Many homes are decorated with wrought iron shelves. This metal is hammered down, and created into wonderful masterpieces. There are many benefits in owning this shelf, since there are no other materials that can compare to it. Some other materials include wood, lamination, composite, glass, and plastic. Out of all the materials listed, there is not one that can compete with a metal shelf.
Craftsmen use to wrought a piece of metal by bending, twisting, and hammering it into twisted patterns. This art is starting to dwindle since new generations are technology savvy people who do not want to do manual labor. This art form is traceable to early blacksmiths who would create iron shelving for people to use in the home.
When people choose wrought over plastic materials, they will realize that the metal will outlast the plastic for many years. Plastic lacks elegance in design, when the metal is twisted and woven into beautiful patterns. Plastic has a lower weight limit for things to hold; whereas the metal is dense and will not break under stress. Creating plastic is a toxic process to the environment, which pollutes the air when it is melted down.
Another material that cannot compare to the qualities of these shelves is glass shelving. Glass shelving is pretty initially, but can get fingerprints and smudges from hands when someone touches it. Glass shelving is also very fragile in that they can hold small trinkets. Glass will also get dusty, and need to be cleaned a few times a week.
Wood is another fairly common material to create shelving out of. Wood is pretty after it is stained and polished, but it requires a lot of upkeep like glass does. Wood has a higher load limit than glass, but it still does not compare to metal. When craftsmen want to make an intricate shelf, they need to buy several tools to make one shelf. Wrought shelving requires two hands and a hammer.
Another option that people choose when creating a shelf is to use composite material. This material is made of recycled fibers and plastic, which can take a large load limit. However, these shelves are gaudy and will only look right in a garage. A wrought shelf is beautiful and will dress up the inside of the house.
Another type of material that was widely popular in the 1970's is laminated wood. This type of wood is made by using thin sheets of wood that stick together with glue, and have a laminated sheet covering it. This type of shelf will not last long, as the glue between the wood will start to fail, and the entire shelf comes apart.
As anyone can see, there are many different types to make shelving out of. However, none can compare to wrought iron shelves, with their beautiful hand-crafted designs, and every piece is a one of a kind. These pieces are passed down through generations, and used in every generation as well. They require little to no maintenance, unlike the other materials.
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