Tool Of The Week 4/4/09

This week's tool of the week is a pair Husky Switch Grip Pliers. I am a huge fan of multi-purpose tools, provided they perform. These pliers have two different jaws, a Linesman and a needle nose. To switch from one set of jaws to another you simple rotate the handle 180 degrees. In addition, the jaws are spring loaded making it easier to use. The jaws also contain wire cutters ans strippers.Now I'll admit that they are not the highest quality tool, and nothing beats individual tools, but they come in handy in a pinch. These pliers are an excellent addition to a small car or boat tool box where space and/or weight is an issue.

Tool Of The Week

This week's Tool of the Week is a Pencil Sharpener. Not just any Pencil Sharpener, but one which can sharpen a Carpenter's Pencil. I remember as a kid my grandfather gave me my first Carpenter's pencil. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. He also showed me how to sharpen it with a pocket knife. My biggest complaint as I got older was that I could never get a really sharp point on it. Well a few years ago I saw this as I was waiting in line at the cash register of my local home improvement store. I decided to give it a try. As you can see in the picture it works well. It gives me a very sharp point on all my pencils regardless of it's size. In addition it is small enough that it does not take up much room in my tool box. I highly recommend one of these Pencil Sharpeners for any tool box.

The 31 Day Challange

I haven't made a post in about 8 months. Shame on me. Well I saw a post entitled "31 Days to Build a Better Blog". The post challenges the participants to dedicate 31 days to working on their Blog and improving it. Each day for 31 days they will teach a new theory to me and assign a task to be accomplished on my blog. I'm hoping to learn some new ideas over the month and hopefully by the end of the project I will be inspired enough to continue posting on a regular basis.

Electric & Manufacturing building

This is the old Electric & Manufacturing building. It is currently home to ChemImage. Notice some more framing around the windows. The below picture has some nice details above the windows.

Window Treatment

Another Pittsburgh Building. I shot these two picture just for the window details. Same building, Lower and upper windows. Also note the half brick pattern below the window in the above picture.

The Flynn Building

OK. There is alot to se in this pic. Start with the door trim. Then you have the window tops with the Keystone, Arch and Diamond. Next we have the rectangular stones between the aches framed with brick. and finally check out the framed rectangles between the window. I would have hated to have been the mason on brick layer on this job. P.S. Note a couple of repair spots on the first picture.

Windows details

Check out the window details on this building. Note the brick work and fancy Keystone on the lower windows. The upper windows are framed nicely too. But the coolest thing is that ledge. This picture turned out rather nice considering it was shot out of a moving car.