FLIGHT

Flights are key in the dart's aerodynamics! Different shapes and sizes are used depending on the dart's weight and the player's personal preference.

SHAFT
Shafts are connected to the dart barrel and hold the flight in place. Available in nylon and aluminum, and many sizes, styles and colors!

BARREL
Determining most of the dart's weight, Bottelsen's dart barrels are made from Tungsten, Super Alloy™ or Brass, available in many different styles and weights.

POINT
Points are available in Hammer Head® No Bounce Darts™ Movable steel tip, Fixed Point Steel Tip, and Soft Tip points!

Tungsten Alloy Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-alloy.com
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Other than the proverbial "How high do I hang my dartboard?" question, the ones that come in tied for second are "What dart should I buy?" and "What is the difference between dart 'A' and dart 'B'?" Considering I'm still getting question number one and I've had that information posted at this site for a very long time, I know this will not eliminate the second question altogether, but should cut down on the amount of them. I was going to split this page up into two parts, soft & steel, until this little light went off and I realized the only difference between the two are the points and weights. So one page it is and it has been divided into the following sections:

What Darts are Constructed of

With the exception of wooden darts, both soft and steel-tip darts are made of the same materials. The major differences that will be discussed between them are weight and cost.

Wooden Darts

You don't see these around very often but they are a lot of fun to throw with. They are made of lightweight wood shaft with turkey feather flights (no parts to replace). I have four sets I ordered from Al's American Darts for use with their wooden dartboard. They weigh around 12 grams so they really aren't that much lighter than electronic darts. They work just fine with any bristle board.
 
Brass Darts
 
Brass is the lightest of the three metallic darts listed here. It is a soft alloy (copper & zinc) which makes it easy to for manufacturers to shape and work with.
 
Nickel-Silver Darts

Nickel-silver is yet another light dart that is an alloy consisting of nickel, copper and zinc. Like brass, it is easy for manufacturers to shape and work with.

Tungsten Darts

Tungsten, unlike brass and nickel-silver, is a very heavy and dense metal. It is usually mixed with nickel so you will see on a package something like 80-20 (80% tungsten/20% nickel). It is harder to work with but will last longer than the other two (especially the knurling). On average, a 20 gram tungsten dart will be ½ the size of a 20 gram brass dart which will allow for tighter groupings on the board. This is the reason most of the really good throwers use tungsten darts but if you're just starting out, you won't be throwing tight groupings anyway, regardless of the dart you're using.

Weights

First let's look at the legal weights for darts.

Steel-tip darts can weigh up to 50 grams, though you will have a very difficult time locating very many varieties above 30 grams. Most people throw darts that weigh between 20-25 grams.

Soft-tip darts are a different story, you will need to check with your local leagues for the weight requirements. At the time of this posting, 16 grams darts seem to be a safe bet no matter where you are throwing. You can get a heavier soft-tip dart, but some leagues and tournaments may ban them due to the construction or restraints of the machines that are being used. An opponent can challenge the weight of your dart if they feel it is too heavy.

Recommendation: If you're throwing soft-tip darts, go to the 14-16 gram varieties to play it safe. If you're just starting in steel-tip darts and do not have the ability to try out different weights to see what you like, I would start off with a 21-22 gram dart.

Points

Steel-tip: You have two options, fixed-point or moveable-point.

    Fixed-point: This is where the point is solidly fixed into the dart, it does not move. This is the most common type of dart you will see.
    Moveable-point: Guess what, these point's move! There are a number of different varieties on the market, but the theme behind them all is the same, "Help decrease the chance for a bounce-out". When you throw the dart, you want the point to be fully extended. The hope is that if you hit a wire, the back-end (or barrel) will then move forward and force the point into the boards as opposed to letting the dart bounce off the wire and fall to the floor.

Recommendation: When I first started throwing back in the mid to late 80s, the boards were made differently. They had big round wires and lots of staples, especially those big ugly ones holding in the double-bull. Moveable-point darts were definitely the way to go. Now, things have changed a lot, board manufacturers have redesigned the boards themselves. Now you have staple-less boards (including staple-less bulls), diamond shaped wires, and even boards whose wires are completely embedded (can you say " The Bandit Board?"). If you are always throwing on real hard boards, or older type boards that don't have all the nice features, moveable points may be for you. If, like me, you're lucky enough to only throw on the higher quality dartboards, then they may not be worth the extra money. They do have one main advantage over fixed point darts and that's the ease of replacing the points when they are worn or damaged. Well, there's my two cents worth! :-)

Soft-tip: Now, unlike steel-tip, the difference is in the width of the opening of the barrel, not the action of the point. Your two choices here are ¼" and 2ba.

    ¼": This is definitely the wider of the two choices. Though I do not know this for a fact (do you), I suspect this was the first size that came out with soft-tip darts.
    2ba: Much narrower and much more common. It's been my experience that if you walk into a pub with soft-tip machines, you are more likely to find a box or bowl of 2ba replacement tips than you are of the ¼" variety.

Recommendation: Unless you just love the set of darts you are using that has ¼" points and you can not find a set that uses 2ba points, I would just stick with the 2ba darts. They are much more common which makes finding someone with a spare point or two in the middle of a match easier should you run out. Note, if you like hammerhead steel-tip points, they will normally screw into most soft-tip 2ba darts.

Tungsten Alloy Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-alloy.com
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Recycled Steel is sourced in many ways, and its applications are virtually limitless.  H&H Metals examines three of the most common kinds of steel and their applications in daily life.

Metal recycling at H&H Metals includes a variety of materials, the most common being steel scrap.  One of the reasons steel recycling is so important is because of the large quantity of steel used throughout the world.  Steel is the most prevalent metal in many industries including residential and commercial construction, automotive, and infrastructure development.  It is also the most recycled metal in the world.  Thanks to modern metal recycling processes, recycled steel is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly resource.  Steel scrap metal can be sourced in many ways, and has a virtually endless array of new applications.  Let’s take a look at the tool steel:

Get the Job Done – Tool Steel

A common form of steel is tool steel.  Tool steel is a blend of iron mixed with cobalt or tungsten.  This unique mixture is extra strong and heat resistant.  Because of its unique properties, is often used for creating strong, reliable tools.  Tool Steel is used for axes, chisels, and saw blades, or any other tool that requires a strong, sharp, cutting edge.

These kinds of steel can be made using recycled steel.  Because of this, steel can be considered a sustainable resource.  For this reason, individuals and companies are encouraged to examine their current metals recycling processes to ensure these valuable resources are managed responsibly.

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Fishing on the area lakes was hit and miss. The small, shallow lakes and wind protected bays have between 5-6 inches of ice. Many of the large, deep lakes do have open water areas. With the windy conditions, open water areas may get larger. Do not take an ATV, snowmobile or vehicle on any lake with the inconsistent ice. With the "predicted" rain headed our way, the ice may become soft in areas with springs, near currents or marshy areas. Be aware of old auger holes that may enlarge with the water flowing through. If walking out to unfamiliar areas, use a spud bar to check the ice as you walk out, wear a life jacket or floating suit and safety picks, bring a throw cushion with a rope attached, and a friend. Check with your local bait shop for ice conditions on your favorite lake before heading out.

Bluegills will be found near green weeds in 8-15 feet of water. Spikes, wax worms, and ice plastics have produced, with wigglers working best for finicky gills. Bait these on a No. 12 to No. -16-sized ice jig such as a Ratfinkee, Moon Glitter, Marmooska, Flirty Girty, tear drop or tungsten jig. Light No. 2 test line and a spring bobber are a must to detect bites.

Perch were found in the pockets of mid depth weed beds. A Ratfinkee ice jig or a small jigging spoon baited with spikes has produced. Anglers also had success using tip-ups rigged with a No. 4 test leader, No. 14 treble hook, and baited with a medium lake shiner, large rosy red, or small golden shiner minnow. You won't catch many with tip-ups, but the ones you do, will be big.

Crappies were found suspended during early morning and evening hours. Use your locator to find the schools and place your bait above them. A Ratfinkee or rocker ice jig baited with a small minnow, wax worm, or wiggler produced. Dead sticking with a tip down rigged with a No. 14 treble hook and a small minnow was also effective. Aggressive crappies were caught using small jigging spoons such as a Lil Cecil, Swedish Pimple, or Forage minnow.

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In response to the SEC's ruling on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Section 1502, concerning the assessment and reporting requirements of public companies whose products contain conflict minerals, TPP announces its Conflict Minerals reporting capabilities.

Fort Walton Beach, Florida January 09, 2013

In response to the SEC's ruling on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Section 1502, concerning the assessment and reporting requirements of public companies whose products contain conflict minerals, TPP announces its Compliance Management Module (CMM) will provide identification, reporting, and due diligence capabilities to meet the new requirement.

Adhering to the requirement will present a number of challenges specific to data gathering, tracking, and reporting that will be both complex and time consuming.

CMM users will be able to submit Bills of Materials through TPP's data services and identify the presence of the metals in question: tin, tungsten, tantalum, or gold. The database also provides supporting documents such as statements from the supplier regarding the metals' origin and due diligence processes.

“At a minimum, every public company or any company supplying a public company will need to know if they have a Conflict Mineral present in their product,” states Peter Robinson, Vice President at TPP. “They will need to know where it is and where it came from. TPP services will ensure that they are always ready to report when asked.”

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
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Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter has announced a bumper 2012, with 2.2 million people pledging £198.6m ($319m) to finance 18,109 successful projects.

This is a phenomenal increase for the site which in 2011 "only" raised £61.8m ($99.3m).

But needless to say, the success of Kickstarter itself does not guarantee the success of its project. A total of 41,765 were launched last year with a success rate of just 43%.

At its current rate of growth, it is predicted the site could raise more than a billion dollars in 2013.

Kickstarter allows entrepreneurs to pitch ideas and prototypes to the public who, if they like the product, can pledge money to get the project started.

Any kind of idea can be pitched: a cursory glance at the site shows computer games, solar powered iPad chargers and precision machined dice made of tungsten metal.

Although pitchers state how much they need to get going, there is no limit to how much can be pledged. One project, Ouya, an Android-based console, raised £5.2m ($8.5m), despite only asking for £591,000 ($950,000).

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Alaska Jewelry, the popular online source for high quality jewelry and real gold nuggets, has unveiled their collection of select motion rings just in time for Valentine's Day. These unique rings are made with moving parts, high quality material and craftsmanship to especially stand out among rings. This comes as good news to people seeking one-of-a-kind jewelry for their loved one this Valentine's Day.

First invented in the 1970's by Norman Teufel, the motion rings have since gained popularity around the world for their innovative designs and unwavering quality. Alaska Jewelry offers the widest online selection of authentic Teufel motion rings designed with uncompromising quality, durability, and movement. Also known as swinger rings, or spinning rings, the innovative designs from Teufel come in black and white diamond, Tsavorite garnet, Sapphire and bold 18k 100-diamond Pavè style and more.

Alaska Jewelry offers a massive selection of high quality jewelry at low online prices. They supply unique and best-in-class men's rings, gold nuggets earrings for men, mother of pearl rings, alexandrite rings, wedding jewelry, Simon G. Jewelry and more. Alaska Jewelry is proud of their collection of genuine Teufel motion rings and they recommend customers begin shopping now to receive the motion ring of their choice in time for Valentine's Day.

About Alaska Jewelry
Goldsmith Gallery has been operated by Chris and Tamara Fondell since October of 1990. They originated in Iowa, but moved to Alaska to work in the jewelry store they now own. The Fondells own and operate Goldsmith Gallery in Icy Strait Point. They are the only locally-owned jewelry store in town, and expanded onto the World Wide Web in 2001 to bring their "Home-town Jeweler" experience to the world. They offer high quality jewelry, including men's wedding bands, unique engagement rings, fashion jewelry, Tungsten Rings, diamond rings and more. They often offer excellent prices and special deals.

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
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Because your tungsten ring is so durable, you may wear it when you'd never consider wearing another ring. As a result, you may need to clean your ring. Here's how.

Your tungsten ring from Tungsten Pride is made of the most durable material available for rings. As such, you need not remove it at work or while doing chores. As a result, it may pick up oil, dirt or other grime. Not to worry!

Tungsten carbide rings, made with a quality nickel binder, will hold up to continuous wearing – and clean up easily.

Removing oil or lotion

If you get oil or hand lotion on your ring, we recommend wiping it down with simple rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will break down the oil and reveal your ring's durable, beautiful finish.

Removing dirt

Daily activites may cause your ring to pick up some dirt. Cleaning your ring is as simple as leaving it on while you wash your hands with soap and water, or while you shampoo your hair in the shower. Of course, you can also take it off and rinse it with a little dish or hand soap and water.

Occasionally, your ring may pick up some foreign material that seems to stick to it or look like a scratch. Your tungsten ring is practically unscratchable – in reality, what has likely happened is some metal fragment or dust that is more difficult to remove than simple dirt or grime.

Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
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Tungsten carbide wedding rings breaking, shattering and cracking? Wait a minute aren’t these touted as one of the strongest, hardest and most scratch resistant rings you can buy? “Tough and durable”, “To last a lifetime,” some websites advertise. So complaints surfacing from brides and grooms saying their tungsten rings split into pieces seems, well, surprising.

Just how strong is tungsten carbide? On the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness the material is actually stronger than diamonds.

How popular are the rings? Incredibly popular and growing. A recent study from TheKnot.com and the WeddingChannel.com found:

    In 2011: 27% of grooms had a Tungsten ring, and 1% of brides chose tungsten
    In 2009: 19% of grooms, and less than 1% of brides chose tungsten for their rings

What's happening to ring wearers? Some of these contemporary tungsten ring wearers have a warning: The tungsten carbide is actually so hard it’s brittle. If you drop the ring from your ‘big day’ it could break, shatter or crack, kinda like when a ceramic bowl or glass hits the ground.

Mike Hellebuyck is now on his third replacement tungsten ring! The Southfield, Michigan resident says he bought tungsten figuring it would stand up well to all the work he does with his hands, like fixing snowmobiles and car engines.

He never thought it would break in half just hours after he said, “I do”, at his own wedding reception. “I was doing a dance called the ‘Alligator’. It's an odd dance that includes hitting your hands on the floor. During this phase of the dance, I was slapping my hands on the dance floor and the Tungsten wedding band snapped in two.” Pictures you see in this article show how that magical moment was caught on camera by the wedding photographer. Mike's new wife looks, well, not too thrilled.

Luckily Mike’s jeweler replaced ring number one for free.

Tungsten ring number two broke while Mike was vacationing Cabo. The ring fell from the hotel safe and snapped in half when it hit the floor. Back to the jeweler he went, where he was given, and is still on ring number three.

Amanda Molina from Albuquerque, New Mexico had a similar experience. “My husband and I picked out his wedding band together and we both liked the thick, modern look of the tungsten band that we went with. A few months after we had been married, he dropped his ring on our concrete floor and in two pieces it went! We couldn't believe it! It was a bummer because there's something special about having the actual ring that was in your wedding ceremony, but the company replaced it with no questions asked.”

Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
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Here's a list of the most frequently asked questions and answers regarding tungsten rings.

Q. How can I ensure the correct ring size?
A. Before placing your order please confirm the proper finger size. All of our tungsten carbide rings are comfort fit. This means extra metal is used to make the inside of the band slightly domed, resulting in a very comfortable fit. The center part fits closer to the finger than the outer edges. A comfort fit ring will fit looser on the finger because it is not flat on the inside but rather rounded. Therefore when you are getting sized please use the narrow finger sizer which is 3 mm wide, (as opposed to the wider one of 6.5 mm.) This will provide an accurate finger size. Do not use the wider finger sizer as your ring will fit too loosely.

Q. Can a tungsten ring be sized?
A. Tungsten rings CANNOT be sized like a gold, silver or platinum ring. The metal is too hard for conventional jewelers' tools.

Q. Do you engrave tungsten rings?
A. YES - by special request. The engraving fee is $50.00. We engrave up to 20 characters [including letters and spaces] Please enter the engraving you would like in interior engraving field when you order. Because Tungsten Carbide is one of the world's hardest metals, special machinery is required to engrave on it. Not only must the machine be able to penetrate the metal, but it must do it in a way that isn't so deep as to harm the integrity of the ring. Because engraving is permanent and creates a heirloom, we cannot accept returns on engraved items.

Q. Are tungsten rings comfortable?
A. YES. Your tungsten carbide ring is made using our full inside round comfort fit feature. This makes the ring more comfortable to wear. Most other Tungsten carbide rings do not have this feature.

Q. How should I clean and care for my tungsten ring?
A. Your tungsten carbide ring requires little care. If your ring is 100% tungsten carbide high polished your ring will remain high polished forever. If your ring has a finish you may get some micro scratches. The tungsten didn't scratch: rather, the metal it rubbed against embedded itself in your ring. In most cases a tooth brush and mild detergent will remove the foreign material.

Avoid cleaning with harsh chemicals and DO NOT LEAVE IN THE ULTASONIC CLEANING MACHINE FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE.

Q. What if a Tungsten or Tungsten Carbide ring gets stuck on your finger, can it be safely removed if necessary?
A. Yes, first try removing by soaking your hand in a bowl of ice water for a minute or two, then apply a heavy lubricant like petroleum jelly on the finger between the ring and the knuckle, hold the ring with a cloth and gently pull with a rocking motion. (Note: This will work on any metal, including gold or platinum).

If pulling doesn't work, Tungsten and Tungsten Carbide rings are engineered to be safely and easily removed in case of emergency. Click here to view the recommended removal procedure as written by Dr. Stanley Hajduk and published by the Annals of Emergency Medicine in June of 2001.

About Tungsten Rings
Tungsten rings are composed of a metal alloy, tungsten carbide. The alloy allows for maximum hardness and rigidity without sacrificing tensile strength. Each tungsten carbide ring is cut and polished with diamond tools. Tungsten rings are not sizable by ordinary jewelers' tools -- the metal is too hard. Most tungsten metal powder is converted to tungsten carbide (WC) by reaction with pure carbon powder, e.g. carbon black, at 900 - 2200°C in pusher or batch furnaces, a process called carburisation.

Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
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