Metalworking employs a variety of techniques to achieve different looks. The metal alloys used in this craft have their own properties in regard to color, malleability and melting point. This is taken into consideration when working with them. Metals commonly used for this craft are pewter, brass, bronze and sterling. Knowing how metal art is fashioned helps buyers recognize quality pieces and their value. Regardless of what is being made, all metalworking techniques follow the same principles. For example, casting, or the forming of a metal object with the use of a mold, can be used to make a huge sculpture or a tiny pair of earrings. Annealing is a process by which metal is heated in order to restore its malleability. It can then be worked into any shape. Applique involves soldering one piece of metal onto another. Embellished metalware is often made using a metalworking technique called chasing. Pointed tools are driven into the metal while it is soft, creating designs that can be quite intricate. In repousee, the metal is pushed out from its reverse side to create a low-relief design on the front. Other ways to create metal art allow amateur metalworkers to ply this ancient craft. For those who want to work try metalworking with metal but lack the expertise or tools, metal clay combines microscopic particles of precious metals with an organic binder to create a substance with the consistency of clay. When the clay is heated, the binder burns away and the particles fuse into metal that can be worked into any shape. | 
