots of people who fell victim to half truths are left with exactly what we are, a $300 paper weight. To pour salt into our open wound, there is no warranty.  A little internet research and we discovered the accident-cut-off-theory to be a myth as well.

Wedding rings, one of the most recognized symbols of marriage, have historically been made from a variety of materials including gold, silver, titanium, and recently tungsten carbide. With the sale of tungsten rings rising over the last decade it raises the question, why are so many people opting for tungsten carbide over traditional metals? Marketers promote tungsten rings as being extremely durable. Manufacturers claim that their hardness makes them more scratch resistant than rings made of traditional metals. Tungsten rings also sport a more modern look that many people prefer to gold or silver. With the increased popularity of tungsten carbide rings there have also been reports of tungsten ring problems. These problems include cracking, breaking, and difficulty resizing. The source of these problems stems from the same properties that make tungsten carbide rings alluring in the first place; their durability and hardness.

To better understand tungsten ring problems one needs to know a bit about tungsten and tungsten carbide. Tungsten is an elemental metal used to forge strong composite materials such as tungsten carbide. It was first discovered in the late 1700s but has only recently become popular in the manufacture of jewelry. It is important to note that tungsten alone is not used to make rings; the composite tungsten carbide is. Manufacturers use tungsten, carbon, and cobalt or nickel to make tungsten carbide. This makes it extremely hard and scratch resistant. It is this hardness that makes tungsten carbide so popular but is also the source of most tungsten ring problems.

The extreme hardness of tungsten carbide presents yet another one of the major tungsten ring problems. It's impossible to resize a tungsten ring. If a person were to try to resize one it would break. This is problematic because people's fingers change size throughout their life. A person who purchases a tungsten ring today would likely have to buy a new one in the future.

Yes, tungsten rings are more affordable initially than rings made of precious metals but may end up costing more in the long run compared to a gold or silver ring that is easily resized. In addition, rings that are too small can actually create a health hazard. Faced with having to buy a new ring a person may decide to continue wearing a tungsten ring that is too small. They may not realize they are damaging the circulation in their finger before permanent damage has occurred.

Marketers would have a person believe tungsten carbide is indestructible while ignoring tungsten ring problems. Tungsten carbide rings do present a durable and scratch resistant option but they do come with drawbacks. When dropped they can easily crack or break, they cannot be resized, and are difficult to remove if stuck on a finger. Faced with having to buy a new ring when one breaks or needs resizing, tungsten rings may end up costing a person more than a ring made of a precious metal such as gold or silver.

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This is about all the different kinds of darts you could use to play the game of darts. It has changed a lot over the years, and whoever discovered that you could make darts out of tungsten is pretty smart!

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, there was a revolution in darts. The material from which darts were made changed dramatically. Darts were traditionally made from brass and were quite large.

Then along came tungsten, a very, very dense metal which meant that you could make a dart the same weight as you were using, but half the diameter. The advantages of that are quite obvious. The more darts you can get in treble 20 in 1 throw, the more you score.

You've only got 3 darts to kick off with. Three great big fat brass darts, a 180 was a pretty rare beast, but now 180's are very, very common place, with very thin darts. I can show you what I mean.

This is an example of what I was talking about. Now, these are brass darts and they weigh around 22 grams, 23 grams perhaps. Look at the size.

This is a tungsten dart that also weighs 21, 22 grams. Compare the two. It's much easier to get three of these fellows in the treble 20, than 3 of these.

Now, there are absolutely thousands of different tungsten darts out on the market. They're all extremely efficient and there's bound to be a set out there that suits you. Be it a little dumpy dart, a dum dum, or a long slender dart like this fellow, anything in between, all made of tungsten are extremely good value for money.

Now, there are no rules to say what sort of dart, what style of dart, what weight of dart, is the best for you. That, you must find out for yourself by picking up a set of darts and trying them and suddenly finding the one that really works for you. And that's a simple matter of trial and error.

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While brass is still used for inexpensive darts, such darts are large in diameter and the grip wears down quickly.

Tungsten is a very dense metal, also very durable.  Using tungsten to make a dart barrel results in a smaller dart for the same weight.  For anyone who plays darts often, the durability is important, as that helps retain the dart's precision-machined shape, grooves, and knurling.

Size is usually the first factor considered when choosing tungsten darts.  At about half the diameter of a similar weight brass dart, it is a lot easier to fit two or more tungsten darts into a double or triple area.

Think about the end of a cricket games, where you need to hit several bulls to finish.  An old-fashioned fat brass dart, the area is nearly covered by the first dart.  Switching to a slim tungsten dart barrel easily allows two or three darts to fit in the same area.  (Of course, you still have to be able to hit that bull!)

As with most products, tungsten darts are not all the same.  Raw tungsten does not melt easily, and is not readily made into machinable shapes.  Tungsten is generally ground into a fine powder, which is then blended with a variety of other metals that act as binding agents.  In the case of darts, the most common blends contain nickel, with smaller amounts of copper and ferrous compounds.  The mixture is heated and compressed to make a solid billet or bar, which can then be machined into darts barrels.

Very high percentages of tungsten, such as 98% tungsten darts, have a wonderful dense feel and a surface that resists wear for a long time.  However, the high concentration of tungsten powder also makes them brittle, and more prone to break if dropped on hard surface such as a concrete garage floor.  Very high density darts also are difficult to make, requiring special and expensive tooling to machine the barrels.

To get around those problems, most tungsten darts are now made of mixtures ranging from 70% to 95% tungsten.  Lower density barrels are much cheaper, as they are easier to manufacture with automated machinery  Low density darts also wear faster, from skin acid, friction, hitting other darts, falling on floors, etc.

The majority of steel-point darts used by competitive players in league and tournament play are now made of 90% Tungsten.  Soft-tip darts are commonly made of 80% tungsten, which is cheaper, less dense, and less brittle.  Soft-tip darts are prone to bounce out a lot, and electronic machines are often found in places with hard floors.  The softer 80% tungsten darts are less likely to break when constantly falling such hard floors.  As steel-point darts are more often played over carpeted areas, breakage is a little less of a problem.

Bristle dartboards for steel-point darts have a scoring are that is roughly 20% smaller than most soft-tip boards.  With smaller scoring areas on a bristle board, the thinner diameter of 90% or 95% tungsten darts makes sense for competitive steel-point darters.

Budget priced darts are generally made of 80% or 70% Tungsten.  Below 70%, most of the benefits of a tungsten dart are lost.  Darts made of 60% tungsten or less are very bulky, and have poor wear resistance.  The reason for making darts of 70% or less is to get the price down.. which generally means taking other shortcuts in the machining process that also result in a lesser quality dart.

Within each percentage range of tungsten darts, there is a wide range of quality.  Every company has its own special blend of metals that are combined to make the raw billets.  The best darts for competition are also the most expensive to make and the most difficult to machine.  Cheaper darts can be made by adjusting the blend by adding softer metals.  For instance, a bit more copper or iron may be added.  A "softer" blend means that cheaper cutting tools can be used, the tooling won't dull as quickly,  and the machinery can produce more darts in a given amount of time.

Different blends may also slightly change the appearance of the finished darts.  Some darts look shinier, others have a more grainy appearance.  Surface treatments during the manufacturing process can also make a great difference in the appearance of a new set of darts.  A wide variey of coatings are often applied to darts barrels, ranging from simple paint or powder-coating to high-tech vapor-deposit coatings such as Titanium Nitride.

What about the really cheap tungsten darts at the local "big-box" store?  Some darts advertised as "Tungsten" actually have very little tungsten content, even though at first glance they may look similar to a good quality dart.  The main giveaway is that these cheap imitation darts will be much larger in diameter & length, for the same weight as a high-quality dart.  And the price may be substantially cheaper than most other Tungsten darts.  Think in terms of buying gold jewelry at a flea market.. there would probably be little or no actual gold in that pretty bauble that sold for a super "bargain" price!

Some common sense rules are universal, no matter what the product. If a price looks too low to be real, then the darts are probably not any sort of a bargain.

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