Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) February 27, 2014

BenchJaws is a member of the JawHorse family of workstations. It secures projects for sawing, sanding, drilling, gluing, refinishing and polishing. The jaws, like the JawHorse are foot-pedal activated leaving the operators hands free to handle the workpiece. It mounts to a corner of a workbench through a steel, L-shaped plate with pre-drilled holes. Once the L-shape plate is installed, the vise can be rotated 90 by loosening thumbscrew that holds the unit in place.

BenchJaws is constructed of heavy gauge, powder-coated steel for strength and rigidity. The 22 lb. workstation has a clamping range of 0-16 in., and supports loads up to 220 lbs. The vise generates up to one metric ton (2,200 lbs.) of clamping force.

The Rockwell BenchJaws (RK9006, $99.99) and optional accessories,whichaccessories, which include Extension Jaw, (RW9207, $39.99) and Multipurpose Jaw, (RW9208, $39.99), are available through Woodworkers Supply, Menards, Amazon.com, http://www.rockwelltools.com and other websites.

Rockwell JawHorse Sheetmaster is specially designed to handle 4x8 sheets of plywood, drywall and other oversized materials without additional accessories. Like the JawHorse, Sheetmaster has an incredible clamping force of one metric ton and load bearing capacity of 600 lbs.

Use the workstation to cut through plywood, 4x4s, 1x6s and other dimensional lumber, but it also is ideal for building cabinets, supporting a bicycle for repairs or holding furniture at a convenient height for sanding, gluing or finishing.

Sheetmasters patented foot pedal design closes its jaws with each stroke of the pedal. This pumping action compresses the 8 in. x 3 in. steel jaws until the work piece is clamped securely.

Sheetmaster has auto-locking leg latches to speed setup and teardown. Just slide a button to release the front legs. The workstation measures 46 in. L x 35-1/2 in. W x 34-3/4 in. H when opened. When not in use, it folds compactly to fit into vehicles, truck beds, closets, workshops or garages.

The Rockwell JawHorse Sheetmaster (RK9002, $219.99) is available on rockwelltools.com and other online retailers.

Another workstation member is the Rockwell JawStand XP. The JawStand XP supports loads up to 220 lbs. and clamps work pieces up to 1-3/4 in. thick. It raises work materials up to 43 in. off the ground. The support head pivots 0 to 90, swivels 360 and is situated on a heavy-duty tripod base.

Originally posted here:
New Rockwell BenchJaws Anchors Family of Workstations

(PRWEB) February 26, 2014

Unattractive lamination lines in glass treads are now no more. Thanks to the a brand new line of treads from ThinkGlass, and the cutting-edge innovation of their unique polished-edges, glass treads can finally show the real beauty of pure glass.

For years, the standard for glass treads was to glue together layers of glass, leaving an unsightly visible gap between the glass layers. Filled with glue, these gaps tarnish the beauty of pure glass edges. ThinkGlass is now changing all that by implementing a new thermoforming technique that fuses together the layers of glass, rather than simply gluing them.

Glass Treads can be sized and shaped to fit any space, from a dramatic grand glass staircase to a compact spiral design. Customers have the option of selecting staircases made entirely of glass treads, or one that is simply accented with a few glass steps. The glass treads can range from 1.5 to 4 thick, and can be complemented with LED lights to make them even more spectacular.

Glass is strong and durable. In fact, glass treads that are at least 1.5-inches thick are up to three times stronger than granite or stone, and they can bear a load of 1800 lbs. at the center of a 36 wide tread. All ThinkGlass treads pass mandated strength requirement testing and are laminated on the underside with an invisible safety film for extra security. ThinkGlass brand glass steps are also slip resistant. An embedded texture provides an anti-skid surface that is scratch-proof and resists any smudges or streaks. ThinkGlass glass stair treads exceed current standards for "coefficient of friction" requirements as specified by ASTM section c1028, Underwriters Laboratories UL-410, and ADA.

Glass is a pure and noble material. There is simply no other product that can rival its natural beauty and luminescence. Also, glass is an eco-friendly option: glass is a natural material made from sand and minerals and is fully recyclable. Installation is cleaner, faster and produces less waste than traditional cement or drywall construction. Glass allows natural light to flow throughout a space, reducing overall energy costs, and provides soothing views of the outdoors.

Glass treads are radon free, have no negative impact on air quality, and qualify for points under LEED and NAHB building guidelines. ThinkGlass also uses eco-friendly production practices with a strong commitment to sustainability and good working conditions.

About THINKGLASS The ThinkGlass story began in 1999 in an empty room under the leadership of two creative individuals who were passionate about beautiful glasswork. Today, the company is one of the most successful glass design and manufacturing studios in the world with a shop that encompasses more than 30,000 square feet, 27 employees and 21 state-of-the-art, custom made ovens.

ThinkGlass is still headed by its two original founders glass master Michel Mailhot who is the artistic soul of the company, and Bertrand Charest, a certified engineer and company president. Together with their talented team, they produce all manners of glass masterpieces, from residential kitchen to bathroom vanity countertops and backsplashes to fantastical sculptures, wall murals and floor tiles, and even large-scale commercial projects for restaurants, nightclubs and offices.

ThinkGlass quickly became a leader in the thermoforming industry by pioneering a versatile technique that allows the creation of new or repetitive textures. This process allows the creation of glass slabs without thickness constraints opening the door to all kinds of design possibilities. All ThinkGlass creations are made from 100% recyclable glass using sustainable practices and without the use of any adhesive or sealant potentially containing harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Original post:
ThinkGlass Offers New Challenges to the Glass Treads Industry

LeeCorp Homes said the 2014 Dolphin model is now open.

The 984-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath Jacobsen doublewide manufactured home model is located on the two-acre LeeCorp Homes model center at 20251 U.S. 41 S. in Estero.

The Dolphin model features a full factory-built porch with composite decking and rails with sliding glass doors in the living room and dining room leading out to the factory built porch withrails. Also featured is an oval glass front door, cathedral ceilings and custom painted drywall finish throughout, and a built-in Rustic Alder hutch in the dining room.

The Dolphin kitchen appointments include a stainless steel deluxe GE range, French door bottom freezer refrigerator, dishwasher, garbage disposal and space maker microwave oven. Additional appointments include Rustic Alder cabinetry featuring pot and pan drawers, pull-out drawers and glass cabinet doors; high-definition formica counter tops with ceramic tile lips, and full ceramic tile counter-to-cabinet backsplash.

Interior features also include three-window bay windows in both bedrooms, built-in closets/cabinets in the master bedroom, blinds in all windows, cove molding in the living room, dining room, hall and bedrooms; a solar tube in hall bath; ceramic tile floors in kitchen, baths, and entry; ceramic tile shower in master bath; and high-impact windows throughout.

The Dolphin is priced in the mid $100,000s plus sales tax and includes delivery, complete installation, central air conditioning/heat, plus skirting and steps on customers prepared manufactured home or RV lot.

More Dolphin information can be found at http://www.leecorpinc.com.

Continue reading here:
LeeCorp Homes opens Dolphin model

WELLSVILLE - The cold and snows of winter have halted renovation work inside the old Liberty Theater on Main Street in Wellsville since December. A great deal of progress has been made toward The Liberty being restored to something near its former glory over the last few years, however, with big plans in store for 2014.

The theater building has been the property of Potter Players Community Theatre since 2003, when it was gifted the deed from the Liberty Theater Association. The LTA, spearheaded by Erin Roberts-Orr's father, Bill Roberts, first began efforts to restore the building in the late 1990s, several years after the final feature was shown on its screen in 1991.

According to Roberts-Orr, who is leading the restoration project, the most important goals of making the theater habitable again have been achieved. The installation of a new roof and new windows mean the Liberty is now weathertight.

This photo, taken last autumn, shows the inside of Wellsvilles Liberty Theater from the projection booth. Rows of seats from the old auditorium at Eastern Gateway Community College will be reupholstered and installed after new flooring, plaster and paintwork are completed. (Photo by Richard Sberna)

During the 1990s when the old building sat empty, heavy deterioration set in. Irreparable damage was done to the original seats, flooring and hardwood stage, all of which had to be torn out and disposed of.

The inside of the theater building is now a shell, stripped of peeling paint and plaster down to the bare walls and a new concrete floor, which was poured several years ago. Removal of that which was ruined and unfit for use has mostly been accomplished, leaving a building that Roberts-Orr says is fundamentally solid and in fine shape.

"The walls are good, the structure is sound," she said.

Progress has been slow because the restoration is dependent on donations for most of its headway. Roberts-Orr says that seeking grants and working on fundraising activities take up most of her time on the project. Since the recession began in 2008, she admits finding money has been difficult.

In addition to a $109,000 grant - most of which was spent on the new roof - Roberts-Orr says they have been very fortunate to receive many generous donations from local residents. All told, she says more than $130,000 has been spent on the theater and estimates a price tag of "probably three-quarters of a million to a million dollars to finish the entire project."

The project has also relied heavily on volunteer labor. Sometimes, it's individuals lending their professional experience or expertise in completing specific tasks. Other times, it's groups from local churches and organizations pitching in with less specialized duties.

Read more:
Stage is set for a renewal of Liberty Theater

One way to build without footings is to use precast concrete wall systems and use crushed stone with a steel reinforced footer beam to replace the standard conventional concrete poured footings. "Superior Walls", having licensed dealers around the country claims that in their system the walls distribute the weight better, are 10 times stronger and 20 times faster to build, being warmer in winter and cooler in summer. As a former Realtor of 12 years, I always prided myself on sharing the pros and cons of having a home built when my clients' interests moved towards new construction.

The strength comes from the fact that Superior Walls concrete wall panel has concrete studs reinforced with rebar and polypropylene fibers. The warmth comes from the 1 inch of DOW insulation with an R-value of 5 for the original R-5 wall, with their newly improved Xi wall system having 2-1/2 inches of DOW insulation which has an R-value of 12.5. It's fast to put up, because the walls are custom built and prefabricated in a factory, delivered and then erected with a crane. The concrete panels also have built-in accesses for wiring and feature stud facings to easily install drywall with screws. It might sound similar to a prefab modular home, but they are not modular and don't look modular.

Superior Walls are contributing to a greener environment because their system reduces energy leakage, lowers energy cost, saves on valuable resources, improves indoor air quality, and has no on-site soil contamination. They have achieved LEED certification, the American Institute of Architects Green Specs, and the National Green Building Standard. They have been featured on TV on 13 episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" as well as being featured in multiple episodes of "This Old House" for the 2007 Carlisle Project, and the 2008 Weston Project.

However, what they have soared at with respects to accolades, they have fallen short with water proofing. They have addressed the water issue somewhat, but in my opinion they could do more. They have suggested that if you plan to further insulate the cavity of the already insulated concrete walls, that you should consider styrofoam or other closed cell insulation products over the blow-in insulation or the itchy pink fiberglass batts. Those open cell insulation products can create a moisture problem whereby moisture in the air penetrates the insulation and reaches the cooler wall surface and causes condensation. Another moisture preventative technique they use is a specifically manufactured concrete sealant and it is this one part polyurethane sealant that is used to seal the panel joints when the walls are joined together. Additionally, the concrete foundation walls themselves are made of a special low water/cement ratio concrete that they say require no additional damproofing, and the crushed stone underneath in lieu of the poured concrete footings act like a french drain, draining the water away from the home.

Now alot of these ideas are good ideas, and not using poured concrete footings is not something I have objection to whereas stone underneath has been substituted with success up north in colder climates. I also do not particularly take umbrage with a concrete foundation wall. What I do have a problem with is comments I saw by some builders on a message board about this very system. One contractor stated the issue seemed to be at the corners, whereas the walls are only bolted together and then a sealant or caulk is used, which in his opinion didn't fully protect against water intrusion. He also noticed this happened with a home that had a basement (or cellar). He did however note, that he had another friend that used the system and has had no problems.

So it could be that the caulk used was not an outside caulk or the elevation of the land (lot) was not condusive for basement building. Perhaps the property was not properly graded to slightly slope away from the property, or perhaps there were other issues in installation and not in the manufacturing. These comments were made on a forum in 2006 and 2008, and so if it is a manufacturing problem, then it is important to note that they have improved the R-5 wall with a Xi wall and now an Xi Plus using a combination of foam insulation and Dow Thermax. Of course it depends on the type of soil one has, whether that be clay, silt or sandy loam, because some soils are better draining than others. This is particularly important when building a home with a basement.

TIPS: One option is granular backfilling for controlling frost heaving. This reduces the possibility of ice formation and frost on those poorly draining soils. Another suggestion would be using a geo-textile on top of the granular over the drain tile. You should also consider the frost line you have in your part of the country and ask your contractor if that can be altered artificially. Your builder can help you with answering both of these items. You will also need to ask your builder if these things can be done in conjunction with the Superior Walls system.

DISCLAIMER: Another note of importance is that after the crushed stone has been put in to act as your foundation, and the concrete walls are up, you will still need a contractor or builder to finish the home with electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, and drywall. If you decide to abandon the idea of the Superior Walls system, you still may be able to build a regular stick built house using the stone underneath as a substitute for poured concrete footings. Although Superior Walls uses the crushed stone to distribute the weight of the walls and is contingent upon the crushed stone, that does not mean the crushed stone is contingent upon using those concrete walls.

See more here:
A Way to Build Without Poured Concrete Footings

Expansion and renovation projects designed to make room for more patients and improve efficiency continue at local hospitals.

Franciscan St. Margaret Health hospital in Dyer is in the midst of a project that will expand capabilities of its emergency, laboratory and surgical departments.

The work has a target completion date of Dec. 31, said Dan Ratko, hospital manager for project construction.

Work started in the fall. Recent extreme cold has been an obstacle but is not expected to delay the completion date.

"The weather has been a challenge," he said.

The hospital is remaining fully functional through the construction process, he said.

The project includes a 3,500-square-foot addition to the emergency department, a state-of-the-art trauma room that will double the size of the current facility, an isolation room for infectious patients and new, specialized patient exam rooms, according to the hospital.

The laboratory department improvements will increase efficiency. And, improvements to the surgery department include a 760-square-foot surgical suite and a new pre-admission testing space.

Construction also continues at Community Hospital in Munster, which is undergoing a multi-phase project to add more private rooms, expand the main surgical services area, double the capacity of the neonatal intensive care unit and provide advanced technology and accommodations to care for more stroke and heart patients.

Marie Forszt, director of marketing for the hospital, said construction of the new floors is on target to be completed in mid-May.

Read more here:
Pardon their dust: expansion continues at local hospitals

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, 9:00p.m. Updated 12 hours ago

The inside of the old Lamp Theatre on Main Street in Irwin is a dark, cold, empty shell.

Mortar missing from the joints of the exposed terra-cotta block walls allows daylight and frigid air to stream into the building. A few pieces of dirty, velvet curtain and tattered wallpaper are all that remain from the days before the 76-year-old theater closed in 2004.

But the people leading the effort to restore the former movie house say the condition of the building is just about where it needs to be.

We've really been focusing on gutting the inside of the building so we can begin construction, said Councilman John Cassandro, who serves on the Relight the Lamp Committee. So it's pretty exciting that we're finally getting to the end of the demolition phase of this project. It's a milestone.

Since spring, volunteers have been busy ripping out old plaster, tearing down walls and removing piles of old paint cans, rusted wire, cinder block and debris that accumulated in the building over the years.

The theater seats need a good cleaning, but they are in pretty good shape, so we have them stored in Greensburg at the Westmoreland County Cultural Trust, Cassandro said. But there wasn't much of anything else that could be salvaged.

The theater was donated to the trust in 2006, which started remodeling in early 2009. After Irwin officials presented the Trust with a proposal to develop the building, it was sold to the borough in March for $1.

Irwin officials say the roughly $600,000 worth of work done by the trust put the Lamp project within reach.

There is no way we would have been able to take this on if we had to come up with all the money, Cassandro said. But now we feel confident that we can get this done.

Excerpt from:
Irwins Lamp Theatre nears end of demo phase

Published: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, 12:31a.m. Updated 9 hours ago

By May, the Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority hopes to replace the postcard- sized bills it sends out with ones printed on standard-sized paper.

One of our main complaints is that the bills get lost in the mail, said authority manager Bob Kossak.

The authority budgeted about $148,000 to buy new software and train personnel.

Over the next month, the authority will be testing the system, which they hope to begin using by April 21.

The system will improve customer service by allowing staff to search for information using a variety of parameters such as property owner name.

The new and old systems will run simultaneously until it's determined that there aren't any glitches, Kossak said.

Weather slows plant construction

Work on the authority's $28 million expansion project is progressing, but slowly because of the weather, said Craig Bauer of KHL Engineering.

The project was about 60 percent completed in January and is expected to be done by fall.

See the original post:
Kiski Valley authority to upgrade billing system, software

An inside look at construction work on Mount Allison's Purdy Crawford Centre for Arts.

Despite the snow and winter temperatures, construction of Mount Allisons Purdy Crawford Centre for the Arts is well on track to welcome its first students this September.

Passersby will notice recent changes in the facility including the installation of several windows, along with much activity happening inside the building.

We are installing window frames and windows, and the sandstone and interior block walls are nearing completion, says Ron Eickholt, project manager for the facility. And we are starting to install the drywall, which means we have started finishing individual spaces.

The electrical wiring has been started and finishing work such as flooring and paint is expected to begin in the spring. The move into the building will not happen overnight, but staff and faculty will begin the process by early July.

Home to the fine arts and drama programs, the 50,000-square-foot centre has been designed to create a stunning new presence at the northwest edge of campus. The centre includes contemporary art studios with facilities for painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and other media. A studio hall features reinforced floors, heightened ceilings, and controlled lighting.

Eickholt says that the buildings theatre has been specially designed for different types of productions, with sophisticated sound and lighting systems and flexible capacity. The theatre boasts telescopic seating for 84 people, with the potential to expand seating options for much larger audiences.

The building will house office and seminar spaces and an atrium that will have the capacity to hold receptions and social events, as well as a place for students to exhibit their work and meet to exchange ideas.

Drama and fine arts classrooms, theatre and rehearsal spaces, studios, and exhibition spaces are currently scattered across campus. The new centre will bring these spaces under one roof, inviting limitless creative opportunities for interaction between fine srts and drama students and faculty.

This centralized location has been designed to encourage experimentation and exchange, as well as provide opportunities to build a new kind of creative community transforming teaching, learning, and creative pursuits at Mount Allison.

Read this article:
Purdy Crawford Centre for the Arts on track for the fall

Readers offer their best tips for knowing whats behind your walls, diagnosing slow Windows laptops, and storing stuff behind your TV.

Every day we receive stacks of great reader tips. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favourites. Got a tip of your own to share? Add it in the comments or send it using our contact form.

Ed shares a simple tip for when you have construction done:

We recently had to have drywall in my home office replaced after a bad roof leak. Before they put the new drywall back up, I took pictures so I would know exactly what the interior layout of the walls was in case I wanted to do work later. Now, I know where studs and cross supports are, where electrical and phone cables run. When it comes time for me to install network cabling (my spring project), I know just how to plan the run.

I know its a simple trick, but I thought it was worth sharing. Any time you have the walls (or anything really) open, snap a picture. You never know when it might come in handy.

Photo by mel0808johnson

Mike shares a possible solution for slow-running Windows laptops:

Im the family and friend tech support guy, just like Im sure a lot of Lifehacker readers are. Over the years, Ive come across this particular problem several times when people have told me their laptops seemed to be running really slowly or accessing the hard disk all the time.

Many times, the culprit is Windows Update stuck in an updating cycle. I think that when people are using the laptop wirelessly, Windows starts the download and installation automatically, but then they put the laptop to sleep before its finished and Windows doesnt recover well from that. The installer or updater process just sits there eating up cycles.

The fix is simple, though. Plug the laptop into the network with an Ethernet cable and run Windows Update. Let it install everything and then update it again to make sure theres nothing left over. When youre done, adjust the Windows Update settings so that instead of downloading and installing updates automatically, Windows just notifies them when new updates are available.

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From The Tips Box: Open Walls, Slow Windows Laptops, TV Storage