Wednesday, 15 August 2012
New Product Range: Elmer's Glue
Elmer's have been making adhesives for over 60 years and have become an iconic American brand.
The products are very safe, Elmer's started out making kids glue and remain the market leaders, so much of the brand marketing is child friendly and fun. The original Elmer's Glue-All is still available and the formulation is continuously being improved to include the latest advances in adhesive technology.
In 1975 Elmer's entered the woodworking market by introducing the first sandable fast-grabbing wood glue (aliphatic resin) combining enhanced strength from long chain polymers, the user friendliness of PVA and the grab of traditional hide glues in one product. Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue and the stronger, waterproof, stainable Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue Max (pictured above) are the modern descendants.
The firm continues to deliver market leading innovation and has recently introduced Elmer's Glue-All Max, an impressive low-foaming polyeurethane glue that gives you the massive multi-material sticking power of polyeurethane, but with considerably less mess.
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Systainer Explainer Part 2
Internal Storage Solutions for Systainers
Please click on any of the images for a better view.
The easiest way to understand the
space inside T-Loc Systainers is to think of the internal depth as 65mm plus
multiples of 50mm.
T-Loc Systainer 1 = 65mm
T-Loc Systainer 2 = 65mm + 50mm
T-Loc Systainer 3 = 65mm + (2 x 50mm)
T-Loc Systainer 4 = 65mm + (4 x 50mm)
T-Loc Systainer 5 = 65mm + (6 x 50mm)
Systainer Insert Trays
Conveniently, the vacuum moulded
insert trays come in 65mm and 50mm depths. The 50mm stacking insert has a
skirt on the underside that covers the compartments of the one below. So you
can have any one of the ten 65mm inserts (B through K) on the bottom, and then the
appropriate number of stacking inserts (A) to make up the depth of the
systainer.
Systainer insert trays are ideal
for storing small items like screws and nails. If you use these inserts as designed and in
conjunction with one of the polystyrene covers that fits inside the lid you should be able to
hold the closed systainer upside down and shake it without any of the contents
getting mixed up.
Dividers
There are two types of systainer dividers,
the first is a simple version which slots together using cellarette partition
joints, these have the advantage that they can be disassembled and stored flat
when not in use.
The second type are permanently
assembled but have a skirt so that when they are stacked within the systainer they
effectively seal the compartments beneath.
The dividers for systainers 2, 3 and 4 are 7.5mm shy of full depth, so that they can be stacked in a bigger systainer. For example, you can fit systainer 2 and 3 dividers (or two systainer 2 dividers and a stacking insert tray) into a systainer 4 and still close the lid. Systainer 5 has a thicker X reinforcement moulded into the base, so you can have any one divider and then top up with stacking insert trays (e.g. Systainer 4 divider + 2 stacking insert trays).
The dividers for systainers 2, 3 and 4 are 7.5mm shy of full depth, so that they can be stacked in a bigger systainer. For example, you can fit systainer 2 and 3 dividers (or two systainer 2 dividers and a stacking insert tray) into a systainer 4 and still close the lid. Systainer 5 has a thicker X reinforcement moulded into the base, so you can have any one divider and then top up with stacking insert trays (e.g. Systainer 4 divider + 2 stacking insert trays).
Foam and Waffle pads
Another versatile way to use the
space inside systainers is to use foam pads and waffle pads. Each pad is 25mm
thick, the foam pads are compressible, the waffle pads are not. Waffle pads
(also known as ‘pick and pluck’ foam) are partially pre-cut into squares, so
you can remove squares to form a void in the shape of an object you wish to
store. If you want a more precise fit, the foam can also be cut using a hot
wire or scalpel.
In this example I have used waffle
pads to create a bespoke storage case for a jack plane, block plane, additional cutting irons and some marking and measuring tools. Waffle pads cushion the stored items from all sides, affording
them maximum protection.
Systainer Toolbags
Systainer toolbags are double
sided rigid boards with ballistic nylon pockets on both sides. They slot into the systainer toolbag guide, a
two piece frame that drops into the base and rear side of a systainer 4. You
can have any combination of four toolbags from a range of six configurations. If you are using them in a systainer 4 (as shown) the tools need to be no longer than the top of the board, if using a systainer 5 you have another 100mm which can be handy for files, rasps, longer chisels etc.
Systainer Filing Frame
The systainer filing frame drops
into a systainer 4 and accepts standard A4 suspension files. Ideal for project
management – I even use one of these in the office! The filing frame is
compatible with both Classic Systainers and T-Loc Systainers, so it can also be used with
the lockable Classic Systainer 4. N.B. Classic systainers can be combined with
T-Loc’s in the same stack but the T-Loc’s have to go on top.
Briefcase
The Systainer office lid insert
converts your systainer into a briefcase with pockets for documents, diary,
pens and business cards. I now use a couple of plain foam inserts in the bottom of
the box to sandwich my laptop and prevent it from being scratched by the plug
on it’s power cable (again - ouch!)
Cartridge and Aerosol Inserts
These expanded polystyrene blocks
drop into the bottom of a systainer 4 or 5 to hold standard 70mm aerosols and 52mm
cartridges (sealants, adhesives, etc.) with spaces for nozzles.
Maxi and Mini Systainer inserts
There is an excellent multi-configuration
divider available for the maxi systainer, this can be used to partition the
space into equal or un-equally sized compartments. The maxi systainer dividers store flat when
not in use and because the leaves connect to the interior of the box as well as
each other, you can fit them individually if necessary. Three formats of
insert tray are available for mini systainers, perfect for storing drawing
equipment, small screws, sausage rolls, etc.
Sortainers
No analysis of the interior of
Systainers would be complete without mention of the tardis-like 4-drawer or 12-drawer Classic Sortainers. These come complete with subdividers that slot into the
drawers so you can organise the space within to suit your specific needs, and
labels to identify the contents.
The large drawer of a 4 drawer sortainer is big enough to take a waffle pad with the sides trimmed to the
length of the longer lines of squares, giving another option for customising
the space inside. Without subdividers the large drawer is big enough to take a
No.5 jack plane and a set of 12 bench chisels in a tool roll.
All of the systems shown here are available from the Systainer Inserts section of workshopheaven.com.
If you'd like to give systainers a go, or would like to expand your current setup, here is a handy 8% discount code valid on all BTI Systainer products at workshopheaven.com until 23:59hrs, 8th October 2012.
If you'd like to give systainers a go, or would like to expand your current setup, here is a handy 8% discount code valid on all BTI Systainer products at workshopheaven.com until 23:59hrs, 8th October 2012.
BTI746 |
Friday, 3 August 2012
And the winner is......!
Many thanks to all who took part in the quiz. The response was fantastic with entries from all over the UK, Europe and as far afield as Australia and Canada.
Congratulations to John Blackie of Oxfordshire who was the first name drawn out of the hat and received his Boxwood prize today.
The correct answers were as follows:
1) Ledin No 18 Bowspring Precision Dividers 125mm
2) Jaw Assembly for Hand Brace (3 Jaw)
3) Tapered Spindle Adapter (false nose) - either helix accepted
4) Quangsheng Brass Chisel Hammer Short 18oz (500g)
5) Quangsheng Stainless Steel Convex Sole Spokeshave
6) Pyranean Boxwood 5kg Bag
7) Kreg K4MS Master System Pocket Hole Jig
8) Handmade French Finishing Brush Water / Acrylic 80mm
9) Ledin No 6B Forged Pencil Compasses 190mm
10) Narex Mortice Chisel 8882 - 3/8 inch
11) Narex 8751-03 Antireflex Mallet 22oz (630g)
12) Quangheng T10 Marking Knife
Congratulations to John Blackie of Oxfordshire who was the first name drawn out of the hat and received his Boxwood prize today.
The correct answers were as follows:
1) Ledin No 18 Bowspring Precision Dividers 125mm
2) Jaw Assembly for Hand Brace (3 Jaw)
3) Tapered Spindle Adapter (false nose) - either helix accepted
4) Quangsheng Brass Chisel Hammer Short 18oz (500g)
5) Quangsheng Stainless Steel Convex Sole Spokeshave
6) Pyranean Boxwood 5kg Bag
7) Kreg K4MS Master System Pocket Hole Jig
8) Handmade French Finishing Brush Water / Acrylic 80mm
9) Ledin No 6B Forged Pencil Compasses 190mm
10) Narex Mortice Chisel 8882 - 3/8 inch
11) Narex 8751-03 Antireflex Mallet 22oz (630g)
12) Quangheng T10 Marking Knife
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