A softer metal, such as copper or some brass alloys, will engrave more quickly and easily than steel or other hard metals. But keep in mind that the harder the material, the better it will hold an image. The best metal for carving images is typically soft aluminum, but if you find that difficult to work with then copper or brass would be better choices. Then again, if you enjoy solving problems then using steel is rewarding too. It just takes a little longer to etch. Aluminum has many advantages for carvers who don't want to wait for an image to wear away. Aluminum can be carved into almost any shape and polished to a high gloss. This makes it ideal for decorative pieces and gifts. Also because it's so light weight, your sculptures won't weigh down their recipients! Copper and brass have similar properties to aluminum but are less flexible and can withstand higher temperatures when burned in air or water. This means that copper and brass carvings are often more detailed than their aluminum counterparts. They also tend to be heavier due to their greater density. Brass is slightly denser than copper so its carvings will usually be slightly larger than those of copper. Both metals are easy to work with and can be cast into mold forms before being carved.