"Non-sparking", "spark-reducing", "fire-resistant" or "fireproof" tools are the names given to tools made from metals such as brass, bronze, Monel metal (copper-nickel alloy), copper-aluminum alloy (aluminum bronze), or a copper-beryllium alloy (beryllium bronze). The tensile strength of the preferred "non-sparking" metal is lower than that of the steel normally used to make tools. The lower tensile strength means that the metal has less strength or tear resistance when stretched under test conditions. It also means that these tools are softer, wear faster, and must be trued more frequently than ordinary steel tools. What is the most important thing to know about "non-sparking" tools? Non-sparking tools also produce sparks, sometimes called "cold sparks". The heat from these cold sparks is so low that they do not ignite carbon disulfide, which has the lowest ignition point of any substance known to man. Therefore, while "non-sparking" tools may reduce the risk of sparking, they do not eliminate the possibility of sparking. The name "non-sparking" is misleading because these tools can produce sparks: the term "spark-reducing tools" better describes these tools.