Beth n Rod

Is this thread making anyone else hungry besides me? I feel like ai am gaining weight just reading it! But boy, is it fun...you have to love good food. Bob, you make me remember a place here that is a mom & pop hole in the wall that serve killer steak and cheese. I have not been there in far too long. Might have to make a road trip of it. Anyone in Bethesda Maryland should check out Philladelphia Mike's on 355 ( Wisconsin Ave.). The subs rock. I remember in highschool there was another place, sadly it has long since closed, but many was the day I woud go there after school for a small snack before dinner - full sized steak and cheese sub. (L,t,m,o, hots) Beth

I am often put off by companies that dont provide an msds online where they advertise their product lines. On the other hand, pool products have a degrading effect on sealers for decks and such. Wood Tux, for example, is showing signs of lightening where we enter and exit our hottub. Alkaline products on sealers will have an detrimental impact on many surfaces if left unchecked. Which sealer is currently installed? The answer to this one could help you understand the composition material that is so readily destroyed by these pool chems. Then you could propose another that would be more resilient under their conditions. Granted, none of them are going to be impervious, but maybe you could find them something that would last longer than what they are currently using. Keep in mind that if their deck has less than 2' air flow below it, I would not recommend any acrylic or thick resin product. It will crack and peel prematurely from moisture retention. Rod~

Where did you get it? btw, how much avg? Thanks for the tip! Rod~

Extreme Solutions 1-636-899-1769, 10 lbs would do it, but 30 lbs and you are set to launch for spring. Beth

Wood Restoration as a skill and an art~ Over the years I have heard so many stories pertaining to wood restoration. There has been a lot of controversy relating to how to do it and what is necessary under what circumstances and so forth. A few notable agencies, associations and government segments have taken on the world of wood and demonstrated there is much to be considered when working with wood. Its composition is of particular interest in many publications in which the diversity of each species is identified and classified for our information on how to deal with this amazing material. Each has a hardness or softness, a specific gravity, a porosity, a density, a color range, a unique grain, a thermal dynamic, a moisture content, tannins, lignin, resins, oils, sap, pitch, and characteristics that indicate its age, decomposition rate, shrinking rate, warping, cupping, cracking, weathering, and so on... Wood is useful according to its characteristics for structures, furniture and tools. Each has attributes which determine the best overall use. Understanding the attributes of wood makes one good at working with this material and applying that knowledge towards a specific craft becomes a carpenter, craftsman or supplier. Learning what happens to wood when used on structures can help one to understand what to expect from this material over time and determine suitability for the many types of structures that wood can be used for. When it comes time for repair, replacement, or implementing of a protective measure upon the structure, one needs to understand much of the following before moving forward. What type of wood is it? How old is it? Has it been treated with a preservative? What is happening to the wood? What is causing the current condition? How does the current condition affect the wood's integrity? How does the current condition affect the load handling capability? At this point, is it reversible, treatable, salvageable? Will it happen again if the same course of action is implemented? If so, what will prevent this condition again? What can be applied to offer protection? As you can see, it is pretty involving and without the answers to these questions which anyone working with wood technically should be able to answer, are subject to providing an inferior or at least inadequate result. 'Technically'. Let’s take a look at that. If the key to successfully working with wood is technical knowledge, that would indicate that there is much to know about it and in essence, that knowledge would be equal to an educated understanding of wood? Technical being an applied science, profession, art, or craft. One who is educated in the science of wood can become skilled with practice. Those who develop their skill become artful. They use their applied knowledge and develop technique. Technique is the tool of a skill in the knowledge of a science. Wood being the science. Restoring wood to a former state or condition which is improved from a degraded one takes knowledge and skill. This is art. Without it, the results range from lucky to disaster. A little knowledge is not good for the wood, a lot of knowledge is better for it. People take our trade for granted at times and don’t give many of us the credit for the education we have invested in or the time we take to evaluate our results. People have been exposed to many who have not taken our steps and just haphazardly go about trying to do what they have seen others do without the thought of what they are doing to someone else’s property. Wood restoration also requires knowledge apart from wood which is chemistry. In chemistry applicable to this trade, we must learn about many components of the ones used today and also, about the effects they will have on wood itself and how they will react to what is currently installed upon the wood. We must learn about the types of coatings, finishes, sealers, preservatives, colorants, mildewcides, fungicides, oils, and resins used in wood restoration today. Identification of these present or missing gives us information we need in order to understand what is going on and what is needed to effect a positive change. Climate, environment and nature of use tell us what to expect from what is present and what will work better. There is a wide variety of chemicals available for wood restoration which have specific uses and end results. These range from alkaline (bases) to acids. Each in its pH category serves a function towards restoring wood to a former or improved state or condition. Many are found in local stores which are designed for use by a consumer with little or no knowledge and are formulated in the same regard. The strength and capabilities are reduced for liability purposes which are for the best. Professionals use chemicals specifically designed and tailored to the demands of a wood restoration technician and can be dangerous to those who are not qualified to use them. Qualification being: education, training, experience and if available, certification. The care and precautions employed by a wood restoration professional comes from experience and a thorough understanding of the chemicals we must use to give our customers the best possible result. Understanding of everything mentioned in this article can give a new meaning to the trade of wood restoration and possibly, some respect for what they know how to do so well with the knowledge and techniques developed to give wood a longer life. Ó See Dirt Run! ä Inc. 2005 Rod~

Cujo, I used to do just that. We feel it better as we go forward, our energies would do well to promote networking and education. TGS can serve the industry best by providing a source for contractors in this trade to look to when they need it. Great, you had a good experience. Rod~

Hey Alan is there a Chipotle near you? If you try it, I bet you convert from Baja fresh...

John, I agree with you. Beth

And if you have a half sour pickle...they are soooooo good with them. There is a local place here that when you go there, they put a whole bowl of half sours on the table. YUM! Jim, I love Starbucks too. I also get the beans and have it at home. Beth

Years ago (circa right after hight school) I worked for a jewish deli for a brief period part time and fell in LOVE with this one sandwich called a Jewish Lover. To make your own Lover.... Two slices of rye or marbled bread, palin, toasted or grilled ( I like toasted) Take Pastrami, corned beef, provelone and swiss cheese, warmed until the sheese is melted slather both pieces of bread with 1000 Island dressing place the warm melted meats and cheese on one of the pieces of bread, and top with creamy cole slaw. Add other piece of bread. You really need a good pickle on the side.... Enjoy you Jewish Lover! Beth

If I am ever in Phoenix, I'll have to try them. Always good to eat at a place the locals like that is not a cookie cutter corporate place. Not that I don't like those too ( I do), but there is something to be said for a mom & pop place. We have a couple really good indian restaurants here that are like that, and a good thai place. I love spicy food. Beth

We're kind of hooked on Chipotle at the moment. Love the flavor!

:groovy2: Disco :groovy3: and Rock, although I also like blues, salsa, and other things. Beth

Lou, If you are gonna think about putting one together yourself, let a professional who does it for a living help you. There can me much to consider. Talk to Bob from PressureTek, talk to Tom from ACR. These guys shoot straight and will not steer you wrong. They will help you. Call them. http://www.pressuretek.com/ http://www.acrproducts.com Beth

It's not meant to be misleading, it's just the data that the BBS gathers and posts. Any time a person registers for the BBS ( or any BBS) it counts them as a user, regardless of what classification they end up with. In the BBS controls you can create different user groups, so for example PWNA can have PWNA Members and also Non-Members, and the vbulletin software still considers the total count of all categories as the "members". The hack to show the number of users is pretty generic. It is not custom, so it won't show how many of each category, although for a price I am sure a good coder can do it. Beth

We use mostly the citralic blend, but have also been known to use oxylic. We use what comes in powder. You can apply using any sprayer, but I would be careful about applying it downstream, since you don't want to etch anything. (that's just my feeling) You let it dwell 5 to 20 minutes depending on what you are doing, percarb wash vs. strip job. Typically longer on a strip job. Just remember to rinse.... Give it a try, you will love the results. Beth

Registered users on the BBS. Got to www.pwna.org and check the database to learn how many members. Beth

Cool! Maybe we can get this going. Maybe we should ask for volunteers to help? I don't think it needs to be fancy. We will help also. Any other ideas? Beth

Hi Degafreed, What is the second coat you are applying? Is it still the percarb, or did you switch to an acid? When you apply an alkaline, the wood can turn darker. When you apply an acid, the process is neutralized, thus brightening the wood by restoring the natural pH. Step 1 - the alkaline (either a percarb or a stripper depending on what you are doing, both are alkaline) Step 2- the acid ( oxylic, or citric, or a blend such as citralic) Rinse thoroughly after each step. Does this help? Keep the questions coming. Beth

I agree it would be no simple task. It will take many, many, many hours of work by many, many, many people. The PWNA has many BOD members, plus a number of committees each with numeroud volunteers. As the season ramps up, everyone is short on time. It is hard for any volunteer to put in the time that they might like. A new org will be the same way. Anything like this will be time consuming - our businesses are time consuming and this would need to be run the same way and with the same level of focus and dedication. Beth

Jimmy Buffett rocks :banana: :island: :beerchug:

Hey Cujo, Rod is pretty darn good himself, and has taught a fair number of contractors from around the US. Those interested should contact us. Beth

Henry, if it is all in the concept stages, how can you expect anyone to have the answers to your questions? I took time to build PWNA and it would take time to build _________(fill in blank) as well. You ask valid question, but really do you honestly think that if someone is going to start an org they will not cover these bases? I'm sure if John O. is thinking seriously about this, he will cover them. I would support it if asked, and would help with whatever guidance or advice I could offer. Personally, I can see how a new org could be formed with a vision that would not necessarily compete with that of PWNA. It will depend on many things. Beth

I always wear nitrile gloves, for one they hold up better to chems and for two I can't wear latex ones due to allergies. Nitrile hold up better to chems. Beth

F-18 is a very nice product. It's a stripper, and yes you can use it at different strengths. F-10 is the percarb the offer and it is great. These are worth trying. :groovy3: Beth :cool: