Basics of Scanning

Are you getting exasperated with all the stacks of negatives and prints warping into unruly shapes and colors that�s been holding your desk drawer hostage but haven�t got the heart to deposit them into the dark recesses of your attic/basement?

To top all scanning basics lessons, remember that scanning is a two-part process. The first part is setting of the resolution and output and making the scan, and the second is saving and editing the file. Saving is an important process and it�s a good option to save your files in BMP or TIFF, especially if you plan to import them into Photoshop for adjustments. Try keeping images bound for website under 40 KB. And for images that you want to print out, save them as TIFF uncompressed or BMP and use a high DPI setting (300 and up) when scanning them.Fret no more! By scanning your pictures, you will be given an opportunity to edit and organize your pictures. Once your images are digitized, you can export it into Photoshop to make adjustments. Also, by having your prints or negatives get digitized, you get to archive, e-mail, fax, save them to a CD or even publish them on a website. You may even get to build a photo gallery and let your whole family and friends access them.Before rushing out to buy a scanner, do some research on the gadget, first, like figuring out the features you need and how much you want to spend. Then, know the scanner jargons that describe it�s factors and features. There are two crucial measurements when it comes to scanners � bit or color depth refers to the number of bits of image data the scanner will use for each pixel, and resolution/DPI, which tells you how many spots of information there are in a given area.Scanning technology has come a long way since being introduced. With only about US$150, you can already have a fine scanner with all the software you need. Of course if you fancy a scanner that handles slides and negatives, you�ll invest a little bit more than this amount.You have to consider other features, too. Like the scanner�s speed, ability to scan negatives/slides, software bundles to manage the scanning process, interface between your computer and scanner, and scanner size.So, now, if you have your scanner already, it�s best to start with a low resolution setting and work your way up from there. The default resolution of 150 DPI might not be a bad place to start. Then, the next important setting is the �output type� which describes what type of image you�re scanning. Save space and time by cropping the pictures before scanning them and closing some other applications on your computers. If you�re having trouble with the scanning software, consult the manual.

Have fun editing your image once you�ve scanned them�Remember, if you foul up, you can still start the whole scanning process � as long as you have your scanner handy!

Author: Carla Ballatan

My Approach to Personal Time Management and Organization

"Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever." � Horace Mann, 19th century American educator and reformer

Depending on the model, film scanners may incorporate proprietary technologies unique and exclusive to their manufacturer. Such technologies may include an auto-focus mechanism to ensure perfect image capture, a patented feeder mechanism, or specially designed holders for making film stay flat. These features may make a real difference in improving the quality of your scanning or streamlining your workflow.3. Want to update your backsplash? Use beadboard! Have your local home improvement store cut it to length and attach with nails or adhesive.2. To add a little flair, take out a few drawers and insert low baskets in their place. You will probably have to remove the middle drawer slide or side slides, but that is easily done with a screwdriver.SystemsThis is where goal setting has become the most meaningful for me � at the daily, weekly, or monthly level (I am awful at hitting any longer-term goals). Starting with a paper time management system (in a leather binder I took everywhere) and now on my notebook computer (which I don�t always take everywhere), I make notes of things I want to do on a particular day, week, or month. These are recorded when I get an idea, make a commitment, or set plans.5. Update your cabinets with special memories. Attach frames painted or stained to match the cabinets to the front of each door. Fill the frames with family photos or your children*s artwork. Or highlight a special collection such as vintage handkerchiefs or postcards.Style and Type Some flatbed scanners include either an external or built-in transparency adapter that is used to scan film. Other flatbeds are of a dual-bed design; i.e., with one bed - the glass flatbed part of the scanner -for scanning prints; and another bed - a transparency bay that looks like a pull-out drawer - for scanning film. If you intend to scan only the occasional slide or stray piece of film, and don't mind the lower resolution as well, a flatbed scanner that can accommodate film may well serve your purpose. Be aware, however, that the resulting film scans will not be suitable for commercial or professional use. To obtain the best results, nothing less than a dedicated film scanner will do.ResolutionKeys go on the same key rack by the garage door as soon as we come in the house. Files go right back in their file drawers. Articles are coded and filed in my library system for book, column, or presentation research later. Books go into their respective sections in my library. Presentations or workshop designs are filed for later reference so I don't have to start from scratch on something similar in months or years from now. Periodically I overcome the packrat in me and go through my filing system tossing things out, consolidating files, or moving files to my attic archives.The dynamic range of a scanner measures how well it can capture the tonal range of an image, ranging from the brightest highlights to the darkest shadows. Dynamic range is a more important spec in film scanners than it is for flatbeds, because film and other transparent media have a broader range of tones compared to photos or prints - something that film scanners are perfectly equipped to capture and show. Dynamic range is measured on a scale from 0.0 (perfect white) to 4.0 (perfect black), and the single number associated with a scanner indicates how much of that range it can tell apart. The minimum and maximum density values that can be captured by a scanner are called Dmin and Dmax, respectively. If a scanner's Dmin was 0.2 and its Dmax was 4.2, then its dynamic range would be 4.0. The dynamic range of film scanners are usually advertised by their manufacturers as falling somewhere between 4.0 and 4.6, but these are intrinsically difficult figures to prove or validate, and a model claiming a higher number may not necessarily have better results to show, mainly because of variances in testing and determining the figure. A more practical way of assessing would be to visually check how shadows and highlights are reproduced by the scanner and then compare the results to the original image or to how other scanners reproduce those same tonal colors.Dust and scratches on film can present a big challenge for film scanners, as imperfections can take on gigantic proportions when the film is scanned at the scanner's very high resolution. Film can also be damaged through improper handling, and what appears to the naked eye as a tiny scratch may render the image on a film practically useless. For this reason, a number of film-repair technologies have been developed to remove imperfections, allowing an image to be reconstructed and printed flawlessly, as though it came from a pristine original. These film-repair technologies may be implemented either through software alone, such as the dust-and-scratch removal feature from the SilverFast program by LaserSoft Imaging; or through a combination of hardware and software, as is the case with the DIGITAL ICE technology built-into some models.Very few people can �multitask� effectively and concentrate on two things at once or flit back and forth from one thing to another. I certainly can't. So I've found the clean desk approach to be the most effective. The only things on my desk and credenza are ornaments, family photos, computer, telephone, and an out-basket.Bit DepthOther technologies

My PODS approach looks dangerously obsessive to some and "interesting" to others. I am continuing to customize and evolve it to fit me. I have come to believe that there is no one right personal time management and organization system. We all need to continue developing and refining the system that works best for our own quirks and preferences.

Author: Jim Clemmer

A Buyer�s Guide to Film Scanners

Film scanners are made for the sole and express purpose of scanning film directly into your computer. Unlike their flatbed counterparts, which may be able to handle media of various sizes and thicknesses and can even scan film if a transparency adapter is installed, film scanners scan only one thing: film. But because the image to be scanned is taken directly from the original material - from the film, and not from a print - film scanners allow more direct control over image elements such as cropping and aspect ratio. In addition, film has more detail and dynamic range compared to prints - which invariably lose tonal range and color data during the printmaking process. These are real concerns to photographers and graphic artists, who rely on original slides and film - and film scanners - to ensure the integrity of scanned images in professional and commercial applications. So, if your work relies on scanning negatives, slides, and other types of film, a film scanner is the right choice for you. This buying guide tackles some of the more important things that you need to know when looking for a film scanner.

OrganizationMost film scanners work with 35mm film. Some can scan APS film, but an optional APS adapter is needed to batch scan the full APS roll. Other film scanners, such as the Microtek ArtixScan 120tf, can scan medium format film as well, ranging from 6x6cm to 6x17cm panoramic. Check to see what types of film holders are provided with the film scanner; most models will include a 35mm slide holder as well as a 35mm filmstrip holder. A few models offer optional autofeeders that accommodate 50 mounted slides to allow efficient batch scanning of film.1. To give your cabinets a special flair, use three different stains. Use one lighter stain on the upper cabinets, one slightly darker on the drawers and an even darker one on the bottom cabinets. Add a little pigment in a primary color (red, blue or yellow) to add an additional dimension and a little *pop.*Dynamic RangeMy in-basket is the top drawer of my desk. All incoming mail, faxes, and paper go in there. That way, when I am working on something, I am not distracted or overwhelmed by other papers waving to get my attention. Nothing is allowed to stay in my in-drawer over night (unless I am out of town). When I go through the paper in this drawer, it immediately goes to one of four places: the wastebasket or recycling bin, my filing system, my out-basket, or my "pending" file folder for reading later or responding to on an airplane. This forces me to handle it once and not form little piles that slowly become future hiding places for that document I remember seeing once and now desperately need.DisciplineTry one of these ideas or use them to jumpstart your own creative imagination. Remember, there is a designer in each of you! It*s just very well hidden in some - VERY well hidden!Thomas Henry Huxley once observed, "perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned." Discipline is the engine that drives the whole PODS approach. Whenever mine wavers, the choking PODS process takes me down with it. Lack of discipline is at the heart of most of my performance problems. Like the battle of the bulge, this is a lifelong fight with "hardening of the oughteries."For instance, a full-frame 35mm color negative scanned at 2400 dpi will result in a size of about 3400 x 2200 pixels. If this 2400-dpi image is printed at 300 dpi, the resulting printed image will be 8 times larger than the original film size (2400/300=8). In actual terms, this means that your original 1.4 x 0.9-inch film (36 x 24 mm) can be increased by 8 times to 11.2 x 7.2 inches when printed at 300 dpi - without any loss of image clarity or detail. A word of caution: Because film scanners can scan in such high resolutions, file sizes can be big. Scanning the 35mm negative at 2400 dpi in the example just cited will result in a file size of 22 megabytes.I am too lazy to look for things. I much prefer to know where things are and find them the first time I look. Personal systems take time � and especially discipline � to set up, consistently use, and maintain. But like investments in training or quality improvement, investments of time in personal systems pay back many times their costs by saving huge amounts of time later.The hardware interface of your film scanner will determine how long it takes to transfer digital data to a computer for processing. Together with the actual operational speed of the scanner, the hardware interface plays an important part in determining scan speed. Most older film scanners have SCSI ports; the newer film scanners feature FireWire or USB (Hi-Speed or USB 1.1) interfaces. Models with either USB or FireWire interface are hot swappable - which means the scanners can be plugged or unplugged from other devices to which they are connected without having to turn the scanners off and on.PrioritizationMy PODS approach looks dangerously obsessive to some and "interesting" to others. I am continuing to customize and evolve it to fit me. I have come to believe that there is no one right personal time management and organization system. We all need to continue developing and refining the system that works best for our own quirks and preferences.Self-management, like self-improvement is highly personal. What works for one person may be ridiculous to someone else. Over the years I've evolved a personal management system that works for me. I think of it as PODS:InterfaceDust-and-Scratch Removal, Film Repair

Depending on the model, film scanners may incorporate proprietary technologies unique and exclusive to their manufacturer. Such technologies may include an auto-focus mechanism to ensure perfect image capture, a patented feeder mechanism, or specially designed holders for making film stay flat. These features may make a real difference in improving the quality of your scanning or streamlining your workflow.

Author: Microtek Lab Inc

Five Easy Ways to Give Your Kitchen Designer Wow!

A beautiful kitchen is the heart of any home (even for those of us who spend most of our cooking time around the microwave!) Time spent together in the kitchen can bring a family closer together and make wonderful memories (although my own memories of doing dishes as a teenager are less than pleasant - something about dishwater being *disgusting!*) Turning your plain kitchen into something special isn*t as hard as you might think. Here are a few simple ideas which can make your kitchen a designer showcase.

Software provided with film scanners can be specialized and varied. Like flatbeds, film scanners will include their own driver or scanning software, as well as bundle an image-editing program - such as Adobe Photoshop - into which scanned images are delivered and placed. In addition, higher-end film scanners may include a color calibration and ICC profiler program, which ensures consistent color by creating a color profile specific to the film scanner. With the ICC profiler program, an image - known as an IT8 target and containing industry-standard color values - is scanned, and then compared to values that the scanner actually recorded. The differences are then translated into a compensation scheme to even out color variations, so that accurate color results can be produced in the future.A scanner's bit depth determines the number of bits captured per pixel, which is related to the number of possible colors. The higher the bit depth is, the greater the number of colors that can be shown. Bit depth for film scanners on the market today can be 30-bits, 36-bits, 42-bits, or 48-bits. Always aim for higher bit depth when possible, as this allows the scanner to work with and retain a greater amount of color information. A 48-bit scanner, for instance, produces 65,536 levels or shades of color per R,G,B (red, green, blue) channel, resulting in a mind-blowing possible combination of about 250 trillion colors. In contrast, a 36-bit scanner produces 4,096 levels of information, or a paltry 68.7 billion colors.Film FormatsFor scanners, the optical, or "true", resolution is what matters, as this is the actual number of pixels being read by the scanner's optics. Film scanners have much higher resolution figures compared to flatbeds, with optical resolution in film scanners ranging from 2700 dpi to 5400 dpi, and 4000 dpi being the most common. The high resolution in film scanners allows you to enlarge small images, creating enough pixels in the process to print in full-page size.I have also created and filed hundreds of my presentations slides. So whether I am in an airport, on a plane, or in my office, I can search files, presentations, quotations, and databases. I can then easily retrieve, cut, paste, and create something new.

Try one of these ideas or use them to jumpstart your own creative imagination. Remember, there is a designer in each of you! It*s just very well hidden in some - VERY well hidden!

Author: Pamela Cole Harris

Is Refacing Cabinetry a Solid Investment?

Being a Custom Cabinetmaker and Finish Carpenter I'm frequently asked what I think about refacing cabinetry as opposed to demolishing the old cabinets and starting from scratch.

The Con's come down to Quality and Freedom! The PSA wood veneer is very thin and very frequently starts to bubble or lift off the old wood surface within a year to 18 months.Another minor problem that can be solved by your own skills is when the cabinet door is really damaged that it needs replacement. This task may be tremendous as they require the right equipment and material, however, with videos available on the web, you may find that it is possible.Kitchen cabinet re-facing is also possible if the cabinet door is already sagging down. Doors that are sagging are hard to close. At worst, they become impossible to close. This is why early detection should be followed with immediate action to prevent further damage to the cabinet.Eriez Magnetics, call 800-345-4946, or search mmsonline.com/suppliersIn order to understand the problems with refacing cabinetry you need to know a little about the process. They typically remove and throw away the: doors, drawer fronts, door hinges, drawer slides and cabinet door knobs (if any).If you think that the cost of repair far overshadows the whole value of the kitchen cabinet and it does not have much of a sentimental value, you have to better discard it. Nonetheless, if the cabinet is still in good shape and only a few and minor damages or replacements are needed, then by all means, proceed with re-facing.The problem is, they make no mention of quality or durability or improved functionality and forget getting a decent warranty!Perhaps, the most common occurrence in kitchen cabinets are the missing screws, bearings, locks, and drawer slides. Depending on the simplicity or complexity of the locks and screws, you may spearhead the kitchen cabinet re-facing or seek a professional help. Again, if you are unsure of your capacity to do it and there is no available videos on the web that demonstrate exactly how to fix drawer slides and bearing like yours, then, hiring a professional to do it is worth the while.The drawer magnets are designed to capture and hold fine and weakly magnetic particles, preventing plugged valve gates, damage and equipment downtime. According to the company, the increased use of recycled plastics, which can contaminate metal, requires moldmakers and extruders to utilize high-strength magnets. Reprocessed material pellets with tiny particles of encapsulated ferrous material can be captured and held to prevent product contamination, process downtime and equipment/mold damage, the company says.Cabinets are among the furniture that are expected to last a lifetime. Such proves especially true among kitchen cabinets in North America. Thus, kitchen cabinet re-facing is always recommended. It preserves memories and save the earth.Example of minor damages includes chipped paint, missing or damaged knob or handles and missing a chunk of wood. These conditions are repairable by carpentry. There are many do-it-yourself techniques on how to do the repair. They can search the web for practical and easy to follow instructions.At times, old stains become very stubborn they damage the aesthetics of the cabinet. This is particularly true in houses where a beautiful kitchen cabinet-made from hard wood-has been mounted. There are stains that require special chemicals or formulas to remove. Visiting a furniture restoration would be worth the trip as it may save your cabinet from hideous stains and exude its true beauty.The list goes on and on...That being said, to say I'm not a fan of refacing cabinetry would be an understatement! I'll give you the Pro's and Con's and let you be the judge.

By the way, if you're still not convinced, ask around and find someone who refaced their kitchen two years ago or more and find out if they'd do it again. Just make sure they don't work for the refacing company!

Author: Kevin Koop

Do You Need To Know About Kitchen Cabinet Re-Facing?

Learning how to do kitchen cabinet re-facing is very rewarding. Not only do you value craftsmanship. You will also save money from not having to purchase another kitchen cabinet. Of course, not at all times should you continue to refurbish the cabinet.

Then, the cabinets are "roughed-up" by sanding and sometimes a chemical stripper is used as well. The refacing installer then adheres a wood veneer to the exposed surfaces. Typically, the veneer has a PSA backing (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) and it is firmly pressed to the old wood surface to make it's bond.If you have a refacing specialist in your home you are likely to hear something like...As far as freedom goes, you didn't get to change the cabinet's interior. If you had fixed shelves before, you probably didn't get to upgrade to adjustable shelves as this is too much work in retrofitting.Refacing cabinetry is an inexpensive way to update your kitchen's look with a minimum of inconvenience and without all the dirt, debris and noise associated with demolishing your kitchen and starting over.Now, to be fair, there is some truth in the statement above. Refacing does typically cost less than having a custom cabinetmaker, like myself, completely redo your cabinetry. (Though it's not inexpensive!!!) The project will also be completed in less time than a custom cabinet job.I generally pride myself as someone who has an open mind. While I have strong opinions on a variety of topics... I like to offer options to people rather than to come off as someone who knows it all. Besides, I don't "know it all."On the other hand, it may be that the cabinet is too precious to inflict more damage from your low confidence in fixing it by yourself, you may opt for a professional fixer. Even the hardest of hard woods may wear and tear over time and the doors are the first to show. A professional restorer of furniture should be able to bring your wood cabinets back to life including the repair on its door.

Cabinets are among the furniture that are expected to last a lifetime. Such proves especially true among kitchen cabinets in North America. Thus, kitchen cabinet re-facing is always recommended. It preserves memories and save the earth.

Author: Rudy Silva

Drawer magnets prevent plugged valve gates

Eriez offers a series of Rare Earth (RE) after-market grates that slide into most existing drawer magnet housings. The RE aftermarket drawer magnets, which are available in four sizes, can be installed in less than five minutes, the company says. The guide-rod design enables the magnets to be used with mild steel housings.

If you happen to catch something on an edge of the veneer you may very well peel it back or tear it altogether. If someone, say a child, happens to scratch the veneer surface it will most likely expose the old wood surface as the veneer is very thin.By the way, if you're still not convinced, ask around and find someone who refaced their kitchen two years ago or more and find out if they'd do it again. Just make sure they don't work for the refacing company!

Eriez Magnetics, call 800-345-4946, or search mmsonline.com/suppliers

Collection of Computer Desks for Home Office

Shop computer desks in an array of styles designed to suit every office decor and space. Furnish your workspace with a large selection of computer desks, corner computer desks, laptop desks and writing desks in a variety of brands, colors and finishes. Find versatile, functional office desks to create the professional environment that you want.

www.floorsignage.comwww.millerwelds.comWelding HelmetDanray Products LLC introduces its line of heavy-duty wood lathe shields designed for manual wood lathes or similar machines (such as small metalworking lathes). Product provides a barrier between worker and the point-of-operation hazard. It also deflects chips as well as minimizes the possibility of injury from a thrown work piece. Shield hinges back and rests at a 45� angle, making it easy to change the work piece.

We carry a wide variety of computer desks, wood computer desks, and glass computer desks for your home and office to meet different needs and styles. Select computer desks from Spacify, Modern and contemporary furniture store.

Author: Russel Lyndon

Study Reveals Increase In Cabinet Satisfaction

Westlake Village, CA - Overall customer satisfaction with cabinet brands has increased notably from 2010, primarily due to improved satisfaction with cabinet design, performance and value, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Kitchen Cabinet Satisfaction Study.

The study, released last month, gauges customer satisfaction with kitchen cabinets by measuring fi ve factors: design features (such as the variety of cabinet colors/ fi nishes and range of sizes and shapes available); operational performance (including smoothness of drawer slides and sturdiness of cabinet joinery); ordering and delivery (including ease of ordering, condition of products at delivery and timeliness); price, and warranty.Floor Markingwww.thehole solution.comWe carry a wide variety of computer desks, wood computer desks, and glass computer desks for your home and office to meet different needs and styles. Select computer desks from Spacify, Modern and contemporary furniture store.Construction Safety

The J.D. Power study measured customer satisfaction based on responses from more than 1,200 consumers who purchased kitchen cabinets within the previous 12 months.

Pulse Product

Storage Catalog

www.danrayproducts.comLyon Workspace Products has released its Essential Solutions Catalog. The 65-pp, full-color catalog highlights storage, locker and workspace solutions. Catalog also features all-welded storage cabinets, lockers, workstations, ergonomic seating, shop furniture, tool storage, modular drawer cabinets, shelving and storage racks.Floor Signage introduces its DuraMarker signage line designed for forklift/tow motor areas on factory floors, warehouses and similar industrial facilities. Signs resist damage from turning forklift tires and sliding pallets, and are made from ultratough polycarbonate with an aggressive, nonpermanent adhesive for easy removal. Stock signs are available in both DuraMarker and nonskid surfaces for safety and environmental applications and for lean/5S production facilities. Product has a smooth surface to resist torquing, and it is easily applied.Many corporate offices and even home offices require the use of computer desks for organization and work purposes. Many of these offices have large computer desks that hold unknown amounts of files and documents. But for many individuals and companies, small computer desks are needed to conserve space and to provide for the needs of different employees. In fact, many companies and employees even prefer small computer desks because they are easily moveable, can be organized in a short amount of time, and do not take up as much space as larger desks do. Another great benefit is that they often even cost hundreds of dollars less than larger desks.Hydraulic LiftsTo submit a product for this section, send an e-mail to profes sionalsafety@asse.org. Be sure to include product and contact information, along with a high-resolution image of the product.Computer desks furniture is found in almost every business. In many cases it has become a commodity purchasing decision where almost any brand, model or quality level will do. However, if you are looking for industrial computer desks furniture that needs to last for decades instead of a few years, Spacify have robust, all computer workstation furniture that is modular and designed to fit most any set of application requirements, or floor space available.The HOLE Solution, by Buildings and Matters Inc., provides a watertight seal that helps eliminate water leakage through open holes during construction projects. According to manufacturer, product meets OSHA requirements and stays securely in place. Product is made from recyclable, reusable material and is available in 12 sizes ranging from 2 to 9 in. in diameter.www.pentalift.comwww.lyonwork space.comPentalift Equipment Corp. has published a new IR Series brochure featuring its line of hydraulic lift tables. Lift tables provide high-quality, rugged design for applications ranging from 1,000- to 2,000-lb range. Brochure features models with various platform ranges, rotating tops, portable designs, foot pedal controls and lift speeds.Publication of this material does not constitute endorsement by ASSE.According to Christina Cooley, senior manager of the real estate and construction industries practice at J.D. Power and Associates, this shift suggests budgetary constraints are becoming increasingly infl uential in the cabinet-selection process. The study found that 45% of purchasers replaced their cabinets as part of a full kitchen remodel and spent approximately $4,500, on average, for cabinets.There are a large variety of computer desks out there. From traditional to contemporary, serene to gaudy, you can choose almost any style you want. And with computer equipment becoming lighter and more compact, size is no longer an issue. Build unique computer desks that mount directly into the corner of any room. Computer Desks for the Merido Collection features a clear glass top and dark espresso wood legs finished with satin silver metal trim for an extraordinary modern look for your home or small office.Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. has included its Titanium 9400i autodarkening welding helmet in its Arc Armor Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) line. PAPR is a self-contained personal respirator designed to protect against hazardous welding fumes. The 9400i model is used in heavy industrial welding and grinding applications. Its auto-darkening cartridge, located in the visor, flips up to expose a clear, integrated grinding shield that provides nearly 180� of vision.The J.D. Power study measured customer satisfaction based on responses from more than 1,200 consumers who purchased kitchen cabinets within the previous 12 months.?Since customers are investing signifi cantly in their kitchen remodeling projects and specifi in their cabinets, it is important that they balance price, quality and design when making their brand selection to ensure that their specifi c needs are met for the long term,? said Cooley. ?Customers should examine several cabinet brands, which may involve shopping at more than one retailer. should also keep in mind that the service they receive during the ordering and delivery process is key to overall satisfaction, so selecting a cabinet retailer carefully is also important.?In 2011, 59% of cabinet purchasers say they bought stock cabinets, rather than semi-custom or custom cabinets. In comparison, 46% of cabinet purchasers in 2010 said the same, according to J.D. Power.

To submit a product for this section, send an e-mail to profes sionalsafety@asse.org. Be sure to include product and contact information, along with a high-resolution image of the product.

Using your Beeswax Candle Leftovers

Beeswax candles are beautiful and loved by thousands worldwide. There just isn't any other candle which comes close! But, what do you do with the leftover stumps? Here are some great ways to use up those leftover bits and pieces from your beloved beeswax candles:

Anyone interested in seeing more of the slides, or who knows more about where they came from, can call Sarah Scott on 0191 201 6273.Also among the snaps are pictures of the Tyneside Boys Band, the 1972 International Paint company, Younger's Tartan Bitter, Newcastle University and Northumbria Coal.4. Feed your new beeswax candles � By far the best way to utilize leftover pieces from beeswax candles is to break apart the stumps into smaller pieces and feed the tops of your new beeswax candles. This process ensures that every last bit gets used up, and the life of your new candle is increased so that you potentially have hours more of enjoyment. What could be better?Reusable ceramic replicas of traditional farmers'-market baskets provide good air flow to keep your harvest fresh (from aHa Modern Living, from $13; ahamodernliving.com).FLASHBACK Some of Keith's slides showing Tyneside in the 1970s HIDDEN TREASURE Keith Saul, from Pelaw, who bought a load of slides from a car boot sale in Blaydon that show Tyneside in the 1970sNothing says summer like fresh pesto. Freeze some for winter in one of these airtight, BPA-free baby-food containers (from Pottery Barn Kids, $30 for set of 4; potterybarnkids.com).1. Natural lubricant - The easiest way to put your leftover beeswax candle to use, is to simply rub it up against the sides of a pesky drawer, or along the edges of a sticking window sash. The beeswax acts as a natural lubricant, and reduces the friction so that the window or drawer slides more easily. Also works on sticky zippers!

c. Filling cardboard egg carton with sawdust. Pour melted wax from old beeswax candles into the individual egg carton cups. Place pieces of cotton string already pre-dipped into each egg cup using a bamboo skewer if necessary. Once the beeswax has cooled, cut apart the egg cups for individual fire starters.

Author: Brian Stark

Harvest helpers: with all your hard work starting to pay off, these should come in handy

ORCHARD RACK

PESTO JARSCAPTION(S):When your crops just won't quit, set up this wooden stand--with sliding drawers--to handle the overflow (from Gardener's Supply, from $80; gardeners.com).Before you make tea or sachets out of your lemon verbena or lavender, you'll need to dry the herbs, of course. Enter this useful foldaway rack (from High Country Gardens, $20; highcountrygardens.com.).BOOT ith The local history fan also has his own theory that it could have been a woman who took the pictures originally - because the images seem to focus on subjects he considers feminine."There is one of the Gateshead inner market near the Get Carter car park, which has since been demolished.VEGETABLE BASKETSNow the grandfather-of-two has rediscovered the historic images and decided to share them with Chronicle readers.I think it must have been a woman because they were taking pictures of the Lord Mayor's carriage, but that's just my opinion," he said.b. Tying a cotton string around a length of cardboard which has been rolled up. Immerse the cardboard and string into the melted beeswax candle remnants, or;"I'm sure there is someone somewhere who would like them," said Keith.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEFFERY CROSS

Author: Johanna Silver

Snapped back in time; Slides discovered at car boot sale show Tyneside of the 1970s

Byline: SARAH SCOTT

Some of the more notable slides are labelled in neat handwriting to mark the occasion."You wonder if some of the people in the pictures are still alive. I just thought there were some nice pictures of the Tyne because that is all changing, especially down by the Quayside."2. Natural sealant � Dangerous germs live in your kitchen, and your wooden cutting board likely harbours some really nasty ones. Beeswax candle remnants can help out here too. Sealing your cutting board will help to prevent germs and bacteria from seeping into the board and can help to keep your family safe. Place � teaspoon of a piece from your old beeswax candle into 1 cup of mineral oil. Heat the mixture in the microwave until the beeswax is completely incorporated and the mixture is warm but not too hot. Rub the mixture into your cutting board using a soft, lint-free cloth.The galvanized mesh wire Lets you hose off your produce right in the basket before carrying it, soil-free, inside (from Peaceful Valley; $40; groworganic.com)."The one with Mike Neville is at Haymarket before the work started, but you can see work is beginning with bits cordoned off.Among the slides are shots of the Newcastle Exhibition in the 1970s, the Lord Mayor's Procession in June 1976 and a Tyneside yacht race in 1980.The boxes of mysterious slides were discovered by local history enthusiast Keith Saul at a car boot sale six years ago.The slides also claim to capture North East favourite Mike Neville in a parade through the centre of the city.Keith, 57, said: "I think a lot of people would be interested in seeing them and they were just sitting in a drawer here."BERRY CARTONSPHOTOGRAPHS BY JEFFERY CROSSMETAL BASKETDRYING RACK"I'm very interested in the social history of the North East and I used to save Edwardian postcards," he said. "I had a big album but my wife and I had a downsize and I've sold them on."Keith, of Pelaw, Gateshead, came across 30 boxes of slides at a car boot sale at Blaydon Rugby Club in Swalwell, Gateshead, when he was looking for old postcards six years ago.3. Make crayons � Leftover beeswax candles are perfect for making crayons! This is a fantastic rainy-day craft for the kids (with grown-up supervision of course!). If you are using yellow beeswax candles, you can create rich and deep colours for your wax crayons. White beeswax candle remnants are suitable for any colour, including pastels. Place an equal amount of beeswax and grated glycerine soap into a clean soup can. Put the can into a pot of water, so that at least half of the can is submerged. Heat the water and keep the can in the pot until the beeswax and soap have melted. Be careful not to heat the water past 185 degrees Fahrenheit or the beeswax candles could darken. Once completely melted, mix in food colouring until the desired shade is reached. Carefully lift out the soup can using oven mitts to avoid being burned from the heat of the can. Also be careful not to drip boiling water on arms or children standing close by! Pour the melted mixture into silicone candleor chocolate molds which have been sprayed with vegetable oil. Once cooled, enjoy spending the rainy day colouring with your beeswax candles!a. Tying a cotton string around a 2-3 inch piece of dried corn cob. Immerse the corn cob and string into the melted beeswax;CAR BOOT FIND KeithGATHERING dust in a drawer, these colourful snaps capturing Tyneside in the 1970s lay hidden - until now.CAR FIND The slides caught Keith's attention and the keen photographer bought them, along with a projector, for around just pounds 10.5. Fire starters � Planning on going camping this year? Here are three great firestarter recipes to make using beeswax! Melt beewax in a soup can placed in a pot of water. Firestarters can be made several different ways, including:

FLASHBACK Some of Keith's slides showing Tyneside in the 1970s HIDDEN TREASURE Keith Saul, from Pelaw, who bought a load of slides from a car boot sale in Blaydon that show Tyneside in the 1970s

Materials

SLIDES

Accuride

Accuride launches Versions 7950 and 7957, two new slides specially designed to develop the company's major-duty slide line-up and give an intermediate load rating alternative among the 3640A and 9301 types. Both designs accommodate drawers up to 42-in. extensive, are entire extension and carry loads up to 350 lbs. Equally versions are obtainable in twelve-in. to 36-in. lengths. (562) 903-0200

accuride.com

DUST Collection HOSE

Flexaust

Flexaust features the Flexaust Resolve-Thane LD Polyurethane Hose, which is lightweight, adaptable, abrasion-resistant and reinforced with a bronze coated spring metal wire helix suited for woodworking dust assortment programs. The hose is to choose from in see-thru crystal clear and black in a wide variety of measurements with simple reduce or two-in. soft-cuffed ends. It is provided in regular 25-ft lengths, the hose comes in two-in. to 18-in. I.D. and metric dimensions with a .020-in. wall thickness and four: 1 compressibility ratio up to six in. and five:one for 7 in. to 18 in. (800) 343-0428

flexaust.com

Concealed BED HARDWARE

Hafele The usa Co.

Hafele announces hardware for the Hiddenbed. This patented mechanism is a room saver, which enables a area to have a dual goal--a examine/office and a bedroom. The hardware is simple to run and can be put into use in a child's space and then that area can end up being a study and visitor place when the child depart the nest. (800) 423-3531 hafele.com/us

DOORS

Caron Industries

Caron gives the Tropical Model collection attainable with possibly contemporary (Versa) or classic (Shaker Frame) styling. These doors aspect 3-D design and style and all the all-natural and authentic splendor of wood coupled with coconut, the organisation says. A selection of a few coconut center panels are obtainable as very well as in most wooden varieties and in customized sizes. (800) 463-7060 caronindustries.com

DOVETAIL DRAWERS

Witmer Wooden Services

Witmer dovetail drawers in brown gentle maple are mostly picked from red leaf maple, which is a "soft" maple. All maples are hardwoods, but gentle maple is 25% softer than really hard maple. Red leaf maple is a closed grained wooden with coloring variations. The sapwood is a creamy white despite the fact that the heartwood has versions of brown. It machines and finishes perfectly, the company states. (800) 643-1158

RTF/three-D LAMINATE Solutions

WalzCraft

WalzCraft announces the enlargement of its rigid thermofoil (RTF)/three-D laminate coloration possible choices. A great many of these new hues encompass texture integrated into the material and deliver unique appears, built to enrich any custom made cabinet part project. Reference NPR #42. (800) 237-1326 walzcraft.com

FSC Licensed VENEERS

3A Composites USA

3A Composites announces that it has end up FSC Chain-of-Custody Licensed to sell its lines of Gator-Ply, Syn-Ply and Luxcell synthetic veneers as FSC mixed (license code FSC-C074317). The certification was attained following an assessment done by Scientific Certification Techniques in accordance with the policies of the FSC A.C. (877) 424-9860 gatorpIy.com

EXPLOSION Proof LED LIGHT

Larson Electronics

Larson introduces the EPL-LED7W-SFC explosion evidence LED light appropriate for paint and powder spray booth programs. The UL rated Class one Division 1 and Class 2 Division one rated LED light can be pendant, wall or ceiling mounted inside of hazardous area regions, the corporation says. (800) 369-6671

magnalight.com

Experienced Wooden COATINGS

Hirshfield's

Hirshfield's is now the distributor of the total line of Valspar Wood coatings, for example stains, varnishes, lacquers, topcoats and other finishing products and solutions. Hirshfield's operates merchants in MN, WI, ND and distributes commercial wall and flooring finishes across 9 Midwestern states. (612) 377-3910

hirshfields.com

PLYWOOD ADHESIVES

Franklin Adhesives & Polymers

Franklin just lately unveiled its new Plywood Line which it says is a foremost-of-its-form variety of 7 CARB-compliant adhesives for plywood and lamination products and services. The line comprises PVA adhesives, a new EPI merchandise and the division's foremost-ever bio-modified PVA adhesives, making use of soy. (800) 877-4583 frankIinadhesivesandpolymers.com

LASER EDGING Technology

REHAU

REHAU states its LaserEdge is an adhesive-free of cost, non-PVC polypropylene (PP) laser edging technological innovation that facilitates increased productive and environmentally responsible furnishings manufacturing processes. The patented two-layer edgeband, provided in proprietary PR, ABS or PMMA polymer formulations, can change regular PVC edging alternatives for all machine technologies. (800) 247-9445 na.rehau.com/furnishings

Mix CAM LOCK

FJM Protection Solutions

FJM delivers the Combi-Cam Ultra, the to begin with combo cam lock with grasp major override and code retrievable capabilities, the organisation says. The Combi-Cam Ultra has 10,000 potential combinations out there and grasp vital access, making it possible for for twin entry with each keys and combinations. It is crafted of large-duty die cast metal, presents increased protection, select resistant keyways, with more than 50,000 doable crucial codes. The Combi-Cam Ultra arrives in 3 cylinder lengths: 5/8 in., 7/eight in. and one-one/eight in. (800) 654-1786 x2506 combi-cam.com

FSC-Licensed DRAWERS

Drawer Connection

Drawer Connection has received its FSC certification as a chain-of-custody partner. It has satisfied and set in put the proper and right treatments which will allow for it to check and track resources that are FSC licensed, the provider says. (877) 917-4887

dcdrawers.com

RED HEART BEECH

Pollmeier Inc.

Pollmeier states its natural, all natural wanting Superior Red Heart grade beech has contrasting color variation, from light honey-brown tones to somewhat darker reddish-brown heart wood, providing it a completely unique look that is gaining attractiveness with designers, architects and specifiers. It has consistent moisture content for stability, is sturdy, machinable and requires a selection of finishes, Pollmeier says. (503) 452-5800 pollmeier.com

Drawer slide

Accuride Intl

Accuride provides Action-Help, a extraordinary slide that the business enterprise states can help people open and close drawers with ease. The user starts the opening and dosing motion and the slide does the rest. When the drawer is opened, at about the mid-level of journey the aiding forces balance, resulting in a neutral zone in which the drawer continues to be in a steady position. After the drawer is additionally extended to about two-thirds of its journey, the slide finishes the opening operation. Conversely, as the drawer is pushed inward prior the neutral zone, the Action-Aid kicks in and pulls the drawer closed. It does not demand energy to operate and there are no wires or transformers, Accuride states. Other than minor drawer box modifications, installation is very the same to a ordinary, facet-mount 3832 full-extension slide, the enterprise adds.

(562) 903-0200

accuride.com

CIRCLE 104

PRODUCTS

Widebelt sander

The BiesseSand Regal 500 Series widebelt sanders from Biesse America are available with up to five independent working units, cross-belt unit with sectional platen, super-finishing unit with a chevron belt, knife planer/sander versions and mobile or fixed-table designs.

Biesse America

704.357.3131

www.biesseamerica.com

Touch-release slides

Model 3832 Touch Release and 3832 Heavy-Duty Touch Release drawer slides from Accuride hold drawers or rollout shelves in a closed position until activated by touch. Pushing on the drawer front propels it open about 2 inches, eliminating the need for drawer pulls and allowing for simple, clean drawer fronts.

Accuride

562.903.0200

www.accuride.com

Portable workbench

The Bench Horse from Blum Tool is an 18-inch by 48-inch portable workbench. It features a torsion box-constructed top made from Baltic birch plywood with pipe clamps used as vises. The legs feature tubular steel with rotatable fittings for easy foldup.

Blum Tool Co.

800.521.5458

www.blumtool.com

Edgebander

The IDM Genesis KS sizing and squaring edgebander from Delmac is designed for companies with multishift operations. It is equipped for high-speed sizing and edging of panels with PVC in coils or strips. Working units are designed for rapid setup and quick changeover.

Delmac Machinery Group

336.854.1211

www.delmac.com

Grizzly offers the G9980 51-inch, widebelt sander, which is pre-wired for a 220V three-phase power source and can be converted for 440V. The sanding motor is 30 hp, the conveyor motor is 2 hp and the table elevation motor is 14 hp. The machine also features digital readout table positioning and powered table elevation controls.

Grizzly Industrial Inc.

360.647.0801

www.grizzly.com

The Contriga edgebander from HoIzHer can glue and machine at feed speeds up to 30 meters per minute and in edge thicknesses up to 30mm. Its slit nozzle technology offers a maximum level of precision for glue application.

Holz-Herlnc.

704.587.3400

www.holzher.com

Panel saw

The Sigma Impact 107P panel saw from SCM Group-USA has a loading platform and was designed for woodworking shops looking for flexibility in material handling.

SCM Group USA Inc.

770.813.8818

www.scmgroup-usa.com

CNC router

Stiles Machinery Inc. carries the Weeke Vantech series of routers, available in three sizes, with Windows-based WoodWop software as a standard feature. Other features include the Quik-Pod system, a dual-drive gantry and pneumatic positioning pins.

Stiles Machinery Inc.

616.698.7500

www.stilesmachinery.com

The Weeke Vantage 34M from Stiles Shop Solutions is a CNC router featuring Beckhoff CNC control technology, Weeke's S/C Tech construction technology and high speed/high acceleration drive and motor package. The Vantage 34M is fitted with a 5 ? 10 work area, an HSK-63 main spindle, seven independent vertical drill spindles and an automatic tool length measuring system.

Stiles Shop Solutions

616.698.8456

www.stilesshop.com

Sliding table saws

Martin Woodworking offers the T74 with a compound machine frame for optimum vibration dampening. It features full, cast iron machine tables and a durable, wear-free sliding table system. All T74 models come with an overhead touch screen monitor, threeto five- axis control and CAN-bus technology.

Martin Woodworking Machines Corp.

704.525.3963

www.martin-usa.com

Woven wire grilles

Stocked in nearly 50 patterns and sizes - 24 by 72 inches, 36 by 48 inches and 48 by 72 inches Outwater's woven wire grilles also are available in custom sizes and finishes. Stock finishes are Antique Copper, Statuary Bronze, Antique Brass, Antique Silver, Antique Pewter, Satin Nickel and Bright Brass.

Outwater Plastics Industries Inc.

201.498.8750

www.outwater.com

Urethane finishes

AkzoNobel Wood Coatings North America offers the Ora Verde line of urethanes in five finishes. The line includes Verde Chiaro - ultra clear poly- urethane, Verde Bianco - pig- mented, high-solid primers and topcoats and Verde Tinto - water-based stains.

Chemcraft div Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc.

800.334.8556

www. akzonobel. com

Bamboo cabinet components

WalzCraft offers Caramelized and Blond flat-grain Bamboo custom cabinet components that use non-urea formaldehyde glue to bond the multiple layers of Bamboo. Bamboo drawer boxes, moldings and veneers also are available.

WalzCraft Industries Inc.

608.781.6355

www.walzcraft.com

Climate control system

Fogco carries its ceiling-hung Revolution climate control system, which broadcasts a focused air stream mixed with fog in a full-circle around the unit, according to the company. The system aims to help wood products keep their ideal equilibrium moisture content for better quality control and less waste in manufacturing, finish and storage.

Fogco Systems

480.507.6478

www.fogco.com

Harvest helpers: with all your exhausting show results commencing to shell out off, these would be wise to come in useful

ORCHARD RACK

When your crops just will not likely give up, set up this wood stand--with sliding drawers--to manage the overflow (from Gardener's Supply, from $eighty gardeners.com).

PESTO JARS

Absolutely nothing says summertime like fresh pesto. Freeze some for winter months in an individual of these airtight, BPA-at no cost baby-food containers (from Pottery Barn Children, $30 for set of 4 potterybarnkids.com).

DRYING RACK

Prior to you make tea or sachets out of your lemon verbena or lavender, you are going to must have to dry the herbs, of training course. Enter this beneficial foldaway rack (from High Nation Gardens, $twenty highcountrygardens.com.).

METAL BASKET

The galvanized mesh wire Lets you hose off your yield best suited in the basket before carrying it, soil-no cost, inside (from Peaceful Valley $forty groworganic.com).

VEGETABLE BASKETS

Potatoes like to breathe permit them do so in these willow baskets in a wonderful cool spot (from Gardener's Provide, $fifty for set of two gardeners.com).

BERRY CARTONS

Reusable ceramic replicas of regular farmers'-markets baskets deliver nice air flow to continue to keep your harvest clean (from aHa Fashionable Dwelling, from $13 ahamodernliving.com).

Pictures BY JEFFERY CROSS

Author: Johanna Silver

New Products

Tub Provides Easy Access

The Meditub 29"x52" tub features a unique design that allows a bather with limited mobility to either walk into the tub or slide in from a wheelchair. This unit, with its contoured door, will swing right over the toilet fixture in small or tight areas. The tub is available as a soaker or with water and/or air jets.

www.meditub.com

Circle No. 220 on Produci Card

Vanities Shine in New Collection

Foremost Groups has introduced SOMA premium bath vanity collections. All SOMA vanities feature solid wood construction and solid wood drawer boxes with dovetail construction. Concealed undermount glides that provide ample drawer extension, as well as slow-close glides and hinges, are standard features. The line includes 16 collections, including Mendham, shown.

www.somabyforemost.com

Circle No. 222 on Product Card

Shades Added to Cabinet Lines

Wellborn Cabinet has increased its number of finishes by 23 in the WoodCraft and Premier Series. Twelve stain shades of brown and gray have been added, as well as four painted hues in Bleu, Bleu Bronze. Truffle and Truffle Java. In addition, seven new white finishes are now part of the offering, some with cool clean glazes.

www.wellborn.com

Circle No. 223 on Product Card

High-Efficiency Toilets Launch in U.S.

INAX products are now available in the U.S., including high-efficiency toilets. The company's Vortex Flush toilet technology uses 100 percent of the tank water from the top down, leaving the bowl clean. The toilets also have an anti-bacterial treatment baked into the enamel for added cleanliness. They surpass WaterSense standards, and have a scratch-resistant surface.

www.inax.us

Circle No. 225 on Product Card

1950s Inspires Console Design

Based on the 'bon ton' shape of the 1950s, the Rose Console from Devon&Devon teams a turned brass and aluminum console with a porcelain washbasin that features a large countertop surface. Towel bars are featured on each side of the console.

www.devon-devon.com

Circle No. 221 on Product Card

Art Deco Faucet Showcases Style

This French Art Deco bridge faucet is the latest addition to the Monarque Bathroom Couture Collection from Herbeau. Features include a hexagon-shaped 6-1/4" swiveling spout and white ceramic inserts on the cross handles. The Monarque Collection includes a full range of French Art Deco faucets, showers, washstands and accessories.

www.herbeau.com

Circle No. 224 on Product Card

Pantry Rotates for Access

The 360-degree rotating glass pantry from Rev-A-Shelf combines a chrome-plated oval wire fence with the company's champagne 'Flute' finish. The heavy-duty, 250-lb.-rated, soft-closing slide features a pivoting function that rotates 180 degrees to the left and right, allowing full access to the six adjustable shelves. The shelves are made of tempered safety glass with Stylinox, an anti-skid transparent coating that protects the glass, softens the surface and quiets the noise.

www.rev-a-shelf.com

Circle No. 226 on Product Card

Bath Faucet Sports Bell Shape

The Bellis bathroom collection from Rallista includes Noble, a curvaceous basin set with a bell-shaped handle bonnet and faucet base that flank a rounded spout that gently flares at the end. The set is equipped with a 1.5 gpm laminar flow aerator for water conservation. Finishes for the faucet include Chrome, Nickel Silver and Brushed Nickel Rallista living finishes.

www.kallista.com

Circle No. 227 on Product Card

Glass Tile Made from Recycled Content

Crossville's Echo Recycled Glass tile contains a recycled content of up to 100 percent, depending upon the color. Created for walls, countertops and floors, the tile has a clear, luminescent quality, and is available in 15 colors. It comes in three finishes - clear, iridescent and frosted matte - in five sizes plus listellos.

www.crossvilleinc.com

Circle No. 228 on Product Card

Cabinet Doors Go Exotic

Canyon Creek Cabinet Co. has added two door styles to its collection. The Coronado is a slab door style and is available in eight exotic woods: Zebrawood, Rosewood, English Sycamore, Wenge, Lyptus, Quartered Cherry and Walnut, and American Red Gum. Strata is a threepiece door with vertical grain stiles and a horizontal grain center panel. It is available in 11 combinations of the exotic woods.

www.canyoncreek.com

Circle No. 229 on Product Card

Hardwood Floors Reflect Old World Appeal

DuChateau Floors reproduces antique European hard-wax oil floors first developed in Holland centuries ago. The Atelier collection provides the look, feel and character of reclaimed European floors. Each French Oak plank is hand finished through a series of steps: distressing, hard-wax oiling, smoking and brushing.

www.duchateaufloors.com

Circle No. 233 on Product Card

Tile Provides Stone Look

The Emporio collection from Nemo Tile Co. is an eco-friendly porcelain created from 40 percent pre-consumer recycled content. Emporio is available in five sizes as well as mosaic, in five earth tones. Frost-proof and stain-resistant, the tile features a stone-like finish.

www.nemotile.com

Circle No. 230 on Product Card

Tubs Promote Wellness

The Salerno hydrotherapy and wellness tub from Jacuzzi Luxury Bath is available in four different versions: Soaking Bath, Pure Air, Whirlpool or a combination of all three in a Salon Spa. Available in two sizes, the Salerno features a transitional style, a wide profile with 4.5"-wide deck that is 3" high, and two chromatherapy options.

www.jacuzzi.com

Circle No. 232 on Product Card

Air Baths Added to Line

Mansfield Plumbing Products is adding eight air baths to its Builder Series Pro-Fit line, which includes whirlpools and soakers. Each Pro-Fit Air Bath features: 46 to 58 air channels for massage, single-speed blower with air heating element, air switch operation and an automatic feature that blows any remaining residue out of the Quick Drain air channel after use.

www.mansfieldplumbing.com

Circle No. 231 on Product Card

TRUCK Components: Merchandise SPOTLIGHT

17 KnaackLLChas introduced the Weather GUARD Merchandise GearUp Truck Match Information for all 2000-eleven truck types. The Web -based mostly interactive instrument will help truck proprietors notice Weather conditions GUARD storage tools, as well as hefty-duty drawer units, ladder racks, sliding platforms and truck toolboxes that fit their vehicles. Circle 17 or check out directory.qualifiedremodeler.com/ 10231807

18 Dia mondBack Truck Components has released Side Instrument Boxes that mount to the underside of a truck cover while not drilling. The line consists of 24 -inch containers for eight -foot beds, 18-inch boxes for 6 1/two-foot beds and 15-inch boxes for 5 one/2-foot beds. The containers arrive in sets of two and can be mounted on the identical aspect or opposite sides of a truck bed. Circle 18 or visit directory.qualifiedremodeler.com/ 10231800

19 Rescue 42 Inc. supplies the vault Standard Function Box, a 17-cubic-foot aluminum cargo box that elements a chassis that can lift the box off the ground with the flip of a hand crank. The weather-resistant diamond plate lid locks, and the hitch adapter can lock into the auto s hitch receiver to avert theft. The narrow box style and design allows for VAULT to roll because of doorways or onto elevators. Circle 19 or take a look at directory. qualifiedremodeler.com/10231802

20 Highway Solutions Inc. manufactures the 4000 XT Roller Coaster Cargo Tray, a slide-out tray for pickups that qualities an all-aluminum deck with security locks just about every 10 inches to manage the duration of tray extension. The tray, which is rated to tackle up to 4,000 lbs, glides on a galvanized-steel Tee-Bone track process with sealed large-effect roller bearings for fairly simple mobility. Circle twenty or head over to directory.qualifiedremodeler.com/ 10231804

21 Fleetwest Transferable Truck Bodies has introduced its DURASHELL fiberglass slip-on truck bodies that convert common pickups into function trucks. The truck bodies use a four-stage clamping product that does not need drilling. DURASHELL also features a brake light, double rear doors, front and rear windows, interior lights, jack receptacles, aspect doors and compartments, and ladder racks. Circle 21 or drop by directory.qualifiedremodeler.com/ 10231798

22 Hauler Racks Inc. has introduced its anodized aluminum Hauler II Cap Rack. The cap rack has a 300-pound load capability and mounts straight to the best of total-size trucks with caps. The legs modify along the cross bar providing the unit a universal in shape. Circle 22 or explore directory.qualifiedremodeler.com/ 10231796

Principles of Scanning

Are you having exasperated with all the stacks of negatives and prints warping into unruly designs and hues that�s been keeping your desk drawer hostage but haven�t acquired the heart to deposit them into the dark recesses of your attic/basement?

Fret no more! By scanning your pics, you will be granted an opportunity to edit and organize your pics. As soon as your photos are digitized, you can export it into Photoshop to make adjustments. Also, by getting your prints or negatives get digitized, you get to archive, e-mail, fax, save them to a CD or even publish them on a site. You might even get to build a photograph gallery and let your full spouse and children and buddies access them.

Scanning know-how has come a prolonged way simply because remaining launched. With only about US$150, you can by now have a high-quality scanner with all the software you will want. Of training course if you fancy a scanner that handles slides and negatives, you�ll make investments a minor bit a little more than this sum.

Ahead of rushing out to choose a scanner, do some researching on the gadget, 1st, like figuring out the qualities you need to have and how a whole lot you want to invest. Then, know the scanner jargons that describe it�s elements and attributes. There are two crucial measurements when it comes to scanners � bit or colour depth refers to the amount of bits of image data the scanner will use for each and every pixel, and resolution/DPI, which tells you how a wide range of spots of facts there are in a provided region.

You have to bear in mind other benefits, too. Like the scanner�s speed, power to scan negatives/slides, software bundles to control the scanning practice, interface somewhere between your home computer and scanner, and scanner dimensions.

So, now, if you have your scanner by now, it�s top to start out with a affordable resolution setting and get the job done your way up from there. The default resolution of 150 DPI may perhaps not be a awful spot to initiate. Then, the upcoming valuable setting is the �output type� which describes what form of image you�re scanning. Help you save room and time by cropping the pics ahead of scanning them and closing some other programs on your computers. If you�re getting difficulty with the scanning software package, consult the guide.

To leading all scanning fundamentals lessons, just remember that scanning is a two-element procedure. The first component is setting of the resolution and output and generating the scan, and the 2nd is saving and editing the file. Saving is an indispensable practice and it�s a superior preference to help save your files in BMP or TIFF, in particular if you program to import them into Photoshop for changes. Try out keeping photos bound for internet site below forty KB. And for photographs that you want to print out, conserve them as TIFF uncompressed or BMP and use a substantial DPI setting (300 and up) when scanning them.

Have enjoyment editing your image once you�ve scanned them�Remember, if you foul up, you can still start the entire scanning plan � as lengthy as you have your scanner helpful!

Author: Carla Ballatan

My Approach to Personal Time Management and Organization

"Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever." � Horace Mann, 19th century American educator and reformer

Self-management, like self-improvement is highly personal. What works for one person may be ridiculous to someone else. Over the years I've evolved a personal management system that works for me. I think of it as PODS:

Prioritization

This is where goal setting has become the most meaningful for me � at the daily, weekly, or monthly level (I am awful at hitting any longer-term goals). Starting with a paper time management system (in a leather binder I took everywhere) and now on my notebook computer (which I don�t always take everywhere), I make notes of things I want to do on a particular day, week, or month. These are recorded when I get an idea, make a commitment, or set plans.

At the beginning of the week, I prioritize all the ideas, commitments, and plans that have accumulated for that week. With my Personal Information Manager (PIM) program on my notebook computer it's a breeze. Detailed notes can be shuffled to tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. I begin each day prioritizing the phone calls and tasks for that day in descending order of importance. At the end of the day I shuffle what's left into tomorrow or some other date.

Organization

Very few people can �multitask� effectively and concentrate on two things at once or flit back and forth from one thing to another. I certainly can't. So I've found the clean desk approach to be the most effective. The only things on my desk and credenza are ornaments, family photos, computer, telephone, and an out-basket.

My in-basket is the top drawer of my desk. All incoming mail, faxes, and paper go in there. That way, when I am working on something, I am not distracted or overwhelmed by other papers waving to get my attention. Nothing is allowed to stay in my in-drawer over night (unless I am out of town). When I go through the paper in this drawer, it immediately goes to one of four places: the wastebasket or recycling bin, my filing system, my out-basket, or my "pending" file folder for reading later or responding to on an airplane. This forces me to handle it once and not form little piles that slowly become future hiding places for that document I remember seeing once and now desperately need.

Discipline

Thomas Henry Huxley once observed, "perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned." Discipline is the engine that drives the whole PODS approach. Whenever mine wavers, the choking PODS process takes me down with it. Lack of discipline is at the heart of most of my performance problems. Like the battle of the bulge, this is a lifelong fight with "hardening of the oughteries."

Systems

I am too lazy to look for things. I much prefer to know where things are and find them the first time I look. Personal systems take time � and especially discipline � to set up, consistently use, and maintain. But like investments in training or quality improvement, investments of time in personal systems pay back many times their costs by saving huge amounts of time later.

Keys go on the same key rack by the garage door as soon as we come in the house. Files go right back in their file drawers. Articles are coded and filed in my library system for book, column, or presentation research later. Books go into their respective sections in my library. Presentations or workshop designs are filed for later reference so I don't have to start from scratch on something similar in months or years from now. Periodically I overcome the packrat in me and go through my filing system tossing things out, consolidating files, or moving files to my attic archives.

Since 1989, all correspondence, articles, columns, books, workshop or retreat designs, and anything else I "word processed" are filed in my notebook computer. In the last few years we've added databases for thousands of our personal contact records (the conversations of everyone we talk to are recorded here). I've added a research and quotations database filed according to my main article reference filing system (which is where most of the research, examples, and quotes sprinkled throughout my books come from).

I have also created and filed hundreds of my presentations slides. So whether I am in an airport, on a plane, or in my office, I can search files, presentations, quotations, and databases. I can then easily retrieve, cut, paste, and create something new.

My PODS approach looks dangerously obsessive to some and "interesting" to others. I am continuing to customize and evolve it to fit me. I have come to believe that there is no one right personal time management and organization system. We all need to continue developing and refining the system that works best for our own quirks and preferences.

Author: Jim Clemmer