Kitchen pictures

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Remotely Control A/V

Equipment HiddenBehind Cabinet Doors!
Beamer FX and TV Beamer

Not everything you want to control with a remote is directly in your line of sight. But with a few affordable and easy-to-use products from Smarthome, your A/V components can respond as if they were directly in front of your face — even if you're in another room of the house! One of the most common questions we get from customers is how to control audio/video equipment hidden behind cabinet doors without having to keep the cabinets open all the time. Fortunately we have an all-in-one solution that handles that very task: the Hot Link Pro.

The Internal RF Adapter is one of the coolest solutions we've seen lately. It consists of a device that inserts into the battery compartment of any remote control that uses AA or AAA batteries. This converter senses the infrared codes that the remote sends out and converts them into radio frequency signals that travel through walls and doors. On the receiving end of the radio frequency signals is a compact, AC-powered receiver that you place in the same room with your A/V system. It picks up these signals, converts them back into infrared and beams them to your TV. Each command takes fractions of a second, with no perceptible delay.

Houses of the Future

[Macromedia Flash Reader]
http://www.housesofthefuture.com.au/
If one were to showcase new housing technologies and innovative designs in Australia, it wouldn't be a bad idea to place such an exhibit next to one of the most instantly recognizable structures in the world. Well, that is precisely what the Australian government (in collaboration with private industry groups) did when they placed this remarkable "Houses of the Future" exhibition next to the Sydney Opera House. While the exhibit has since moved on to a new location, visitors who are curious about the future of the built environment (particularly in terms of domestic architecture and construction) will enjoy this interactive website. The website features six homes that are part of a "new generation of prefabricated dwellings emerging around the globe". The requirements for each new housing type were that they be prefabricated for easy transportation, environmentally sustainable, designed by an architect, and "futuristic in appearance and use of domestic space". On the site, visitors may look within each house, all the while learning about each structure's historical precedents, environmental features, and of course, its architects. For those interested in the potential of domestic architecture, this website will be quite a treat

Towards a New Metropolis

The Opportunity to Rebuild America [pdf]
"http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20041213_RebuildAmerica.pdf"
TinyURL= http://tinyurl.com/54atl

Since the 1960s, many scholars with an interest in urban affairs have chimed in with important research works that examine what one legendary professor referred to as the "unheavenly city" and its problems. In this paper (presented as part of The Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy research group), Professor Arthur C. Nelson of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University turns his attention to the question of how the built environment of the urban areas of the United States might be reinvigorated during the coming quarter century. The 51-page paper contains a number of interesting findings, such as that by 2030 about half of the buildings in which Americans live, work, and shop will have been built after 2000. Other aspects of the report are not as surprising, such as the comment that a preponderance of this new growth will occur in the South and the West. Professor Nelson concludes the report by asking a rather pressing question: "Should we maintain the status quo in terms of development patterns, or can we envision a different pattern of growth?".

Garden design series

THE ELEMENTS OF GARDEN DESIGN
(This is the first design element in a new 12-part series.)
#1 Designing with Annualsby Jenny Andrews

As garden centers start to fill up with enticing displays of annuals, it's easy to grab everything you can and think about where to plant it all later. If you want a cohesive design (face it, we all know that looks better), here are a few essential tips for designing with annuals full story...

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Thought:

"Each work of art excludes the world, concentrates attention on itself. For the time it is the only thing worth doing-to do just that; be it a sonnet, a statue, a landscape, an outline head of Caesar, or an oration. Presently we return to the sight of another that globes itself into a whole as did the first, for example, a beautiful garden; and nothing seems worth doing in life but laying out a garden."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stubby hammer

This is a new product from Glen-Drake, designed with their usual sensitivity to ergonomics and ease of use. The Tite Hammer fits in the palm of your hand and was created for precise control in when you use a chisel or carve.

Like its larger Glen-Drake counterparts, the Tite Hammer comes in four sizes (with the middle 2 sizes perhaps being the most popular) but it differs from their other hammers. This is a new product from Glen-Drake, designed with their usual sensitivity to ergonomics and ease of use.

The Tite Hammer fits in the palm of your hand and was created for precise control in when you use a chisel or carve. Like its larger Glen-Drake counterparts, the Tite Hammer comes in four sizes (with the middle 2 sizes perhaps being the most popular) but it differs from their other hammers in that the handle is not handed. Made in USA.

[The picture says a 1,000 words. I enjoy dedicated ecentrics, we'll say vigorous food that will achieve their projects through thick and high water.]

Tools that made our world

Museum of Woodworking Tools is proud to present A Guide to Honing and Sharpening by Maurice Fraser, a master teacher of woodworking. This is the Museum's first instructional exhibit. But just as we think it's important to explore the history and details of woodworking tools, we think it's important to preserve the knowledge of technique. This exhibit is one of the largest and most comprehensive examinations of honing published anywhere, and we hope you enjoy it.

The Museum is proud to present A Guide to Honing and Sharpening by Maurice Fraser, a master teacher of woodworking. This is the Museum's first instructional exhibit. But just as we think it's important to explore the history and details of woodworking tools, we think it's important to preserve the knowledge of technique. This exhibit is one of the largest and most comprehensive examinations of honing published anywhere, and we hope you enjoy it.


Tools are a window into the social history of our civilization. They are a reminder to us of the people who built the world that we now live in. The selection of tools in this exhibit are signposts of this social history. We have a hammer that at some point in its history fell into the Thames River, which flows through central London. Maybe the handle broke in use? Maybe the man who was using it put it down and then it slipped off a plank? There are other areas that can be explored? How was the tool was made? When it was made and by whom and where? Tools have a practical history behind them; how the tool was used and in what context. Some tools we know a lot about. Others we just know about through use. Where possible we have included contemporary quotations to illustrate something about each tool. Ten tools were selected from the collection of Emil and Marty Pollak as fascinating examples that hint at the diversity of tools that have been used over the centuries. Emil Pollak (1925 - 1995) was one of the seminal figures in tool research and collecting in America. His interest and his collection led to his compiling and writing or editing several of the most important books extant on American wooden planes,

INTERNET SHOPPING

Most Internet-savvy woodworkers are familiar with the big three internet shopping sites: amazon.com, woodcraft.com and rockler.com. These folks have done a good job of providing a great selection of tools and supplies for years. But there are a few more sites - a little more obscure – that also offer some excellent Internet shopping opportunities. We’d thought it was time to introduce you to a few of them:

http://toolsforworkingwood.com/
http://woodworker.com
http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp
http://www.leevalley.comhttp://japanwoodworker.com
http://www.hartvilletool.com
http://lie-nielsen.com/
http://vandykes.com/
http://adamswoodproducts.com/
http://ballandball.com/

From JLC

HANGING DRYWALL VERTICALLYIn a tall room, can you chop 10-foot sheets, and hang them vertically? In short, yes, but just be sure your stud spacing’s right, so you don’t have to cut off a tapered seam to make a sheet fit. Myron Ferguson offers complete details and a range of time-saving options.

STRENGTH OF OLD WOODIs it true that wood increases in strength with age? Not exactly. Wood increases in strength when it dries. But age often works against wood, as fungi, insects, high temperature, and loading all take their toll.

CURING CONCRETE IN A WARM CLIMATEIn a warm climate, is it necessary to sprinkle a slab with water if a set retarder was used? As Concrete Construction’s editor, Bill Palmer explains, a set retarder does nothing to help concrete cure. To cure, concrete needs water, which tends to evaporate quickly in hot weather. However, there are a variety of ways to ensure concrete cures properly in a warm climate, Palmer notes.

Dado router jig

The DadoWiz is a precision jig for making dado cuts with any hand held router and fits any 1-3/16 standard bushing hole.

The DadoWiz allows you to take any standard or odd size lumber and make precision dados without measuring the matching material or adjusting the cutters through the use of shims or other techniques.

NOTE: Clamp not included.

Our Price: $159.00

Shutters

Shutters are a key.comonent of many historic homes — and I'm not talking about the tacky plastic versions from the lumberyard or home center. When nothing but real wood will do, consider Cedar Shutters from Timberlane Woodcrafters. Made from red cedar, they are available in raised- and recessed-panel, board-and-batten, and louvered designs. Timberlane offers hundreds of styles and sizes and can make exact duplicates of your existing shutters. The.comany also makes interior shutters and sells functional shutter hardware. The Bermuda Shutters (above) cost $310 per window. The Radius Top Shutters (far right) cost $400, and the two- and three-panel shutters (right) cost $405 perwindow. All prices include the hardware. Timberlane, 800/250-2221, www.timberlane.com

Dimpler nail puller

Why didn't I think of that? Department.

Stilleto has a titanium nail puller
with a new feature
that makes pulling nails cleaner
with less damage to the wood.

But it's pretty costly.
Almost $50.

Metal moldings

Decorative metal ceilings, roofs, exterior siding and ornaments are widely used in new construction and renovation of residential and commercial buildings.
DESIGNS
PANELS
CORNICES
MOLDINGS
CENTERSDROP-INS
CUSTOM
INSTALLATION
PAINTING

via Journal of Light Construction

[Journal of Light Construction]

MOISTURE-RESISTANT HOMES
The Engineered Wood Association offers a series of online and printable brochures detailing foundation, wall and roof details that will help keep a home dry. Good illustrations and up-to-date methods makes these useful for both crew and client.

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ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME CASE STUDIES
The Department of Energy's Building America program conducts research to find energy-efficient solutions for new and existing housing. Partnering building scientists with production homebuilders, the program has built over 26,000 homes to date, and amassed a wealth of information on what works in each climate zone in the country. Many of the details are outlined in case-studies, accessed through an online library that is searchable by climate zone, housing type, or building system.

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SATELLITE TV HARDWAREFinally, someone offers a rooftop mounting bracket for a satellite TV dish that makes sense. The CommDeck is a self-flashing dish bracket that can be integrated with any roof covering.

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Stitched Miters by Aaron Foster
More Coping: 135° Corners
Making Pendants for Cathedral Ceilings
Miter Joint Movement
Form-Bent Radius Jamb by Ed Williams
Georgian Built-up Cornice
Bending Hinges
Cathedral Crown Transitions

Radius Cabinetry by Jim Chestnut:
an excellent photo essay on building curved cabinets and doors

Cutting HUGE Wooden Crown Molding by Ed Williams
Baluster Layout w/ CM Pro
Caulk-Free Column Wrap
Fast-Acting Glue: 2P-10 by Derrell Day
Nip & Tuck 22 1/2 Wall Returns by Derrell Day
Installing Traditional Stool & Apron
Miter Terminology
Fast and Accurate Wainscoting Layout
Closet Shelving Layout
Installing Closet Shelving
Scribing Shelving
Bending Wood With Steam by Eric Luna

Revamp kitchen

KITCHEN TUNE-UP Gary Ellis and Rob Carter revamp 50 to 100 kitchens a year without replacing the cabinet boxes, tearing apart the entire room, or even displacing their customers. Using new doors, veneers, a variety of cleaning agents, epoxies and advanced wood fillers, plus a slew of jigs and know-how, Kitchen Tune-Up produces work to rivals any kitchen remodel. [via Journal of Light Construction]

Tajima innovations

The new Ultra Thin version of the Tajima Chalk-Rite chalk line ($30) is loaded with 100 ft. of braided line that, at ½ mm, is about half the thickness of standard cotton line. More

The squeeze handle Tajima's Rotary caulking gun can spin around the cartridge in order to be useful in tight situations -- "a 360 degree rotating handle for maneuvering in & around tight spaces".

Moldable plastic

Shapelock is "Ultra-High Molecular Weight Low Temperature Thermoplastic. Similar to nylon and polypropylene in toughness., except it's easy to work with and shape." You get a bag of plastic pellets, put them in 160F water, and they phase change, becoming soft and moldable. If you don't let the water get too hot, when you take the plastic out, it's cool enough to shape with your hands. When it cools down, it hardens into a strong, durable, paintable, machine-able white plastic. If you don't like what you made, you just put it in 160F water again and reshape it. Great for making prototypes - also fun to play with. -- Patrick Tufts $15 for 250 grams
http://shapelock.com/ [via Kevin Kelly]

Prevent worker silicosis

Click here to download the CDC report
on concrete dust and see why dustless grinding is important.





http://www.concretegrinding.com/grinding/surface_preparation.ws

Forms and form liners

Scott System form liner applications or brick-embedded concrete.

Composite Technologies Corp Thermomass® Building Insulation System1000 Technology DriveP.O. Box 950Boone, IA 50036 www.thermomass.com Contact: Robert Long

CON/STEEL Tilt-Up Systems3100 Research Boulevard Dayton, OH www.consteel.com Contact: Bob Foley

Daniel Robertson Facade Systems Pty Ltd58-74 Station StreetBox 3115 Nunawading, Victoria, Australia www.danielrobertson.com.auContact: Peter Robertson

Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute209 West Jackson BoulevardChicago, IL 60606 www.pci.org Contact: Liz Martino

Tilt-Up Concrete Association PO Box 204 113 First Street WestMt Vernon, IA 52314 http://www.tilt-up.org/Contact: Ed Sauter

METROBRICK Architectural Thin Brick http://www.metrothinbrick.com/

Summitville Tiles, Inc. http://www.summitville.com/

Towards a New Metropolis

The Opportunity to Rebuild America [pdf]
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20041213_RebuildAmerica.pdf

Since the 1960s, many scholars with an interest in urban affairs have chimed in with important research works that examine what one legendary professor referred to as the "unheavenly city" and its problems. In this paper (presented as part of The Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy research group), Professor Arthur C. Nelson of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University turns his attention to the question of how the built environment of the urban areas of the United States might be reinvigorated during the coming quarter century. The 51-page paper contains a number of interesting findings, such as that by 2030 about half of the buildings in which Americans live, work, and shop will have been built after 2000. Other aspects of the report are not as surprising, such as the comment that a preponderance of this new growth will occur in the South and the West. Professor Nelson concludes the report by asking a rather pressing question: "Should we maintain the status quo in terms of development patterns, or can we envision a different pattern of growth?".

Small Hydropower

Micro and Pico Hydropower [via WorldChanging]
If you own property that has access to a stream or river, and want to produce your own electricity, then Hydropower should be your first choice. The cost of equipment is lower, and the kilowatt per dollar return is much better than any other alternative energy source.

The most important element to have when producing hydropower is what is called "drop". The greater amount of change in a stream's elevation, the better it is for producing electricity. A small stream with a good drop is better than a larger stream with a small change in elevation, because the turbine needed to tap a small stream is smaller, easier to install and less expensive. Hydropower often produces an excess of power, when used as a direct AC system. This excess can then be used to heat your water or warm your house, for example.

Turbines are available from Alternative Energy Store, Backwoods Solar or Real Goods.
A recent post at Alternative Energy Blog pointed out that villagers in Vietnam are using $20 "Pico Hydro" turbines (300W and 500W) to power their homes, because it is cheaper than buying power from the grid. Apparently these turbines are not available in the U.S. — the only web site selling them is in Nepal.

More details on setting up hydropower systems can be found in this NREL document (PDF).

Each week, Justin Thomas of Metaefficient gives us a peek into new finds in sustainable design. Metaefficient "searches out products that we believe are more effective and healthier for individuals and the world, yet are comparable in price to mainstream products."

My ol' GMC

I call her Tweetie Bird.

Roofing felt

ROOFING FELT?

What's the purpose of black paper under roofing?

The short answer: it's cheap insurance; Paul Fisette explains why.

Going, Going, Gone?

The Journal of Light Construction published this discussion about State-by-State pressure to remove oil paint from the market:

First 100 Words:
Oil Paints: Going, Going, Gone? Environmental restrictions in the most populous areas of the country are making oils scarce, but waterborne alternatives are getting better all the time Tom O'Brien On New Year's Day, painters in many northeastern states woke up with more than a hangover. New regulations that significantly reduce the allowable content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in most paints and stains took effect on January 1 in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, as well as in the District of Columbia and 10 counties in Northern Virginia.... [more]

Environmental restrictions in the most populous areas of the country are making oils scarce, but waterborne alternatives are getting better all the time.

World's biggest tree

At over 2000 years old, El Arbol del Tule, is one of the oldest living trees in the world. With a 10-meter (33-foot) diameter trunk it is also considered by many to be the broadest tree in the world. The circumference of the trunk is an amazing 54 meters (178 feet). It is over 40 meters (130 feet) high, boasts a foliage diameter of over 51 meters (170 feet), and weighs over 500 tons.The appearance of the massive tree is that of multiple trunks fused together. However, recent DNA tests suggest that it is in fact a single individual tree. This great ahuehuete (Montezuma cypress) specimen is still alive and growing, as can be seen by the dense foliage reaching 43 meters (141 feet) into the sky! The various contortions of the trunk give the appearance of the faces of goblins and monsters. In fact, if you visit the tree in Santa Maria del Tule, Mexico, you will be offered a tour of the tree by local school children who will show you all manner of creatures hiding in the tree, including elephants and jaguars!

Wood Design Tutor

L-Shaped Building Design With Automatically Generated Wind LoadsThis tutorial shows how to create an L-shaped building using US WoodWorks Shearwalls 2004, and design it for automatically generated wind loads. The design example is a two-story house with a hip roof, and dimensions of 30 x 50 ft. To access the tutorial in PDF format please click here.

WoodWorks® is structural design software produced with technical guidance from the wood industry’s codes and standards engineers. Based on the American Forest & Paper Association's National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction. Design light-frame or heavy timber structures including connections. Size structural members one at a time or model entire structures. Use sawn lumber, heavy timber, glulam or engineered wood products.

WoodWorks® Design Office Suite includes three programs:
Sizer - Size beams, joists, columns and wall studs, one at a time or in a system, under various load conditions
Shearwalls - Design wood-frame panel shearwalls to resist wind and seismic loads
Connections - Design new connections using bolts, nails or shear plates, or check the capacity of existing connections

Check out a full-featured WoodWorks® Design Office Suite!

Paint-On Solar

A quantum dot may be tiny, but this development has the potential to be quite big.

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new form of photovoltaic material using "quantum dots" -- confined sets of electrons with unusual optical and electronic properties -- embedded into a thin polymer film. The material can generate the photoelectric effect using infrared light, and is the first photoelectric polymer to have significant infrared sensitivity. When working across infrared and visual spectra, it has a photoelectric efficiency of 30% -- six times better than other polymer photovoltaics. 30% efficiency would make quantum dot polymer solar cells competitive with traditional silicon-and-glass panels, and far more functional. Quantum dot polymer material could be used in device cases, and Ted Sargent, one of the researchers responsible for this development, claims that the material could readily be spray-applied or painted on.

"We made particles from semiconductor crystals which were exactly two, three or four nanometres in size. The nanoparticles were so small they remained dispersed in everyday solvents just like the particles in paint," explains Sargent. Then, they tuned the tiny nanocrystals to catch light at very long wavelengths. The result – a sprayable infrared detector.As this suggests, the implications of the discovery are broader than just photovoltaics. The quantum dot polymers have a sensitivity to infrared which will be of enormous value in medical imaging, fiber optic communications, and sensor technologies. As the polymer could be readily woven into fabric, it could enable better wearable biosensors, and would definitely be an enabling technology for fabric computers.

Lead and paint

This Old House ran a thorough discussion of removing paint containing lead, almost always from pre-1978 buildings. Here are their links:

Introduction
Testing Different Methods
Some Ways to Take It Off
Some Ways to Take It Off Continued
Final Choice
Picking the New Palette
Where to Find It
A Safe Way to Remove Lead Paint
Removing Paint from Doors
Stripping Roof Paint

Premium wood filler

The perfect wood filler
Easy to color as wood for a perfect finish
Absorbs shades and water shades and different shades of stains to look exactly like wood
Fast drying. Dries within 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature
Can be worked like wood without damaging blades or tools
Owing to its exceptional adherence, Alsibois can be used in the most difficult of situations (Sculpting, repairing furniture legs, table corners, etc.)

Alsibois does not shrink after drying
Will not absorb moisture
Alsibois can penetrate into micro pores and micro cracks and still provide a wood like appearance after the surface has been machined

But, boy o' boy, is this costly! $35 for a 400ml can.

Poor man's crack injection?

Penatron
Penatron 4029 and 4031 are low viscosity polyurea products with high-strength, high-impact resistance and very fast setting capability.

The Penatron 4029 and 4031 are used for injection right from the cartridge, making even small applications practical and economical. The Penatron 4029 and 4031 will find and fill tiny cracks in concrete and set in several minutes. Penatron 4029 and 4031 are a semi-rigid non-brittle crack injection product very different from epoxy:

• Sets fast, even in cold temperatures
• Does not keep running out of the back of injection repairs
• Does not become brittle over time as epoxy does
• Is not moisture sensitive
• Does not foam or react with moisture

Works in conjuncture with EZ Peel to make an easy-to-use, rapid injection system How the System Works:

The ports are set over the crack and the crack and ports are sealed with EZ Peel, then allowed to set. Penetron 4029/4031 is injected into the sealed crack through the port via the static mixer. Injection is completed and the application sets for about 10 minutes. The EZ Peel is heated with a heat gun at one end of the application and stripped off quickly and easily, no grinding or sandblasting is necessary, leaving an unblemished surface.

The job is complete and everything is done in one day, just a few hours instead of taking two to three days using epoxy sealers and injection products.

Polishing marble

3M™ Stone Products
A select line of flexible, cast, and vitrified diamond abrasive constructions for shaping, finishing, and polishing marble and granite. Available in discs, sheets, and wheels in grades 60 ~2 micron ( 60 ~14000 mesh).

Woodworking video

VIDEOS ON SELECTED WOOD INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGIES
R1.THE TECHNIQUES OF LUMBER YIELD IMPROVEMENT
R2.TROUBLESHOOTING THE MOULDER
R3.49 WAYS TO CUT COSTS IN PRODUCTION WOODWORKING
R4.50 MORE WAYS TO CUT COSTS IN PRODUCTION WOODWORKING
R5.SELECTED PRESENTATIONS ON WOOD TECHNOLOGY
R6.TROUBLESHOOTING THE DRY KILN AND ITS CONTROLLER
R7.SELECTED PRESENTATIONS ON LUMBER YARD AND DRY KILN OPERATIONS
R8.WOODWORKING MACHINE OPERATOR TRAINING PROGRAMS
R9.SELECTED PRESENTATIONS ON WOOD GLUING
R10.SKILLED WOODWORKERS IN ACTION
R11.QUALITY INFLUENCES IN KILN DRYING
R12.OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES FOR THE CLAMP CARRIER
R13.EFFICIENT WOOD SANDING - PART 1 - WIDE BELT OPERATIONS
R14.EFFICIENT WOOD SANDING - PART 2 - SANDING DEPARTMENT
R15.USE AND ABUSE OF TOOLING
R16.WOOD FURNITURE FINISHING
R17."THUMBS UP" FOR SAWMILL SAFETY
R18.STRESSES, CHECKING AND STRESS RELIEF IN LUMBER DRYING
R19.SETTING UP THE MOULDER (Through-Feed Type)
R20.HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM
R21.THE BASICS OF HARDWOOD LUMBER GRADES
R22.FURNITURE ASSEMBLY - WOOD CASEGOODS
R23.TOOLING FOR THE TENONER
R24.CARBIDE TOOLING FOR THE WOODWORKING INDUSTRY
R25.ROUGH MILL CUTTING SYSTEMS
R26.IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO ME
R27.YIELD AND PRODUCTION TIPS FOR ROUGH MILL OPERATIONS
R28.TOOL ECONOMICS
R29.THE TECHNOLOGY OF FINGERJOINTING
R30.MANAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION
VIDEO MAGAZINE SERIES 1"THE TECHNOLOGY UPDATE SERIES

Pocket Handle

From the Manufacturer:
It lifts. It holds. It folds.
This is one tool that can handle hundreds of jobs.

Pocket Kart has an exclusive swiveling handle and a foldable design that translate into flexibility and function. It helps haul plywood sheets, door, windows, windows, wallboard, paint cans, drywall, and tires. When the work is done, it folds up and fits in your pocket or on your tool belt. It's an indispensable little job site gadget that you've got to have.

Diversified Tools 610-DT Pocket Kart
It's $7 at Amazon.com
Any comments?

Window Pleats

"Brilliance Corsica"
Pleated Shade

Min Width: 12 3/8"
Min Height: 12"
Max Width: 144"
Max Height: 96"
Min Inside
mounting depth: 1"

Cord Lock - easy to operate.
The most reliable cord lock
in the industry.

Crisp 1" Pleats
Retain shape in rough conditions
-- three footer is $62
-- bottom-up drawstring kit is $125



PowerRise Lifting System ...
LiteRise Lifting System ...
EasyGlide clutch ...
Excellent Filtering ...

More Description (Click here).

Carpenter's Breathing Protection

>>> Required Equipment

>>> Excellent solution.

>>> Excellent Price.

Closet ironing board

Closet Ironing ($120) in 5 inches of closet space

Ironing board concealed in closet and easily pulls down

High quality, padded ironing board cover

When down, ironing board slides outward

Turns over for a flat surface that locks in place

Ideal solution for last minute ironing touch-ups

White powder coated finish

Large ironing surface

Ironing Board mountable at various heights

Can be mounted to corner wall

Pull out support for iron

Ironing Board securely locks in ironing position

Online Direct Vent

Simpson's Direct Vent line is available at VentingPipe. Retailers often do not stock the complete line, mking it difficult to save time and to install a perfect job. Check this out to assure you are looking at all the various parts available.

Improvement Outlets

network of sites from Lighting Direct:

StovesDepot.com
FaucetDirect.com
HandleSets.com
LuxuryFaucets.com
FixturesDirect.com
BlindSelect.com
LightingDirect.com
PlumbingDirect.com
KitchenDirect.com
LuxuryHomeware.com
ImprovementDirect.com
ToolsDirect
VentingDirect.com
VentingPipe.com
BagSelect.com
Thermosource.com
VentingSystems.com

Dimmable fluorescents

The Mark 10 Powerline from Advance and now available in select Brodwax fluorescent lighting fixtures makes fluorescent dimming systems as fast and easy to install as incandescent systems — while being up to 80% more energy efficient.

The Mark 10 Powerline ballast's programmed-start design optimizes lamp and dimming performance by constantly monitoring system performance and making continuous adjustments.

Plus the 10 Powerline does not have to ramp up to full light output and then dim. The ballast will start lamps at the 5% dim level, increasing comfort levels for area occupants.

Convert your Fixture to Dimmable ballasts click here

Honing Guide

Methinks that this Veritas Honing Guide might be the best I've seen. I sure would like a comparison guide of several brands because although the honing guides I've used over the years each live up to their claims, I've found that with most I spend a lot of time fiddling in order to place the tool accurately in the guide.

Highland Hardware has a description: "Veritas makes the finest honing guide on the market. It rides on a brass roller 1-3/16" wide, offering excellent stability. Plane irons & chisles are held in place by a wide swivel foot driven by a large knurled brass knob. The jig accepts blades up to 2-1/2" wide and up to 5/8" thick. An optional magnetic accessory holds blades too small for any other honing guide to handle.The guide roller is mounted on an eccentric axle which can be set to increase the angle within a degree or two and totally control final honing. A companion to the honing guide is the Veritas Angle Setting Jig, which lets you set the correct sharpening angle on chisels or plane irons quickly and accurately, without regard to the tool's current condition or bevel angle. "

A sharp tool is safe and effective -- like over-the-counter pain pills -- but in typical Veritas fashion, it's expensive: $40.

Carpenter's Calipers

This fine machinist-quality 6" caliper may well become your personal "ultimate measuring tool". We call it a woodworker's caliper because it is calibrated in 64ths of an inch, with major divisions marked in the terms you're most familiar with: 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and so on around the dial.

The face is large (1-3/8" dia.) and exceptionally easy to read; dimensions as small as 1/128" are visible at a glance. The inner scale reads in hundredths of an inch, which is useful for machine work and serves as a handy conversion table as well. At Highland Hardware for $30.

Straw Bale Specialists

Straw bale construction has seen an explosion in popular interest within the last decade. From a handful of pioneering experimenters, its proponents have grown into an international network of homeowners, builders and designers.

A few dozen straw bale buildings stood in 1990.
10 years later, there are several thousand.


"Straw bale is the best material for super insulation: low embodied energy, non-toxic, easy and fun to work with and most important, beautiful! Thick walls make any window into a design feature."

"For me, [and my firm], a good, sustainable design flows directly out of the local ecology, climate, geology, materials and culture of a particular site. It incorporates the needs and personalities of the designers, builders and users. It takes full advantage of all the "free" energy a site has to give - sun, wind, water, energy, materials. Good design intensifies our connection to the natural environment, natural rhythms and to each other."

"Natural materials have stood the test of time throughout the world. They age gracefully and their subtle textures provide the sensory nutrition that we desperately need for health and vitality."

• CASBA-California Straw Building Association http://www.strawbuilding.org/
• Environmental Building News http://www.buildinggreen.com/
• Surfin’ StrawBale http://mha-net.org/html/sblinks.htm
• The Last Straw http://www.thelaststraw.org/
• The Environmental Home Center http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/
• Natural Home Magazine http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/
• Northwest Ecobuilding Guild http://www.ecobuilding.org/

A StrawBale Futures link from the United Kingdom,
(thatch & straw & posterity):



Established in the United States, TransMineral USA, Inc. has rapidly earned a reputation for reviving a unique and trustworthy product, based upon techniques and methods used centuries ago. This has been made possible through TransMineral's exclusive and unique relationship with its supplier in France, a well-established European enterprise whose energies are dedicated to producing natural hydraulic lime today, just as from centuries past. Products are a culmination of an association of traditional techniques and the preservation of artisan's formulas handed down through generations, in conjunction with the added means of control made possible through today's latest technology. Le Decor and classic lime mixes @ TransMineral USA.


Homes in Oregon's The Straw Bale Village range in size from 1500 square feet to 3000 square feet with the majority of the homes at 2100 square feet. All of the homes are clustered in a village setting, which means much of the land will be left in its natural state or used for the community spaces described below. A series of trails will access the woods and lead to nature shelters nestled amongst the trees. A community garden and orchard will also be part of the project along with a children’s park and community building. These spaces are designed to encourage neighbors to spend time together, growing as a community.

Mortar repointing

Welcome to Repointing.Com - I have had the privilege to meet many dedicated and qualified craftworkers and professionals in the USA and abroad either on projects or at educational events during the past twenty years in the masonry restoration business. I am getting to know still more dedicated "Practitioners of Preservation" who have specialized talents as they purchase or specify the products sold through my supply company called Pennsylvania Lime Works. Many who I meet in these circles seem to share the same preservation philosophy which I esteem.The philosophy that I esteem places a purposeful attempt to do the right thing for the conservation of historic buildings, the environment and for regional cultural heritage as its foremost goal. Your historic church, home or the entire Main Street will best be served when you work with professionals who align their effort with this philosophy.deGruchy Masonry Restoration, Inc. considers every project valuable.

Should my brick building be completely repointed?

Low Voltage Recessed Lighting

If you have ever admired the look of recessed lights but have balked at the cost or difficulty of installing it, we have the solution.

Our patented Litespeed recessed lights have the quality and look of traditional systems... BUT... they can be installed in a fraction of the time by almost any Do-It-Yourselfer. Furthermore, because the systems are low voltage, the risk of electric shock is minimized. Many of the systems can be installed without the need for an electrical contractors licence. This makes it ideal for Audio Video installers, handymen and other installers. It can even be used in low voltage solar powered homes and RV applications.

New millennium materials prevent dangerous heat build-up allowing smaller light weight design. A quick connector cap allows the wire to pass through the fixture and daisy chain to other fixtures without cutting or splicing wires. More...

Garden Roof

The Garden Roof allows the design professional to transform virtually any flat or gently sloped roof into a landscaped environment. Designed as a lightweight, low profile system, the Garden Roof assembly can be safely installed on roof and plaza decks not engineered to handle the heavy load requirements of a traditional green roof. And because the assembly incorporates Hydrotech's Monolithic Membrane 6125®, a proven roofing/waterproofing membrane, the building owner can be assured of a water-tight structure.

Why these folks would want to Register a copyright for a term like Garden Roof astounds me.

Carpenter ear protection

Using a patented mechanical valve system, these reliable and effective shooting muffs let you hear with almost no interference until an impulse noise hits the muff. The impulse causes the valve to shut instantly, giving you the full 16dB of protection provided by the muff.Designed as an economical alternative to electronic muffs for the shooter, these muffs are ideal for the construction professional who needs protection from hammering and nail guns. Regular price: $72.33 Super Store Price: $49.95

Latex paint disposal

Get rid of that old latex paint! Using up all your paint is always the best option, but if this option is not available to you, Waste Paint Hardener offers the environmentally safe alternative. Most landfills do not accept latex paint in a liquid form so save yourself time and money by simply adding our product to your paint.

Features and Benefits
One bag will harden up to 2/3 of a gallon of left over paint and one 5 gallon will harden approximately 107 gallons.

Easy to use Works in minutes Non-toxic Curbside disposal Environmentally sound

Typical Uses
Hardening leftover latex paint
Hardening leftover acrylic paint
Hardening leftover water-based stains
Hardening and clean-up of spills of all of the above
Click here for full details on how to use this product

Low Cost iron fencing

Notice the corner where the two fences meet. The wrought iron Hoop and Spear interlocking fence is actually welded steel. It can enclose a pet or showcase a rose garden. Install the garden fence and gateway yourself in minutes! One spear post and one piece of fence is sold together for $54.95. Above ground the fence measures 36" high x 43.5" wide each when installed. The distance between the vertical rods is 3 1/8" apart for those that are thinking of enclosing small pets. The rods meet the soil surface so they cannot get under the fence. The fence has two horizontal flat pieces. The ends are drilled so the staking spears slide through to attach the fence together and then go into the ground 9". There are also two vertical rods on the fence that extends into the ground so you have anchors into the ground every 14".... very sturdy! It will take more time to mark the ground to position the fence than it will to put it up. The steel rod size is 7/16 of an inch. One section of fence and one spear weigh 28 pounds. I could not bend it even if I jumped on it with three friends! We have gates and arches too! Our fencing is unfinished and usually has a rusty finish. You can paint it or clear coat it. We prefer to let it rust for that vintage look. Look for the gate that is made to work with this fence elsewhere in this catagory. TWO PIECES CAN BE PACKAGED TOGETHER AND SHIPPED THROUGH FEDEX GROUND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WANT A SMALL QUANTITY! When ordering 6 pieces or less the shipper will be Fedex Ground. The weight is 60# per package of 2 fences and the shipping is figured on the distance from middle IL. If ordering more than 6 pieces of fence the shipper will be Fedex Freight. Email us for a shipping quote or just call us during the day at 217-773-3766.

Low cost gate

Garden Gate
Price: $119.00

This sturdy stile & rail Garden Gate features wide diagonal lattice set into a tenoned 2-inch thick frame. It's a beautiful addition to any fence, gateway or arbor.

Available in 36" size only.

Fully pre-assembled.
Crafted throughout of premium-grade Western Red Cedar.

The value of construction

[via Mike Holt] The value of construction put in place in November totaled $1.013 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, the Census Bureau reported today. This figure was 0.4% less than the revised October total of $1.017 billion but higher than the original estimate for October. The total has been virtually unchanged (within +/-0.8% of that level) since July. On a year-to-date basis, spending for the first 11 months of 2004 was 9% higher than in January-November 2003. Private residential construction was 14% higher year-to-date; private nonresidential and public construction were each 3% higher. Within private nonresidential construction, strong growth was shown by general merchandise stores, +26%; shopping centers (other than malls), +19%; lodging, +17% year-to-date; health care (hospitals, medical buildings, and special care facilities), +10%; office, +5.5%. On the downside were electric power, -11%; warehouse, -5.5%; educational, -4%, and manufacturing, -1%. Within public construction, the two largest components, highways and streets and educational, were each 4% higher through November; sewage and waste disposal, +7.5%; office, +5%; transportation, +1%. Public amusement and recreation declined 9%. All of the private residential categories were higher through November: new single-unit, +20%; new multi-unit, +9%; and improvements, +3.5%. The figures are not adjusted for inflation, and it is not clear whether the deflated numbers would be positive. The November producer price index for construction materials and components was about 9% higher than the November 2003 value, but total construction costs, including labor and profit-type income, have risen less.

Materials costs appear headed higher early in 2005. Today the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported that manufacturing purchasing executives listed such construction inputs as aluminum, copper, diesel fuel, plastic resins, and steel among materials that cost more in December than in November, although some reported price decreases for fuel and steel. Resins and steel were reported in short supply. ISM noted, "Commenters from respondents this month focused on inflation, margins, and seasonal issues. While many manufacturers are enjoying strong sales, there is concern that inflation is taking its toll on margins, thus reducing profits. While energy and basic commodities are the drivers behind the higher prices, the responses this month show signs of a peak in some commodities."

The catastrophic tsunami in Asia last week is also likely to put upward pressure on some construction materials costs. Materials for which imports make up a significant share of consumption, such as cement and steel, may be harder to obtain in early 2005, either because the products themselves are being shipped to Asia or because the ships that bring them to the U.S. are being used for relief deliveries.

Shelter Kit

Shelter-Kit supplies the material and engineering, you supply the labor. Sold in kit form, our 12' x 12' modular shell is completely weather tight and is available with an optional Deck or Porch. It's expandable - you can add any number of modules at any time to build a larger house.

The kit contains everything needed to complete the shell: pre-cut, pre-drilled lumber for the post & beam frame, flooring, siding, roofing, trim, nails and screws. Galvanized steel bolts and custom machined aluminum hardware fasten together key structural members. The standard kit also includes a screened 12' wide sliding glass door, a 5' x 3' sliding window, and all the tools required for assembly. An illustrated construction manual, written specifically for owner-builders, makes assembly easy. Materials are packed in bundles that can be carried to your building site. Unit One is ideal for a vacation cabin, ski lodge, studio, guest house, or when combined with more modules and finished on the inside, a year-round home. It's equally adaptable for commercial uses - camp bunkhouse, ski trail shelter, pool cabana - and many more.

Storage Shed and Barn Kits

No time to build your shed or barn from scratch? Consider a kit from one of these firms.
Insert peg A in slot B. Do not pass go. Do not hit your thumb with the hammer. Find shade tree. Kick back.... Or start from scratch with Barn and Shed Plans

Price comparison charts

Color Business Card
Comparison Chart

Vendor
Upload Fee
Online Proof Fee
Shipping(1000 cards)
Stock
Turnaround Time

Photo Printing on the Desktop or Online - What’s Best?
“Is it better to print my digital photos on my own printer or should I send them out?” The answer comes down to the classic printing issues: price, quality, speed and control.

Most folks start with price ... "Where can I get the cheapest photo prints?"

Unfortunately, the cost of consumables (paper and ink) is often overlooked when purchasing a desktop photo printer. 29 cents per print is an oft quoted cost for desktop prints. While special sale promotions and coupons can drive the cost lower, you are generally locked into the price that the printer manufacturer wants to charge.

When you are buying on price, you can do much better online.

I did some research last week, and created a comparison chart with details on the major online photo print labs. The chart shows where you can tap into super low per print prices, and details the free print offers at a number of online labs.

Quality is the biggest issue for serious photo enthusiasts. Of course, the entry-level desktop printers fall far short of the high-end labs. But it can be a trick to find the right lab. (I'll be doing more research in January to explore the print quality differences between vendors.)

Desktop printers come out on top when it comes to speed and control. You can print out your photos where and when you want ... As long as you are home (or have a portable printer) and the supplies are on hand.

When you're out on the road (without a portable printer), the bricks and mortar photo labs can be a lifesaver. National chains like CVS and Wal-Mart can deliver a reasonable level of quality with competitive prices and one-hour turnaround. The quality will fall short of a high-end professional lab, no doubt, but at 8:30 on a Tuesday evening, it sure is convenient.

Are you looking for the best pricing for digital photo prints? Sit back and read on ... Photo print quality is a huge issue. There can be a striking difference in quality between vendors. This is another example where price isn't everything. "Wow, those prints look like mud, but what a great price" just doesn't cut it. Digital Photo Printer Price Comparison Chart

Carpenter's hearing problems

Let's face up to hearing problems!!
Simple, disposable foam ear plugs offer the best, low-cost protection, but they do not solve your special hearing protection problems. For your daily construction-worker problems we offer several creative solutions we think you will love!

Do you need more protection than simple foam plugs offer? Try the lightweight Performance 34 Dual Hearing Protection System with a protection level of 34 NRR! Or combine the Thunder 29 or Ultimate 10 muffs with any 33NRR plugs for the highest protection we know of--NRR36!For more choices visit our General Noise Protection page.

AOSafety Indoor/Outdoor Range Plugs One end for indoor and the other for outdoor--two plugs in one!Regular price: $15.73Super Store Price: $14.95

Sonic Valve II The best selling shooter's plug ever made. Great for construction workers too. Regular price: $19.95 Super Store Price: $17.95

SilentEar Ear Plugs (NRR 33) Soft Pre-Molded Silicone Rubber Filled With Silicone Gel for Superior performance and comfort. Ideal for sleeping and daily wear in demanding situations. Highest NRR rating of any reusable plug we know about!Regular price: $9.95Super Store Price: $8.95

Performance 34 Dual Hearing Protection System Ultra-light weight with maximum performance NRR34!Regular price: $31.55Super Store Price: $18.95

Thunder 29 Ear Muffs Combine with 33NRR foam plugs for 36NRR!Regular price: $34.95Super Store Price: $20.95

E-A-R Ultimate 10 Muffs Combine these muffs with MAX foam plugs for the highest NRR possible!Regular price: $32.95Super Store Price: $21.95

Tactical Alert Hearing Protector (25NRR) Low sound amplification, AM/FM stereo and loud noise protection all in one!Regular price: $373.33Super Store Price: $177.95

WorkTunes AM/FM Stereo Hearing Protectors Listen to the radio while protecting your hearing! These comfortable muffs provide clear, isolated sound by combining AM/FM Stereo with 22 dB noise protection.

Tactical 6S Hearing Protector (19NRR) Light weight, noise activated slimline muffs in regular or behind the head styles.Regular price: $260.00Super Store Price: $123.00

ShotGunner Ear Muffs (NRR21) World's lightest slimline foldup muffs in choice of three colors.Regular price: $26.56Super Store Price: $17.95

Tactical 7S Hearing Protector (24NRR) Here is the electronic muffs the pros choose.Regular price: $322.22Super Store Price: $155.00

Tactical ComTac/Swat Tac Waterproof Hearing Protector (NRR19) Tough electronic muffs for your demanding application.Regular price: $444.44Super Store Price: $259.95

E-A-R Junior Ear Muffs By special request: protection for babies, children and smaller adults.Regular price: $22.56Super Store Price: $19.95

E-A-R Noise Activated Muffs Designed as an economical alternative to electronic muffs for the shooter, these muffs are ideal for the construction professional as well.Regular price: $72.33Super Store Price: $49.95

LM-77H Cap-Mounted Earmuffs (NRR 27) Lightweight, comfortable and extremely effective, the LM-77H is the right choice for safety and protection in a cap-mounted muff.Regular price: $23.44Super Store Price: $19.95

LM-7H Cap-Mounted Earmuffs (NRR 25)A cap-mounted earmuff that fits most slotted hard hats, the LM-7H requires no tools or special assembly -- just slide the muffs on for easy safety and protection!Regular price: $27.44Super Store Price: $24.95

Universal Ear Muff Belt Clip Keep your muffs right at hand when you are not wearing them.

Back Pain thoughts

The New England Journal of Medicine published a landmark study years ago demonstrating the lack of correlation between pain and disk degeneration, along with an editorial pointing out the uselessness of surgery in most patients with chronic back pain.
Big mistake.
Because here's that dirty little secret I alluded to in the headline of this post: back pain has nothing to do with what shows up on x-rays, CT scans, or MRI's. In other words: many people with terrible back pain have completely normal radiographic studies; many people with terrible studies have no back pain.

Nevertheless, surgeons continue to run patients in and out of the OR for this tremendously complex and potentially dangerous surgery.

Entire article at bookofjoe

softwall in development

soft is a product line which utilizes paper, or paper-like materials, in a unique form of expandable honeycomb structure. soft products can transmit or absorb light and are compressible for storage and transport.

The paper softwall will be the first product in the line of soft products. It is an expandable partition with a moody ambient light quality; light falling onto the softwall from windows or light fixtures is absorbed and contained within its layers, giving off an inner luminosity similar to a block of snow or ice. softwall can be manipulated by the user to make any larger open space more intimate or dynamic.

The Molo Design honeycomb walls also serve to dampen sound.

Please check back for availability.

Photo watch

$89.00

Gizmo polish

iDrops
By bookofjoe

"To protect and polish"
That's the slogan for iDrops, which keeps your iPod, iBook, eMac and iMac G5 looking beautiful by restoring the acrylic plastic housing's original factory finish and shine. $14.95 here. [via Popgadget]

Age of the hydrocarbon

"The problem is that it takes about 377 lbs of lead-acid batteries to equal the energy stored in a pound of gasoline." More Here Scroll down the page...

Jets power cellphones

Silicon diesel turbine delivers 1.1W of energy.
[via ZZZOnline] The jet engine spins a penny size magnet, made up of alternating 45° sections of magnetic north and south poles, at 100.000 rpm. To prevent the magnet from shattering, by the centrifugal force, it is encased in a layer of titanium. Click here to read more...

Label bargains

Labels straight from the factory with no middle-man. We all use labels. Example: 100 sheets of 30 labels Avery-equivalent 5160's $11.00. Looks like a savings...