Friday, November 15, 2013

Decking Material Bamboo








    question:

    What is the coloured stuff inbetween the ply on a skateboard deck?
    Like when I see peoples skateboards they have 1 or 2 layers of green or red coloured stuff inbetween layers of ply on their deck.
    Is it just coloured wood, or is it a flexability thing? if so what is it called?





    answer:

    i use it to tell how many plys i razor tailed
    or to count how many plys that deck has

    usually its every other ply its colored

    i beilieve its just colored or sometimes they put different material other than wood that gives a different color like bamboo or fiber stuff








    question:

    What kind of material would be be best for a longboard deck?
    I'm making a longboard for the first time and I'm not sure what kind of material works best. I don't do any tricks, I'm strictly a hill bomber. Is there a certain wood/other material that works best? Thanks to all of you who are cool enough to answer this question





    answer:

    Most longboards are made from Canadian Maple or Baltic Birch. Some newer boards are made from Bamboo, but that would be hard to find and work with.

    Since you are are making a downhill deck, maple is your best choice, but baltic birch might be cheaper.

    Go education yourself in the SilverfishLongboard board building section of the forum:
    http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/forum/longboard-board-building-q-discussions/








    question:

    What is the difference between a banana Long board, bamboo long board, or just a regular long board?
    I'm looking into getting a long board to make my travels as a college student easier. Problem is, when I look into boards there's a vast variety of them and would just like to know which is the best not only for how long it will last but how far it can glide for. I am trying to avoid those that seem to be flimsy and have a U shape to them when you stand on them, they just don't appeal to me at all.





    answer:

    Here goes. A longboard is any skateboard that has a deck that is 36" long or longer. A mini is a skateboard that is 30" or less in length.

    A bamboo longboard is simply a deck made from bamboo. Most decks are maple. Other materials may be used as well.

    A banana board is a brightly colored, often yellow, mini skateboard. Originally, they were fiberglass, but in the 1970s plastic, wood, and aluminum became available.

    What you are referring to flimsy is flex. All decks have some degree of flex. Plastic boards have a lot of flex. Bamboo is a tad stiffer and maple will be the stiffest. Other materials can be added to increase or decrease the stiffness of a board. Flex allows the rider to stay on the board at higher speeds.

    Concave, or u-shape as you called it does several things. It strengthens the deck; gives more pop to the board, the board feels lively; it stiffens the deck; and it allows more surface area for the rider to stand. A flat deck will be considerable heavier than one with concave since the wood has to be ticker for strength.

    How far a board glides between pushes depends on several things. Wheel size. Larger wheels will go faster and roll longer, but take more effort to get them rolling. Wheel hardness. Harder wheels go faster, but have a rougher ride. Softer wheels don't go as fast, but they grip better and have a smoother ride. Bearings. Good bearings are better rollers than bad ones. Swiss are the best. Rider. The rider's pushing technique can make a big difference.

    A good skateboard should last for years if properly cared for and maintained. Water is the biggest enemy.








    question:

    What longboard is good for getting around a campus?
    I am headed to college this fall and I love to snowboard (pretty good at it) and i kinda like to skateboard but i liked longboarding the best. Id like to get a longboard for this summer and for college and i was look at sector 9 and liked them a lot but i was wondering what kind of sector 9 board i should get, probably one thats easiest to get around people.





    answer:

    If you are worried about getting around people, I would stay on the smaller side of longboards. Probably between36" and 42". There are a few Sector 9 longboards in that size range. There is the Sector 9 Shipsterns Bamboo Swallow Tail that is 39.5" long. http://www.apertureboardshop.com/SPD/sector-9-shipsterns-bamboo-swallow-tail-complete-longboard-skateboard-38--bbf094-c--8796681871061582081.jsp The Sector 9 Shipstern takes the place of the Waimea. Sector 9's surfing influence shines through in the Shipsterns swallow tail shape as much as in the graphics. This longboard skateboard is a fast and smooth riding board. The deck features a "W" concave and mild camber to add to its strength while still allowing a nice amount of flex. Sector 9 is banging the drum for the environment with these boards made from Bamboo. Since Bamboo grows so fast and is durable and allows for nice flex makes it a perfect raw material for longboard skateboards. Don't forget Save a Tree Ride a Weed. Then is the Sector 9 Drainer Swallow Tail OG Series which is 37.5" long. http://www.apertureboardshop.com/SPD/sector-9-drainer-swallow-tail-og-series-complete-longboard-skateboard-ogf091-c--8878958155065622785.jsp Pool, park, cruising or campus, surfing concrete has never been more fun. The Sector 9 Drainer is great for all around surf style street carving or ditch slashing with a stylish swallow tail. Gullwing Mission 1 trucks that ride loose and have a great surfing feel, 61mm/78A wheels grip the road well without too much slide, easy to turn with a small turning radius, works great around campus if you are looking for a medium sized board, deck has a medium concave at the edges with a flat center locks foot in (even if you are wearing sandals). Retro shape that will let you race down the line and bash the lip with style. For the person who is looking for some extra wheel base but still feels the need to try and break a Sector nine beautiful handmade skateboard. Slight kick in the tail for tight maneuvering with a mellow concave. You can definitely pump this board to maintain speed. And then is the Sector 9 Seedling OG Series longboard that is 40" long. http://www.apertureboardshop.com/SPD/sector-9-seedling-og-series-longboard-skateboard-9-2--x-40-0--ogf092-c--8875413229233144065.jsp All of these boards would work great for what you are looking for.








    question:

    What is the best longboard for just cruising around town and transportation for a beginner?
    I'm a beginning longboarder and want to get a board that I can use as transportation but thats also fast and fun to ride
    yeah i was looking at the never summer ones cuz those look really sick





    answer:

    Some people prefer bicycles, while others might opt for a pair of running shoes, but there s still a large community who will take their pick from these ten best longboards for transportation. Comfortable on the feet and much easier to use than traditional skateboards, longboards are far better for transportation and allow for maximum speed and distance while heading your next destination. Ideal for cruising to the beach or busting down a hill, any one of these proven boards will serve as a great alternative to hopping in the car, saving you gas and money.

    1. Sector 9. By far the most popular longboard company in the United States, and quite possibly the world, Sector 9 delivers a myriad of different decks and skate gears to make sure you re fully equipped. Offering long, thick decks designed to keep people cruising longer and easier than ever, you can never go wrong with a Sector 9.
    2. Loaded. Unmistakable in their design, this Los Angeles based company features flexible, yet strong longboards with side cuts at the front and back for better, more responsive turning. Optimized more for commuting rather than going downhill or doing tricks, Loaded is one of the best when it comes to smooth, clean riding.
    3. Arbor. Stunning deck art and eco-friendly materials have pushed Arbor into the top level of longboard manufacturers in America. Bold, surfboard-inspired shapes combined with lightweight construction will have you swearing you re on water instead of pavement.
    4. Gravity. Another environmentally conscious company based in San Diego, California, Gravity uses Earth-Fibe in their boards, which is just as strong as fiberglass but also biodegradable. Flexible and durable in nearly every facet, this up and coming company is quickly becoming one of the best suppliers of alternative transportation available.
    5. Landyachtz. One of the most diverse names in longboarding hails from Vancouver, and provides unusual, yet highly functional transportation. In addition to their quality decks, Landyachtz offers a variety of wheels and trucks to ensure everyone s needs are fulfilled, whether it s your first or hundredth time.
    6. Never Summer. By using technology originally developed for snowboards, Never Summer devised longboards with long lasting protected tips and tails. Combined with a one of a kind fiberglass deck construction, this creates one of the toughest contenders around, ensuring your ride is not only smooth, but long lasting too.
    7. Original. These guys ratchet their commitment up a notch, producing all of their own decks and trucks, and stocking up on wheels specified for longboards from some of the best suppliers in the world. This truly is construction and design by, from, and for longboarders.
    8. Flexdex. Utilizing the familiar surfboard shape, Flexdex carved out a decent niche among skaters and surfers alike. Just like their name insists, these boards are surprisingly flexible, but guaranteed unbreakable by their confident and capable manufacturer.
    9. Rayne. Highly detailed artwork and bold, side-cut design render these longboards highly recognizable and perfect for sharp turns while tearing up the street. Rayne prides themselves on using the best Carbon-Fiber or Bamboo materials for incredibly light decks which are still capable of surviving the test of time.
    10. Comet. For those searching for a more personal touch, Comet is one of the best available, producing skateboards inspired by the community and using shapes or art from fellow enthusiasts. Each board is pressed and shaped individually, producing a highly tuned and comfortable longboard for everybody.








    question:

    has any one ever installed a SunPorch sunroom screenroom?
    If you have, did you find it met all your expectations and was it easy to install or did you use professional help? Is the quality good and does it look like an add on room when it was completed? How did it stand up to the weather conditions, such as, snow and wind? Do you have any complaints. Did you ever have to replace your deck flooring after the sunroom was installed? What did you do? Have to remove the sunroom? Thanks for the info.





    answer:

    do it yourself will give you the best answers if you do a lil searching ...

    But if you are going to build off your house you are going to want to create an area ....measure and dig a perimeter where your foundation will go .. I would go about two feet down and about two feet above ground level if not a three or even four depending on what you can afford ... then build off of there .. and you can make a door way from the inside or leave it to be accessed from the outside..

    to make it cheap you can make a house out of bamboo, hemp, or all natural or recycled materials ...birch roofing...actual shingles.. pvc piping .. plexi glass or frame it out with wood ... you can also go with a canopied sun room or a ling tu style three sided sun room

    basically adding a room on ..








    question:

    What is the best longboard for freeriding around town and stuff?
    (brand,model)





    answer:

    I like the Sector 9 Shipsterns http://www.apertureboardshop.com/SPD/sector-9-shipsterns-bamboo-swallow-tail-complete-longboard-skateboard-38--bbf094-c--8796681871061582081.jsp Sector 9's surfing influence shines through in the Shipsterns swallow tail shape as much as in the graphics. This longboard skateboard is a fast and smooth riding board. The deck features a "W" concave and mild camber to add to its strength while still allowing a nice amount of flex. Sector 9 is banging the drum for the environment with these boards made from Bamboo. Since Bamboo grows so fast and is durable and allows for nice flex makes it a perfect raw material for longboard skateboards. Don't forget Save a Tree Ride a Weed. I ordered mine from Apertureboardshop.com and got free shipping too!








    question:

    What can we do as a society to conserve trees?
    Describe what could be done to reduce the amount of waste of trees within our growing society. Please have a resource of any information.





    answer:

    We could use more electronic news sources rather than news papers. We could use less packaging. We could use reusable clothe bags at the grocery store. We could do more to limit junk mail. We could explore alternative building materials for houses etc.

    1. Boycott wood products! Change won't come until we change our consumer habits as individuals. Use and purchase recycled paper products! Many state of the art paper recycling factories have been shut down or are in danger of being shut down because of the lack of demand for recycled paper products. Shopper activists rise up! And don't forget to bring your canvas bags!

    2. Don't buy old growth lumber products! In fact don't buy any lumber! If you must buy lumber, buy as little as possible, do you really need that new deck or room addition? Explore and research alternative building materials- adobe, brick, straw bale, bamboo, hemp, and/or metal. Many alternatives to wood are available, your money is what keeps them cutting!

    3. Donate to "We Save Trees" forest education and action fund. Any donation of money, gear, food, warm clothing is greatly appreciated. Donations can be sent to the Donations box on www.wesavetrees.org Thank you*

    4. Spread the word! Talk about the endangered species, learn about the importance of trees to our ecosystem and their vital role in healing the planet. Educate others through casual talk. The United States, the nation with the most money and influence around the world is putting its time and energy into materialism and consumerism! We need to set the example for the rest of the planet, save the forests! Raise consciousness, let your actions and thoughts show it!

    5. Spend time in our sacred forests. Feel for yourself the wisdom and teachings the forest has to lend. Hike beyond the Redwood lined roads and tourist attractions, the hidden devastation from clearcuts will bring tears to your eyes. Less than three percent of the old growth remain, seek them out, learn what they have to teach. Allow yourself the time to get to know what they are. These trees are not hundreds to thousands of years old for nothing.

    6. Live from love and question all consumption. Clean air, clean water, less pollution and healthy ecosystems can all be attained if we put our love and inspirations into action. In doing so, we as humans can start healing and perhaps nature too will repair herself. It is what we do on this earth, in our time here, in our own heart, souls, and conscousness that is known by the greater forces that be. Let us dissolve our societies priorities of money, greed, and social status. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Ghandi








    question:

    I'm interested in a house, but it smells like dogs. How fixable is this?
    I'm told the carpets and the padding will need to be replaced. I was thinking of placing down hardwood. Should I have the subfloor cleaned and sealed to be safe, or is it enough to just remove carpeting and padding? There were two large dogs in the house. I would also paint the interior walls. I'm wondering if I should consider buying or if I should walk away from the deal. Thanks. No flames, please.





    answer:

    Normally, I recommend a product called Oil Eater for cleaning and deodorizing items (http://www.oileater.com .. it's by Kafko). It will certainly work on carpets and just might save your padding as well. I've used it on our rental properties for years, with great success.

    If, however, the subfloors are contaminated as well, it would be wise to remove carpet and padding and sand the floor after a thorough cleaning. Be sure to wear a mask. Anything that you can smell has microscopic particulates, and you do not want these particular odor particulates in your respiratory system. After sanding (which you can do yourself, with a rented sander...it saves a bundle), use a waterproof sealer such as polyurethane or deck sealer. These will also add a barrier against moisture and vapor seeping into your new floor and carpet.

    Check the drywall at floor level .. chances are, the contamination has seeped into the first three or four inches of drywall, which will have to be treated and sealed (or replaced).

    Make sure the urine contamination has not affected any electrical fixtures below (if you have a basement, that is)
    .
    You do not have to invest in wood to get a hardwood-floor look. The new laminates like Pergo have tongue-and-groove placement to make installation a breeze. (My daughter did her home with Pergo over a weekend). Don't forget the cushion/barrier material. It will cut heating and cooling bills as well as limit noise.

    Engineered wood flooring can provide a compromise between the laminates and the costly woods. Bamboo is also considered to be an environmentally-friendly flooring.

    The kind of flooring you use will depend on whether your floor is on, above or below grade (meaning ground level). A main floor is on grade, 2nd story is above grade and basement is below grade.

    Get the house. ANYTHING can be cleaned, but a charming house is a rare find.








    question:

    Can I have a photo of your green (environmentally-friendly) house?
    I'm writing an article for a magazine, and I need a great, not copyrighted photograph of a house decked out with awesome green features, such as bamboo or concrete flooring, recycled glass backsplashes, copper sinks, or other Green building materials.

    Anyone know where I can get one?





    answer:

    Well it's not quite finished yet, but I'm building a full self-reliant home and have lots of in-construction photos you could use if you like.

    In a nutshell it:
    * Is ultra-efficient with 8.3 house energy rating (HER) stars. This means it uses only 70MJ/m2 of energy to heat and cool per year, which is 37% of the energy used to heat and cool than a 5-star house (192MJ/m2), and only 15% of the energy used to heat and cool an average (2-star) house (493MJ/m2). The maximum in the Australian system is 10-stars, and is defined as never needing artificial heating, cooling, or ventilation. On the South-West coast of Victoria this is 2MJ/m2 which is regarded as being impossible to achieve due to our climate, and 8.5-stars is accepted as the maximum achievable rating for this region.
    * Is fitted out with very low energy consumption appliances (solar hot water, low consumption whitegoods, etc)
    * Uses rainwater tanks to collect stormwater to supply all or the vast majority of the house s needs
    * Has a grey wastewater management system to recycle as much wastewater as possible
    * Generates enough electricity through solar photovoltaic panels (and possibly wind) to drive the house's needs for an estimated net benefit of up to ,000 per year over an average house. This is based on zero power bills plus payments from surplus energy grid feed-in tariff.
    * Uses only sustainable building materials and practices, such as only using plantation and/or recycled timbers, low toxin glues/paints, etc.
    * Has each material/practice s embodied energy as low as possible.
    * Is Sited in a productive permaculture principles, to incorporate food production (vegetables, fruit, and eggs), and native wildlife refuges.

    Hope that helps








    question:

    What type of wood is most flexible?
    I am trying to make a mini half pipe (like for the size of a tech deck skate board) and I was wondering what you guys would think the best type of wood (or other solid material i.e. cardstock, ect...) is to use on the skating surface? It will need to be very flexible to go on and dip the way that a real half pipe would..THANKS!





    answer:

    The only type of flexible wood that I can think of is bamboo which is incredibly strong, that would be useful for the skating surface.








    question:

    What longboard should i get for my first?
    Im getting my first longboard and i need some recommendations. I want it primarily for cruising around a relatively urban/suburban area, carving, and small hills. I want something that can turn very easily and has alot of flex, and is low to the ground. I was very impressed with the Loaded Dervish, but its not in my price range. Im looking in the area of 0. any help is appreciated





    answer:

    don't bother with the dervish. i can explain if you want to but, just take it from me, don't go there just yet, especially with what you want to use it for. and don't worry about getting a downhill set-up/deck if your only doing small hills.

    my absolute recommendation is Bustin.
    if you want a crazy low board with a lot of flex, look into the bustin complex or strike. they are extremely comfortable and real low. i havnt tried a strike yet, but i can totally tell how the board rips. Bustin kind of has a signature camber in their designs.

    right now they are improving the sojourn design and replacing the bamboo material with maple or something. they might keep the hemp. but either way they aren't producing sojourns for awhile =(

    i just got a bustin spliff with crail dh trucks and bustin boca wheels for a total of 2. A BOMB @SS DEAL.
    really i just wanted the spliff for collection purposes and i wanted to test out the crail trucks and boca wheels but the spliff has proven to be the ultimate commuter/cruiser for my college lifestyle just like they said.

    second best recommendation is Rogers Brothers who make aluminum decks. the shredability NEVER goes down because they are metal sheets and surprisingly flexible. you can abuse them for life and it will be good as new when you are long gone. my friend knows Dave Rogers and hooked me up with a mini (reeeeaaaal siiiiiiiick shiiiiiiiiit) but i imagine a complete set up would go way over 0. unless you get a hook-up like i did for only .

    im kinda brain dead right now, but if you really want to appreciate longboarding, check out arbor, sector 9, ladyachtz... you have to ride everything and really understand the board. the Original skateboard company really tries to focus on the carving aspect for longboarding (with their springloaded trucks and all) but yeah... just look into em.

    check out everything i mentioned even though they have a lot of designs. invest in decent trucks like randall and crail. you'd probably like the 180s (mm). also get wheels that are at least 66mm and a durometer of 78-82. if you think your going to get into sliding and such, get 82A.
    ive already typed too much but there is so much more i feel like i should explain. but really you have to get out there and learn for yourself. if you got any questions let me know. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CONSIDERING LOADED BOARDS.








    question:

    Has anyone painted or put fencing around their above ground pool?
    I want to buy a sand dollar 2 by doughboy. I hate the outside of all above ground pools. I want it to look more natural. Has anyone tried to put bamboo type fencing around it or painted the pool? I would like a neutral color instead of the modern 80's designs these pools have. thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





    answer:

    I built a deck and fence around my uncle's above ground pool. Painting the pool itself is a bit more problematic, however. In-ground pools need epoxy paint to seal the concrete, but you cannot use epoxy paint on an above-ground pool. It would melt the material or eat right through it. Use an acrylic paint, but remember that you will probably have to repaint every other year. Here's a guide:

    http://www.poolcenter.com/painted_pools.htm








    question:

    what type of longboard should i get?
    i have ridden them before but never had my own. i am 6'8" so should i get an extra long one? what is the best type of deck? (bamboo/maple/birch/etc) what are the best brands?





    answer:

    Bamboo is the best material all the way! The best type of wood for boarding there is. Its flexibility and strength are nearly unbeatable!
    As far as brands go my favorite is Loaded. They're high class; so they'll be expensive. For their quality they're amazing! I have a Loaded Dervish, myself. I have loved it since day one. It is perfect for cruising or bombing hills.
    Gravity makes really good decks. My hill bomber is a Gravity and it is incredibly stable!
    With longer boards, you loose a lot of the ability to carve to slow down while going down hill. My brother who is 6' 4'' is comfortable on the Dervish.

    In conclusion, the Dervish is the best all around board for whatever you like. A longer, more stable Gravity deck is what I'd recommend for going down extra long hills or if you're new to hill bombing. If you're into the crazy longboard dancing (which many of us tall people tend to be too lengthy and uncooridnated to do) I would reccomend the Loaded Dancer or Longboard Larry makes a very nice dancer!
    (for a cheaper ride look into Sector 9. "Very nice- with a smaller price")

    Hope I could help!








    question:

    when making a longboard skateboard?
    why do you have to glue two pieces of ply wood together, when u could just buy a thicker piece of ply wood???
    does it have to do with the flex?





    answer:

    I'm no craftsman but if i used just one thicker piece of plywood, it would probably get trashed pretty quick. It would get cracked under pressure and stress, easier to get warped most likely too. I'm sure the two pieces really helps the flex, hence, less chance of pressure cracks and longer life.

    Boards made out of bamboo and hemp are more expensive because the material is better overall. Bamboo is a lot stronger, durable, and flexible than ply. Still, the bamboo is layered with other material to improve performance and it's life. Than there are carbon fiber bottoms... and aluminum decks. Those decks by roger's bros last a lifetime with abuse.








    question:

    Favorite skateboard deck brand and why?
    I like element deck. how about you?





    answer:

    I like element too, I have an element deck now. But if I did get another in the future I would pick a brand called "Habitat". Pretty much all decks are the same quality in the way there built, just 7 ply. I like the designs of habitat decks, there not too expensive and you can get decks that are made out of other materials like hemp and bamboo.








    question:

    The history of kite fighting?
    I am doing a project on kite fighting and i cant find anything at all about its history. Can you tell me anything about its history or where to find it?





    answer:

    Kite fighting is as much an art as it is a science. Passionate kite fighters spend hours coating their kite strings and practising their techniques all for the glory of being the last kite in the sky. The kite fighting tradition has evolved differently in each geographical region, but the fervour of the participants is the same from Pakistan to Japan, and America to Afghanistan.

    Kite fighting is popular mostly in the East where the custom of kite flying has the longest history. The first kite is said to have been flown in the skies of China over two thousand years ago. This is widely accepted because the materials necessary for building a good kite, paper, bamboo and silk thread, would have been present in China at that time. Kite flying then spread to neighbouring countries Japan, Thailand, Korea, Burma, and India and eventually moved further to North Africa and the rest of the world.

    General Han Hsin found a military use for kites when he flew one over an enemy compound and used the length of the kite string to gauge the distance his men would be required to tunnel in order to get inside. It was not long before men were actually being lifted off the ground by kites. Marco Polo in 1282 when he returned from a stay in China commented on seeing men being flown in kites from the decks of ships.
    Kite fighting became a popular sport. The object of kite fighting is to cut the string of the opponent's kite. To do this ground glass was stuck to the kite-string with paste. Kite fighting is still practiced all around the world.

    While all of this went on in Asia, the Greeks were doing their own experimentation with kites. The first recorded kite flight occurred in about 400 B.C. Like the first Chinese kites, this one was modelled on bird physiognomy. It was developed by Archytas and was called the Dove of Tarentum.

    The Romans are thought to have borrowed the idea of wind socks in battle. They were used as both a standard and an indicator of wind direction to aid in the accuracy of archers. It did not take long for the industrious and engineering Romans to detach the wind socks from poles and make kites.

    Diamond kites had become popular throughout most of Western Europe by the 1600s. The idea was imported from Malaysia, where explorers and traders had found them used by the natives. This is the style that we find most familiar today.








    question:

    What Longboard Deck Should I get? 10 POINTS?
    i have 9 inch trucks, and 70 mm orangatang stimulus 86a wheels. what would be the best deck for freeriding, like doing tricks and jumping off ledges? i am on a budget, so i was looking at this one. it is bamboo so it is supposably stronger than its maple twin (exact same besides material) and its ten bucks more
    here is the bamboo one
    http://www.amazon.com/Carve-one-Bamboo-Double-Freeride-Longboard/dp/B00BIIJA3Q/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1379356113&sr=8-12&keywords=freeride+longboard+deck

    and here is the maple
    http://www.amazon.com/Carve-one-Natural-Double-Freeride-Longboard/dp/B00BIIKG3E/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1379356674&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=longboard+decko





    answer:

    Maple, it costs less and it looks a bit better.








    question:

    Can anyone suggest sustainable and affordable material(s)?
    I am a student-designer who is presently working on a series of tables. What I am looking for is a material that can be cut easily and is sustainable/environmentally friendly, durable, and affordable. I live in New York City and therefore would prefer it to be accesible either directly (I'd be glad to pick it up!) or through (quick!) delivery. Also, though I am open to anything from plastics, resins, bamboo, compressed paper, etc., I need something that can come in "sheet/ply" form (as in a tabletop.)

    I'm open to everything, I just want it to be as affordable as possible and to look really nice. I do realize I haven't been too specific -- I feel as though that will allow for the most potentially hopeful answers. THANK YOU!





    answer:

    There is a recycled decking material made from compressed saw dust and resins. It's brown like cardboard...and Its looks are those of an...oh... artificial decking material. It's waterproof and very durable. It is not load bearing however (it could only be your table top, or a bench seat or the like.) Basically these would be eco-friendly planks of wood. I don't know what they call it, but it's been turning up more and more. Any lumber yard/mega hardware store would have it. I know I've seen Home Depot in Manhattan.








    question:

    Is this a good longboard?
    Deck: 101.5cm x 10cm
    Material: 2ply combined bamboo and 7 ply Canadian maple
    Truck: 13 cm aluminium
    Wheels: 65 x 51 mm PUC
    Bearings: ABEC 5
    Transparent sand grip





    answer:

    Sounds good. There's a couple different types you can get. The first 2 are made for cruising.

    Long: http://thelongboardstore.com/longboards/
    Short: http://thelongboardstore.com/longboards/

    There are also boards made for sliding: http://thelongboardstore.com/longboards/

    But I prefer a board kinda like a skateboard with a tail and nose on it so I can still do tricks and have lots of control: http://thelongboardstore.com/longboards/

    Just remember, when it comes to longboards, you get what you pay for. Meaning the more you spend on it, the longer it will last and the better it will ride.

    Hope this helps and have fun with your longboard!








    question:

    Water sealing a bamboo box?
    I'm constructing an outdoor fountain that will have a bamboo box at the top with water over flowing out of it.

    If you put water in the box now, it leaks right out through the seams. If I sprayed something like Thompsan's water seal on it, would it work to make it hold water?





    answer:

    There is a material sold at hobby shops and boating supply houses that consists of a very light fiberglass mat set in a two-part epoxy resin. It is clear, goes on easily and will add great strength to your project. Further, it is entirely impervious to water once cured. You could line your box with it, then drill it or shape it to accept whatever piping you need.

    The link below is to industrial-quantities, but your local hobby shop, even some auto-supply stores will sell you small-quantity kits ideal for the purpose.

    I use it to cover the decking of R/C boats - nothing will damage them after such at treatment, yet it is very nearly invisible in actual practice.








    question:

    what are some products made by bamboo?

    Made FROM bamboo. Sorry.





    answer:

    Bamboo forms a very hard wood, especially when seasoned, and is light and exceptionally tough. This makes it useful for many things such as houses (in tropical climates), fences, bridges, toilets, walking sticks, canoes, furniture, chopsticks, food steamers, toys, construction scaffolding, hats, martial arts weaponry, abaci and various musical instruments such as the shakuhachi, palendag, jinghu, and angklung. It is also widely carved for decorative artwork. Modern companies are attempting to popularize bamboo flooring made of bamboo pieces steamed, flattened, glued together, finished, and cut. However, bamboo wood is easily infested by wood-boring insects unless treated with wood preservatives or kept very dry (see carving, right). It has also been used as a substitute for steel reinforcing rods in concrete construction.

    When bamboo is harvested for wood, care is needed to select mature stems that are several years old, as first-year stems, although full size, are not fully woody and are not strong.

    Culms may be cut and hollowed into vases or drinkware, tubes, or pipes for liquids.

    Culms can also serve as pipes. The Bamboo Organ of Las Pinas, Philippines is an example.

    Bamboo canes are normally round in cross-section, but square canes can be produced by forcing the new young culms to grow through a tube of square cross-section and slightly smaller than the culm's natural diameter, thereby constricting the growth to the shape of the tube. Every few days the tube is removed and replaced higher up the fast-growing culm.

    The fibre of bamboo has been used to make paper in China since early times. A high quality hand-made paper is still produced in small quantities. Coarse bamboo paper is still used to make spirit money in many Chinese communities.

    The wood is used for knitting needles and the fibre can be used for yarn and clothing. Sharpened bamboo is also traditionally used to tattoo in Japan, Hawaii and elsewhere.

    A variety of bamboo was one of about two dozen plants carried by Polynesian voyagers to provide all their needs settling new islands; in the Hawaiian Islands, among many uses, 'Ohe (bamboo) carried water, made irrigation troughs for taro terraces, was used as a traditional knife for cutting the umbilical cord of a newborn, as a stamp for dyeing bark tapa cloth, and for four hula instruments - nose flute, rattle, stamping pipes and Jew's harp.

    Some skateboard deck manufacturers are beginning to use bamboo construction. It is both lighter and stronger than traditional materials and its cultivation is environmentally friendly.

    Bamboo is also used caged culture of fish, with cages made of a wooden frame and bamboo lattices.








    question:

    Paper is made out of trees. Is there a substitute?
    Can it be made out of anything else?





    answer:

    There are literally hundreds of alternatives to toilet paper. But you wanta know about regular writing paper...the process of chipping any various items such as woody stems of most anything will produce an imperfect but perfectly writable upon paper (that appears as that home building item chipboard)...But you wanta know about alternatives to anything tree or plant material.

    I do not think there be a lighterweight writable upon agent, but the ancients all used animal hides as their paper. Paper was therefore heavier and not as lightweight as it is today and practically unheard of in other lands where there were no trees enough for mills (except for the Egyptians with papyrus). In any age goatskins have been used and was known as parchment and lasts much longer.

    Paper mills began in the late 17th century.

    For the most humane substitute to killing animals in excess or trees in excess for paper,
    I think we should look to bamboo or hemp.

    I think using plant material (minus the trees) does be best and a must; but can be made from anything. People could be more creative with their paper manufacturing choices and it would be an easy and inexpensive even fun for children to pull out a blender and begin to experiment and manufacture your own paper out on your own deck or backyard.

    Recycle newsapers in a blender with a small amount of water produces paper patties for children that are firm and safe non crumbling from regular newsaper (not usually salespapers). I have done this before and only need to add one drop of food coloring.

    For paper for children one could save money doing so.

    For printer paper one wants perfection but all this perfection comes from the chemicals bleaching added but could do some research and find less harmful chemicals.

    Paper has been made with a an addative named Alum for centuries.

    Anything petrified equals a writing surface.

    I dont think ground bones would do but am not sure.

    sidenote: I dont think we should go poking around in the sea for the answers to paper alternatives, I honestly do not think the answer be in the sea for this item and there so many uses of the sea already that stress out the sea.








    question:

    Teens: Need some ideas to decorate my room?
    I'm a girly girl and a tomboy, depends on my mood. my favourite colours are purple,blue,pink.and green. i love animals and televisions shows ahhhaha of course. well my room is really boring and i need to get all new stuff and decorate it and i really need your help! thanks guys. i also need ideas of stuff to put on the walls like boards, posters etc, i cant paint my walls. i put a vid here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeXpZFnb2kE
    thx





    answer:

    Ok, This is a really simple fix. Go to the paint shop and buy either purple blue and pink, or purple blue and green. the pink and green struggle to go together with the purple AND blue, or you could do purple green and pink. But whate ever combo you do, get the really REALLY bright colours, stay away from pastels, you need to bold colours. Anyway, go and buy those colours but the little sample pots, then take everything off your shelves and paint the back, the white bit, of your shelves each on of these colours. just mixe it up, but try and make sure you dont have more of one than the other, then when its dry put all your stuff back.. this will create a really cool focus wall and it will be VERY orignal.
    Ok, keep ALL of your woodwork white, it makes it look clean and bright and better looking, se if your allowed to paint the back of your door white, you probably wont be able to cos those doors are expensive and your parents wont want it ruin, also if you ever want it back to the the orginal colour the you will have to buy a new door.. cos White gloss paint doesn't come off!

    Ok the other walls... i it sucks that you cant paint the walls.. I dont see whay not, just see if they will let you and promise (and acutally do it) that YOU will paint it back to the colour it is now when you move out... whats the problem with that? If they let you then paint the door wall the same bright purple, and then your bed wall an the window wall.. like a white with a hint of purple...some colours below

    http://www.homedepot.com/Purples-Lavenders/Paint-Paint-Samples-Posters-Fan-Decks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbo8pZ1z13o8j/R-202180892/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    http://www.homedepot.com/Whites/Paint-Paint-Samples-Posters-Fan-Decks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbo8pZ1z140hb/R-202178036/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    If they wont let you, go to a material shop, buy some material you like and pin that to the wall and maybe as like curtains over the shelves.. also, gets your self some blinds! If you get like a bamboo blind you can paint that however you want... just be aware that when the light is on and its dark outside ppl will still be able to see into yoru room!

    have fun








    question:

    Longboard questions!?
    So I am new to longboarding and I have a few questions about my board for you more experienced ones. Me and my sister have two longboards, one is a Quest and one is a Paradise. We share them both but since i am the less experienced one of us, I use the Quest more often because its trucks aren't as loose and the Paradise is a pretty advanced board to ride. So I have been using the Quest longboard and was wondering if my board is actually any good? Does it have good bearings or should I get better ones? And is there any way to make it ride longer?
    So here are the details:
    Quest Super Cruiser Artisan Bamboo Longboard -

    Deck size/dimensions: 44 inches x 10 inches x 5.5 inches
    Wheel size/hardness: 70mm x 51mm
    Bearings: ABEC 5
    Truck: 7-inch aluminum inverted kingpin
    Wheel hardness: 80A
    Materials: 5-ply artisan bamboo and hardwood maple deck

    Thanks!





    answer:

    Well the trucks can be tightened or loosened as you please. More experienced riders will often loosen their trucks to have greater control over the board. The first things you'll have to replace are the wheels and bearings and you'll be able to feel when it's time by how it rides. When it slows down, maybe starts grinding or squeaking, it's time to oil the bearings or get new ones. You can look at the wheels to see if there are chips in them and when their circular shape starts to deteriorate, it's time to get new ones. Other than that, you should be good unless the board itself takes a lot of abuse. Hope this helps and have fun skating!








    question:

    which longboard is better between maple and bamboo and/or what are their differences.?
    I can't decide whether to get a bamboo or a maple longboard. i've heard that bamboo is more flexible yet less durable. is that true? is durability a huge factor in longboards or do I not really have to worry about how durable it it? here are the two longboards I am looking at.

    http://store.sector9.com/Product.aspx?ID=BBF107C&upc=00000000888961625544&cat1=COMPLETES&cat2=Bamboo%20Series

    http://store.sector9.com/Product.aspx?ID=OGF104C&upc=00000000888961626824&cat1=COMPLETES&cat2=OG%20Series





    answer:

    Maple tends to be a stiffer deck, while bamboo is more flexible. Bamboo's flex, though, is pretty loose, and not as responsive. When you have a flexy maple deck, it's very bright and springy. you *can* get stiff bamboo decks, like Loaded's Flex 1 Dervish, but a lot of those use both bamboo and other materials.

    Durability IS an issue, especially if you're doing anything intense on the board. cruising doesn't put much stress on the board, but slaloming, freeriding, tricks, pumping, and sliding all put stress on the decks, and all in different ways.

    Of the two boards you listed, I'd go for the BHNC Complete. For that price though, you can get a LOT better board. Sector 9 tends to be kind of overpriced in my opinion. Check out a Kracked Skulls Scimitar. for the 0-180 you'd pay for those Sector 9's, you can get a REALLY good KS.

    http://www.krackedskulls.com/?pg=ksebay
    (I recommend a scimitar, Randal 180's, Big Zigz or Gumballs, Abec 5 green bearings. You can add grip tape if you want, or you can do it yourself and make it custom. That comes out to about 0, or 175 if you add the grip tape.








    question:

    Rate/fix my shutdown yugioh deck?
    Total Cards: 44

    Monsters - 21

    Helpoemer x1
    Jinzo x1
    Raging flame sprite x3
    Medusa worm x2
    Prime material dragon x1
    Horus the black flame dragon lv 4 x2
    Horus the black flame dragon lv 6 x2
    Horus the black flame dragon lv 8 x1
    Silent swordsman lv 5 x2
    Silent swordsman lv 7 x1
    Neo spacian air hummingbird x3
    Hayabusa Knight x2 (i have him over mataza the zapper because of heart of clear water)
    Injection fairy lily x1

    Spells - 13

    Amplifier x2
    Lighting vortex x1
    Mystical space typhoon x2
    Axe of despair x1
    Swords of revealing light x1
    Hammer shot x1
    Heart of clear water x2
    Level up! x2
    Monster Reborn x1


    Traps 10

    Mirror force x1
    Draining shield x3
    Judgment of Anubis x1
    Negate attack x1
    Spirit barrier x1
    Solemn wishes x1
    Skull lair x1
    Bottomless trap hole x1





    answer:

    Do you mean lockdown deck? Anyway this deck is crap why run jinzo Royal Decree is much much much faster and efficient. Better that horus and decree is Naturia Beast and royal decree. Beast is easy to summon. Even faster yet is bamboo chute lock which will have you scratching your head in 2 or less turns. Bamboo chute is a jinzo and horus that only affects your opponet. It is 1 tribute and can easily be summoned wiht naturia pineapple. combo Bamboo with oppression and thats game. Another option is happy heralds summon herald of perfection( a jinzo/horus/skill drain on legs) the archlord krystia and you win which is very easy to do








    question:

    Longboard suggestions HELP!?
    I want to buy a longboard, it is my first longboard and I am having a hard time deciding what I want to get.
    I want one for cruising, carving, commuting and it will be able to sustain some small to medium sized hill bombing.

    I'm looking to buy either one of the following:
    Bustin
    Landyachtz
    Gravity
    Original
    Sector 9
    Stella

    Either one of the brands are great but I like Bustin because they allow you to customize them a lot.

    Aside from that I'm not sure what I want.

    What is the best material for longboards, Bamboo, Maple?
    Is Maple durable?
    What is the best shape, pintail, drop through, lowrider?
    How long should my trucks be?
    How big and grippy should my wheels be?
    How long should my board be?

    You can tell I'm pretty undecided here. Any help is appreciated!





    answer:

    landyachtz, sector9, and gravity are all good companies, but stay away from the rest.
    bamboo is the best for a flexy board, maple for a stiff board, and baltic birch for a cheaper alternative to both. maple is very durable. the best shape depends on what you want to do. flexy boards are fun to cruise on, stiff ones are fun to downhill and freeride on. the shape is personal preference. your truck width depends on your board width as well. wide trucks tend to be more stable while skinny ones are carvier. your wheels should be between 70mm and 75mm, but be wary of wheelbite on some boards. i suggest you. check out Drang Longboards. He's got some sweet boards like the Dune, the Disco, and the dancer. just tell him what you want to do, and he can build a custom board for what you want. Just tell him Doug sent you and he'll get you set up with a sweet deck. In the near future, he will also be selling completes with top of the line trucks and wheels.

    if you want some good trucks and wheels to setup on that board, http://longboardskater.com/ and http://milehighskates.com/ have the best gear at the best prices.








    question:

    Has anyone read the book Kon Tiki? I need some help...?
    I had to read it for school and I dont understand it at all! Theres no sparknoted on it either. Here are my questions:
    1.Who is Kon-Tiki, (besides the name of the boat)
    2. Who is on board the raft?
    3. What is the significance of the parrot on the raft?

    Anything else that is important and I should know???? Please tell!





    answer:

    Kon-Tiki was the raft used by Norwegian explorer and writer Thor Heyerdahl in his 1947 expedition. It was named after the Inca sun god, Viracocha, for whom "Kon-Tiki" was said to be an old name. Kon-Tiki is also the name of the popular book that Heyerdahl wrote about his adventures.

    Heyerdahl believed that people from South America could have settled Polynesia in the south Pacific in Pre-Columbian times. His aim in mounting the Kon-Tiki expedition was to show, by using only the materials and technologies available to them at the time, that there were no technical reasons to prevent them from having done so.

    Heyerdahl and a small team went to Peru, where they constructed a balsa wood raft out of balsa logs and other native materials in an indigenous style as recorded in illustrations by Spanish conquistadores. This trip began on April 28, 1947. Accompanied by five companions, Heyerdahl sailed it for 101 days over 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean before smashing into the reef at Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands on August 7, 1947. The only modern equipment they had was a radio and watches.

    The book Kon-Tiki was a best-seller, and a documentary motion picture of the expedition won an Academy Award in 1951.

    The original Kon-Tiki is now on display in the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo.
    The Kon-Tiki was crewed by six men, all Norwegian except for Bengt Danielsson, who was from Sweden.

    Thor Heyerdahl was expedition leader.
    Erik Hesselberg was the navigator and artist. He painted the large Kon-Tiki figure on the raft's sail.
    Bengt Danielsson took on the role of steward, in charge of supplies and daily rations. Danielsson was a sociologist interested in human migration theory. He also served as translator, as he was the only member of the crew who spoke Spanish.
    Knut Haugland was a radio expert, decorated by the British in World War II for actions in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage that stalled Germany's plans to develop an atomic bomb.
    Torstein Raaby was also in charge of radio transmissions. He gained radio experience while hiding behind German lines during WWII, spying on the German battleship Tirpitz. His secret radio transmissions eventually helped guide in Allied bombers to sink the ship.
    Herman Watzinger was an engineer whose area of expertise was in technical measurements. He recorded meteorological and hydrographical data while underway.

    The main body of the raft was composed of nine balsa tree trunks up to 13.7 metres (45 feet) long, 60 cm (2 feet) in diameter, lashed together with 3.175 cm (1 inch) hemp ropes. Cross-pieces of balsa logs 5.5 m (18 feet) long and 30 cm (1 foot) in diameter were lashed across the logs at 1 m (3 feet) intervals to give lateral support. Pine splashboards clad the bow, and lengths of pine 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick and 60 cm (2 feet) long were wedged between the balsa logs and used as centerboards.

    The main mast was made of lengths of mangrove wood lashed together to form a A-frame 8.8 m (29 feet) high. Behind the main-mast was a cabin of plaited bamboo 4.25 m (14 feet) long and 2.4 m (8 feet) wide was built about 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 feet) high, and roofed with banana leaf thatch. At the stern was a 5.8 m (19 feet) long steering oar of mangrove wood, with a blade of fir. The main sail was 4.6 m by 5.5 m (15 by 18 feet) on a yard of bamboo stems lashed together. Photographs also show a top-sail above the main sail, and also a mizzen-sail, mounted at the stern.

    The raft was partially decked in split bamboo. No metal was used in the construction.








    question:

    Rate/fix Naturia Deck?
    2x Naturia Bamboo Shoot, 1 Tytannial, Princess of Camelias, 1 Gigaplant, 3x Naturia Dragonfly, 1 Naturia Marron, 3 Naturia Cosmobeet, 1 Naturia Pineapple, 3x Naturia Pumpkin, 3x Naturia Mosquito, 3x Naturia Beans......3x Ego Boost, 2x Mini-Guts, 2x Barkion's Bark, 2x Miracle Fertilizer, 1 Leodrake's Mane, 1 Frangrance Storm, 2x Black Garden....3x Limit Reverse, 3x Wall of Thorns.....1 Naturia Leodrake, 1 Naturia Landoise, 1 Queen of Thorns, 1 Fairy King Albverdich(XYZ). It's a great deck but I want it to be better: what should be added/removed?





    answer:

    This is almost a pure naturia deck, so why arent you running at least 1 copy of Naturia Exterio? Its one of the best cards in the game since it basically negates your opponents entire backrow. The natria archetype is known for effect negatons; you absolutely need this card.

    +1 or 2 naturia exterio
    +1 naturia bakarion (exterio fusion material)
    +2 future fusion (gets out exterio fast)

    Its usually a quick win after you get him onto he field. Make sure to protect him though and ur golden! He's a key player in my own negation deck








    question:

    Yu-Gi-Oh Exodia Dark Deck?
    Opinion of my exodia dark world deck, open to all opinions and comments.
    50 card deck.

    Monsters:
    Exodia x5
    Sangan x2
    Mystic Tomato
    Zombyra The Dark
    The Tricky
    Kuriboh
    Monk Fighter
    Labyrinth Wall
    Wall of Illusion
    Marshmallon
    Destiny Hero - Defendor x2
    Prime Material Dragon
    The Fabled Ganasha
    Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World
    Gren, Tactician of DW
    Grave Squirmer
    Beiige, Vanguard of DW
    Kahkki, Guerilla of DW
    Sillva, Warlord of DW

    Spells:
    Heavy Storm
    Card Trader
    Allure of Darkness
    Dark Hole
    Card Destruction
    Magical Mallet x2
    Pot of Greed
    Monster Reborn
    Swords of Revealing Light
    Dark Factory of Mass Production

    Traps:
    Fruits of Kazay's Studies
    Mask of Restrict
    Reckless Greed x3
    Mind Haxorz
    Raigeki Break
    Waboku
    Inverse Universe
    Threatening Roar
    Magic Cylinder
    Defense Draw x2
    Solemn Judgement





    answer:

    If you want an Exodia deck go for this:

    Monsters:
    Left Leg of the Forbidden One
    Left Arm of the Forbidden One
    Exodia the Forbidden One
    Right Arm of the Forbidden One
    Right Leg of the Forbidden One
    Royal Magical Library x3
    Destiny Hero Plasma x2
    Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon

    Spells:
    One Day of Peace x3
    Upstart Goblin x3
    Broken Bamboo Sword x3
    Golden Bamboo Sword x3
    Toon Table of Contents x3
    Cup of Ace x3
    Reload x3
    Magical Mallet x3
    Destiny Draw x2
    Trade-In
    Double Summon
    Cup of Duality


    Basically this build will make your deck burn through everything until you have Exodia in your hand. The reason for all spells no traps is for a FTK. Also with Royal Magical Library youll be able to burn through your deck much faster and win.








    question:

    Building a longboard?
    I have some questions about building a longboard.. I was thinking of something like the loaded Dervish

    -what is the best type of wood to use i live in SW Ontario have access to most material i was looking into bamboo if i can get it or baltic birch if not

    -I want to do the drop through design ( where the trucks come from the top through the board ) anybody have any tips ?

    -Also i know i will need spacers.. i will be buying trucks separate so where can i get these spacers?

    -What is a good thickness i was thinking 5/8'' and 42'' long is that good i know its all preference but i want some input.. buildin from scrach THANKS

    ps. im doing this for my highschool construction class i have access to most tools and i will be building my own press ( the toothless longboard one ) with the ribs





    answer:

    Different types of wood have different properties. My favorite boards are made of maple.

    Use the Randal drop-through template, and make sure that if you're making a flexy board, you cut a keyhole design like that on the dervish to help prevent stress cracks.

    By spacers I assume you mean risers... You don't need risers for a drop through. Use washers on the mounting screws though, to spread the weight a bit and avoid the lock nut digging into the deck.

    Thickness depends on the type of wood, how stiff you want it, how thick the veneers are, etc.

    Check out Silverfish Longboarding, they'll help you out. There's a board building section in the forums.








    question:

    Building a sort of tanning room. Opinions/suggestions from builders, please?
    I want to tan but I don't want to use tanning beds, fake tanners, tinted bronzers, don't want to go to beaches to do it or get tan lines. So obvious answer is to tan at home, but there isn't much privacy and a lot of places to do it at.
    So I want to build a small room for it. What would be the best method? Would just a frame with cloth material around it work or would I need to make something more solid? Brick, wood, so on...? Suggested size?
    And, how could I disguise it? Some people at home worry about it looking "Tacky".
    Thank you for any answers! :D Good day/night.
    Also, I'm five feet, three inches if that helps any.





    answer:

    The problem with your idea is that the sun moves across the sky -- it does not just sit overhead except for a brief period of time at noon. You can't tan through glass so I assume this "room" you want to build is just going to be something surrounding you for privacy out on your deck, your roof or in your back yard. But if the walls are tall enough for nobody to see in, they will cast shadows on you from each side as the sun moves across the sky. You would have to make it very wide and also able to be moved around to change the angle of the shadows as the sunlight direction moves. And the wider you make the enclosure, the easier it will be for people in buildings around you to see directly in.

    Depending on where you live, I can't see any way you could build something that would be both private for nude sunbathing yet not put you in shadow except for maybe a half hour around high noon. If you want to see what I mean, do a test run. Get four 6' or 8' bamboo or wood poles from a garden center, drive them into the ground in your yard laid out in the size of this "room" you are thinking of and then staple or tape black plastic around it to make a "room". (you can buy a 10' wide roll of black plastic at a building supply store). Then watch what happens to the sun entering this enclosure during the day. You will see that most of the time it will be in shadow inside.

    You know, you can buy swimsuits that allow the sun to penetrate the fabric -- you can sunbathe in them and not get tan lines. You either need to look into that or join a nudist colony or go to nude beaches.

    By the way, you will pay later in life for that sunbathing. I've never sunbathed or spent time outside without good sunscreen. Now I am 60 and look much younger than that, while my friends the same age who liked to tan all look very wrinkled and old. Some former tanning freaks who are younger than me even look older than I am including a girl who has already had skin cancer at 43 and had to have surgery, now has a scar across her forehead.

    I know when you are young you don't want to consider that, but unfortunately it will be too late once you are old enough to regret the damage. Self tanning creams have come a long way. Get good ones and the "tan" looks just as good as the "real" thing and you won't be ruining your skin.








    question:

    Yugioh plants that special summon tokens to opponents side of the field, and how to use them?
    I am making a plant deck and I came across some odd cards. These cards usually revolve around a effect that summons a plant token to the opponents side of the field:

    Cactus Fighter

    Wall of Ivy

    Seed of Flame

    Bamboo Scrap

    etc...

    When you look at cards like Bamboo Scrap and Wall of ivy it seems like there's strategies behind it all, like Konami has combos that work we.I always loved cards quirky effects that most opponents cannot adopt too, and I can see summoning tokens to my opponents side of the field useful, as I can use them for plant like stuff like Black Garden and it prevents heavy swarming from zombies and such.

    But then there's the odd side being the fact these cards came out during the time of synchroing, meaning that normally the developers would put restrictions on the tokens for this so they cannot be used as synchro material, but no. Then it's also the fact that most of these tokens can be tributed for a tribute summon, making them more than risky.

    Overall I do not see how can these cards be used easily in the average plant deck. I seen the anime and it fits minorly well, with the exception of the opponents don't swarm nowhere as much and using strategies as attacking the tokens for a burn effect or whatnot seems not only risky but mild situational.

    Then I tryed it in real-life and it was a bit uneven as my tokens either was used for synchro fother or put in defense to protect my opponent, so using the burn effects or anti swarming of these cards failed.

    Tl;DR

    What is an effective way to use cards that summon plant tokens to my opponents side of the field with a plant deck? Not looking for a deck lists, just some good tips people might know that can be splashed into a Black Garden deck, or at least some way of explaining what potential purpose could summoning tokens to my opponents side of the field do?





    answer:

    there is a deck where you speciel summon mass amounts of tokens to your opponents side of the field, then get our rose tentacles equiped with thorn of malice. rose tentacles allowes you to attack your opponent an extra time with it for every plant monster on the field. thorn of malices effect is this

    effect:equip only to black rose dragon or a plant type monster. it gains 600 attack. when it attacks a defense position monster whose defense is lower then the attack of this monster, inflict the difference as battle damage to your opponent. if it attacks a monster, that monster loses 600 attack and defense after damage calculations. an opponents moster that battles with the equipped monster cannot be destroyed by battle.

    so basicly, you get 6 attacks in with a 2800 attack monster with pericing damage against some 0 attack and defense monsters that cannot be destroyed by battle.








    question:

    Ideas for a 1970s contemporary house exterior with a windowless expanse?
    Our house is unusual and I need some help! It is oriented to take advantage of a wonderful view out of the front windows, but that means that visitors drive up to the back of our house that is not attractive. We are adding a covered deck and steps, better lighting, etc. to make it more welcoming, as well as new siding. The problem is all the beautiful windows are in the front and no one sees them. The back has a few, but also has a very large expanse with no windows that is unattractive. I want to hang something, like one of those large stars, but nothing tacky! Does anyone else have better ideas to deal with a large boring area with no windows? The house is boxy with a flat built-up roof, very dramatic on the side with the view and very boring as you drive up! Thanks!
    Thank you so much for the thoughtful answers! I need to clarify one thing, the windowless expanse is actually the second story area, the upper right quadrant (plus some) of the back. So plants won't be a workable solution.





    answer:

    Select a plant material that is dramatic, different, and "modern" looking, and plant several along the bare expanse. Then install lights at the base so that at night the light and shadows make a dramatic pattern in the walls. I can't tell where you live by your question, but I am thinking that Mahonia bealei, the Leatherleaf Grape Holly, looks very 70's and fills the bill for such a purpose, if it will live outdoors where you live. Other possibilities are Yuccas, dwarf palms like Pygmy Date Palms or Christmas Palms, Bamboos, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Cactus, Elephant Ears or New Zealand Flax. Again it will depend where you live what you choose.








    question:

    what longboard (skateboard) should i get?
    i've been very interested about the Loaded (loadedboards.com) "fish" or the "ceviche" both look pretty similar to me, but the thing is, im not really a skateboard trick person and just wanna use them for transportation. these boards seems to be hybrids of regular short decks and longboards (33inches) opposed to many 42inch/46inch sector9 brands and whatnot.are these 33inch hybrids the right ones for me? and also, i owned a longboard 42inch krown, before but the top part of the deck (where i stand on) was covered with rough black material to prevent slipping off. These boards seem just have a plain bamboo covered tops with graphics. does that mean im more prone to slip off? or do they actually have the rough feel to it as well?

    ahaha... well thx for reading all this :) first time using yahoo answers





    answer:

    It all depends on your family genes. Look at your parents or siblings, are they short or tall? Most people stop growing between the ages of 18-22. Dont be self conscious about your height, if your 17 now you have a couple of years left and you may even shoot up this summer.








    question:

    help please with my toothpick bridge?
    I have to build a toothpick bridge. Here are the rules:
    The entire bridge must be constructed of commercially-made wooden toothpicks and glue only. (no bamboo or balsa)
    All toothpicks used for construction must be no greater than 3 mm thick x 7 cm long.
    2) The wood may not be coated or impregnated with glue paint or other materials. Glue can only be applied to points of contact between pieces of wood.
    3) The bridge must span a horizontal opening 400 mm wide. Therefore the bridge must be greater than 400 mm in length. The supports forming the opening which are supplied by the judges are fixed in position. The bridge should be built to allow for a tolerance of plus or minus several mm in the width of the opening.
    4) The bridge may not extend more than 200 mm below the top of the supports nor more than 50 mm above the top of the supports.
    5) The bridge may touch only the top surfaces of the supports and the inside vertical surfaces of the supports no more than 50 mm below the top of the supports.
    6) The bridge will rest on the supports without being fixed to the supports in any way.
    7) The bridge is not required to have a continuous deck surface.
    And it has to be able to hold a brick. Please help!





    answer:

    You can look at the design of real bridges. Old railroad bridges are usually truss designs.








    question:

    what is a bridge / what is it used for ?
    what are bridges made for





    answer:

    Are you talking about structural bridge? if it is, this is what i found.

    A bridge is a structure built to span a valley, road, body of water, or other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. Designs of bridges vary depending on the function of the bridge, the nature of the terrain where the bridge is constructed and the material used to make it.

    Types of bridges

    There are six main types of bridges: beam bridges, cantilever bridges, arch bridges, suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges and truss bridges.

    Main article: Beam bridge
    Beam bridges are horizontal beams supported at each end by piers. The earliest beam bridges were simple logs that sat across streams and similar simple structures. In modern times, beam bridges are large box steel girder bridges. Weight on top of the beam pushes straight down on the piers at either end of the bridge.[7] They are made up mostly of wood or metal. Beam bridges typically do not exceed 250 feet long. The longer the bridge, the weaker. The world's longest beam bridge is Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in southern Louisiana, U.S.A., at 23.83 miles (38.35 km), with individual spans of 56 feet (17 m).[8]

    Cantilever bridges are built using cantilevers horizontal beams that are supported on only one end. Most cantilever bridges use two cantilever arms extending from opposite sides of the obstacle to be crossed, meeting at the center. The largest cantilever bridge is the 549-metre (1,801 ft) Quebec Bridge in Quebec, Canada.[9]

    Stone arch bridge in Shaharah, Yemen
    Arch bridges are arch-shaped and have abutments at each end. The earliest known arch bridges were built by the Greeks and include the Arkadiko Bridge. The weight of the bridge is thrust into the abutments at either side. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is currently building the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing which is scheduled for completion in 2012. When completed, it will be the largest arch bridge in the world.[10]

    Suspension bridges are suspended from cables. The earliest suspension bridges were made of ropes or vines covered with pieces of bamboo. In modern bridges, the cables hang from towers that are attached to caissons or cofferdams. The caissons or cofferdams are implanted deep into the floor of a lake or river. The longest suspension bridge in the world is the 12,826 feet (3,909 m) Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan.[11] See simple suspension bridge, stressed ribbon bridge, underspanned suspension bridge, suspended-deck suspension bridge, and self-anchored suspension bridge.

    Like suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges are held up by cables. However, in a cable-stayed bridge, less cable is required and the towers holding the cables are proportionately shorter. [12] The first known cable-stayed bridge was designed in 1784 by C.T. Loescher.[13] The longest cable-stayed bridge is the Sutong Bridge over the Yangtze River in China.

    Over-deck truss bridge with steel girders and wooden carriageway
    Truss bridges are composed of connected elements. They have a solid deck and a lattice of pin-jointed or gusset-joined girders for the sides. Early truss bridges were made of wood, and later of wood with iron tensile rods, but modern truss bridges are made completely of metals such as wrought iron and steel or sometimes of reinforced concrete. The Quebec Bridge, mentioned above as a cantilever bridge, is also the world's longest truss bridge.[14]


    Uses of bridge:

    A bridge is designed for trains, pedestrian or road traffic, a pipeline or waterway for water transport or barge traffic. An aqueduct is a bridge that carries water, resembling a viaduct, which is a bridge that connects points of equal height. A road-rail bridge carries both road and rail traffic.
    Bridges are subject to unplanned uses as well. The areas underneath some bridges have become makeshift shelters and homes to homeless people, and the undersides of bridges all around the world are spots of prevalent graffiti. Some bridges attract people attempting suicide, and become known as suicide bridges.
    To create a beautiful image, some bridges are built much taller than necessary. This type, often found in east-Asian style gardens, is called a Moon bridge, evoking a rising full moon. Other garden bridges may cross only a dry bed of stream washed pebbles, intended only to convey an impression of a stream. Often in palaces a bridge will be built over an artificial waterway as symbolic of a passage to an important place or state of mind. A set of five bridges cross a sinuous waterway in an important courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. The central bridge was reserved exclusively for the use of the Emperor, Empress, and their attendants.








    question:

    NATURIA CLIFF RULINGS!!!?
    Naturia cliff states "When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Naturia" monster from your Deck to your side of the field in face-up Attack Position." So my question is will naturia cliff miss the timing of searching out and special summoning if he were to be tributed for a monster, say caius or bamboo shoot? Also are there any other restrictions or technicalities on his effect of being sent from the field to the graveyard? Please help me asap, I need to know timing rulings more than anything and examples if possible just to be 100% sure. Thanks :)





    answer:

    "When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard" states as long as it's removed from the field to the graveyard you can activate the effect. Like sangan, a very familiar card to us all. However, Naturia cliff said that when it is sent from the field to the graveyard, "you can" special summon...etc. This means Naturia Cliff has an optional trigger effect.

    So that means when you tribute it, use it as synchro material monster, or pay it as cost, you WILL miss the timing. Because Naturia Cliff's effect is the last to happen when everything already happened. Sangan has a mandatory trigger effect so when it is not optional, you CANNOT miss the timing.

    Hope this helps in clarifying your question. Good luck :)








    question:

    New to Skateboarding *Some questions*?
    I'm new to skateboarding and I was wondering what skateboard should I get that would last.
    One that can be decent streets and that wouldn't break easily and would last for some time.
    My friend suggested a Speed Demon since I'm a beginner but meh. I would like to hear your suggestions and quick question.
    How long did it take you to Ollie? (: thanks





    answer:

    Well there is plenty of good quality name brands to many to list..Some are good others are better.. I depends on the material also.. Some makers construct boards with more better material than others. Nobody can really know what exactly the makers use in their brands to construct the board.
    They use a mixture of different wood in their layers.. Each board/deck has 7 layers.. Some makers use half cheap chinese wood and half of the the good more expensive quality wood .
    Some use and add a little more layers of the more good wood.. Some of the strongest wood is canadian maple wood.. There is other products that are being used to construct board such as fiberglass layers and others such as bamboo which is durable strong material the expands the longevity of a board..
    But nothing lasts forever.. So as long as you get a board made with the more added best material the more it will probably last.. If you go to a skateshop ask questions as to what are the more last longing decks and what material are they made of. Get informed before you buy..

    And Actually speed demons make bearings not decks. They make trucks too now i think. But they are mostly bearing makers and clothing of coarse.. But to sure about decks.. So i wouldn't go with that brand.. Plus their bearings are not all that.

    Good popular quality brands that i know of are: Chocolate,Girl, Real , blind , Zero , foundation ,Plan b , Baker , creature, Habitat , Alienworkshop..
    There are plenty of others.
    To look at all popular brands and get ideas visit www.skate warehouse .com and www.ccs-skateshop .com
    There they have all the known brands along with other products.. Go with what you think is right and like.

    Best bearings though right know are: Bones or Black panthers.

    Best wheels Bones , Gold wheels , Ricta , and pigs.

    Trucks it depends others will say different ones but from my experience and options they are Ventures ,Royals Independents, destructo, and tunder i guess ..

    So this should help a bit..
    Sorry i think i wrote to much :p , just wanted to give my opinion.








    question:

    Eco-friendly home project..?
    I'm doing a project at school with 2 other people and we have to make a model of an eco-friendly home. What are the best eco-friendly products? And what is the best eco-friendly insulation, caulk, window panes, doors, fire/safety alarms, and radon detectors? Thanks a bunch! (please include websites if possible!)





    answer:

    For the greatest Eco-friendliness, you want to select products that require the least energy and raw material to produce, systems that require the least energy to use and products and materials that preserve the air and water quality of the space.

    Re-purposed materials are prime candidates for eco-building materials. For insulation, options include recycled cotton such as Ultra-touch http://www.ecohaus.com/C-121/ultra+touch. It is basically shredded blue jeans. Another option that is gaining in popularity is straw bale house construction. Straw bales are set onto wall foundations and are framed. Then the bales are covered with stucco or cement. The result is a structure made of renewable materials that has very good insulating properties. Here's an informational site about straw-bale construction: http://www.strawbale.com/

    For framing and walling, alternatives such as Wheatsheet is an eco-friendly alternative to virgin wood products. Wheatsheet is made of recycled wheat chaff instead of tree wood. It also does not off-gas (produce fumes) like some glued and treated wood construction materials, helping maintain clean indoor air.
    http://www.ecoproducts.com/top/price%20sheets/wheatsheet.pdf

    For decking, recycled composite products such as ChoiceDek are eco-friendly because they use recycled plastics and wood fiber instead of virgin tree wood and they last longer than most wood products. http://www.choicedek.com/

    For floor-covering, hard surface floors are usually preferred to carpet because they are easier to clean and do not trap allergens and contaminants. Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly option because bamboo is a fast-growing and renewable wood source. Other options are cork flooring, recycled rubber flooring, natural linoleum and recycled glass tile. If you do decide on carpeting, use carpet made of recycled PET (pop bottles) or wool--they are renewable products and do not off-gas as much as new, conventional carpeting.

    There are several alternative adhesives, paints and finishes, including solvent-free Titebond adhesives, Timbertek wood finishes, Osmo Color wood sealer.

    Most of this information came from Eco-products. I have a binder of theirs. Although most of the material on their website is about plates and cups, you might be able to find construction-alternatives in their site or register in the "training" section. www.ecoproducts.com.

    Also, try to make use of passive solar energy in your design. It is the simplest and least-resource intensive method of building. Strategies include using south-facing windows to heat rooms using the sun, brick or cement walls on the south side to absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night (called a Trombe wall) and properly-placed windows and skylights to provide natural lighting to every room of the house. Planting deciduous (leafy) trees around the house provides shade in the summer to keep the house cool but allows sunshine through in the winter when the leaves fall to help warm the house. The National Renewable Energy Lab has many strategies and suggestions for green building. Their visitors center employs many eco-friendly strategies: http://www.nrel.gov/visitors_center/eed_model.html

    There is so much more to green building but hopefully that's a helpful introduction. Have fun with the project!








    question:

    skateboard wood?
    whats better for a skateboard (im only a beginner) maple or birch?





    answer:

    Most decks are constructed with a seven-ply cross-laminated layup of Canadian maple. Sometimes other, more exotic materials, such as fiberglass, bamboo, resin, Kevlar, carbon fiber, aluminum, or plastic are incorporated into deck construction, usually to lighten the board or increase its strength or rigidity. Modern decks are usually 7 to 10.5 inches wide although they can vary. The width of a deck depends on personal preference though most people use 7.5-8 inch wide decks for street skating. Generally, riders use a wider deck for vert, to provide more stability. Skateboard decks are usually between 28 and 33 inches long. The underside of the deck is usually printed with a design by the manufacturer








    question:

    Noah brought baby animals on board his Ark? Want proof that's a myth?
    I've been reading lots of responses from people who take the Great Flood story literally. One of the main ideas they're espousing is that Noah took baby animals, so they'd take up less space in this "football field and a half" sized Ark. That's grasping at straws, and here's a few reasons:

    1) If all those animals aboard the Ark were babies (because they needed to be small) then how did they get to the Ark, crawl thousands of miles? What about fresh water fish? did they squirm their way over land to the Ark?

    2) Baby animals can't survive on their own without their mommys and daddys! Most would die within days after the Ark settled on dry land (not to mention caged for 40 days in the disease laden Ark). How are baby eagles supposed to survive after the Ark landed? Baby eagles NEED to be fed regurgitated food from mommy! Did Noah eat worms and puke into the little chickies mouths?
    3) Here's a question: How much fresh water is needed to support a single fresh water fish? 1 gallon per inch of fish is the standard amount. Forget animals, fresh water fish would take up FAR more of the total weight of the Ark, even if they'd been juvenile fish. Fresh water trout need cold water -- like 50 degrees, Tropical fish need a water temperature around 80 degrees. Did he have hand cranked refrigeration units and heaters? Did he build wooden aquariums? he must have, the technology didn't exist to make glass aquariums. If he built wooden aquariums, then what about light for the fish to see? How are they going to be able to see well enough to eat the little fishy flakes Noah drops into the tanks?
    I can make points 4-50 if anyone's interested
    Let me add, that there's NO WAY the animals were adults, Noah couldn't build a ship to house 200 large zoos worth of animals out of gopher wood. He'd need a team of THOUSANDS, working round the clock in a ship larger than Los Angeles
    Thank you BrotherMichael, an articulate and intelligent response, but seriously, there's no way that the survivability of the animals could be guaranteed after Noah's Ark bottomed out on dry land without massive Divine Intervention.

    What did all the baby animals do to survive once they exited the Ark? They certainly couldn't have migrated back to their (now barren) homelands since they wouldn't have had the strength. If their tiny little baby legs could walk across mountains and deserts to migrate back home successfully, then where would they get food for their journey.

    Come to think about it, how would a full sized .. say Tasmanian devil survive the journey back home? There's nothing living in between the Ark and Australia yet, everything's been swept clean.

    What would the lions eat when they got off the Ark? There were only two of every animal remaining, and it takes quite a while for even rats to willingly make enough babies to feed so many carnivores -- let alone sheep.





    answer:

    According to Scripture, Noah s Ark was a safe haven for representatives of all the kinds of air-breathing land animals that God created. While it is possible that God made miraculous provisions for the daily care of these animals, it is not necessary or required by Scripture to appeal to miracles. Exploring natural solutions for day-to-day operations does not discount God s role: the biblical account hints at plenty of miracles as written, such as God bringing the animals to the Ark (Genesis 6:20; 7:9, 15). It turns out that a study of existing, low-tech animal care methods answers trivial objections to the Ark. In fact, many solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems are rather straightforward.

    How Did Noah Fit All the Animals on the Ark?

    According to the Bible, the Ark had three decks (floors). It is not difficult to show that there was plenty of room for 16,000 animals (the maximum number of animals on the Ark, if the most liberal approach to counting animals is applied), assuming they required approximately the same floor space as animals in typical farm enclosures and laboratories. The vast majority of the creatures (birds, reptiles, and mammals) were small (the largest only a few hundred pounds of body weight). What s more, many could have been housed in groups, which would have further reduced the required space.

    It is still necessary to take account of the floor spaces required by large animals, such as elephants and rhinos. But even these, collectively, do not require a large area because it is most likely that these animals were young, but not newborns. Even the largest dinosaurs were relatively small when only a few years old.

    What Did the Dinosaurs Eat?

    Dinosaurs could have eaten basically the same foods as the other animals. The large sauropods could have eaten compressed hay, other dried plant material, seeds and grains, and the like. Carnivorous dinosaurs if any were meat-eaters before the Flood could have eaten dried meat, reconstituted dried meat, or slaughtered animals. Giant tortoises would have been ideal to use as food in this regard. They were large and needed little food to be maintained themselves. There are also exotic sources of meat, such as fish that wrap themselves in dry cocoons.

    How Were the Animals Cared For?

    We must distinguish between the long-term care required for animals kept in zoos and the temporary, emergency care required on the Ark. The animals comfort and healthy appearance were not essential for emergency survival during one stressful year, where survival was the primary goal.

    Studies of nonmechanized animal care indicate that eight people could have fed and watered 16,000 creatures. The key is to avoid unnecessary walking around. As the old adage says, Don t work harder, work smarter.

    Therefore, Noah probably stored the food and water near each animal. Even better, drinking water could have been piped into troughs, just as the Chinese have used bamboo pipes for this purpose for thousands of years. The use of some sort of self-feeders, as is commonly done for birds, would have been relatively easy and probably essential. Animals that required special care or diets were uncommon and should not have needed an inordinate amount of time from the handlers. Even animals with the most specialized diets in nature could have been switched to readily sustainable substitute diets. Of course, this assumes that animals with specialized diets today were likewise specialized at the time of the Flood.

    How Did the Animals Breathe?

    Based on my two decades of research, I do not believe that anything more was needed than a basic, non-mechanical ventilation system. The density of animals on the Ark, compared to the volume of enclosed space, was much less than we find in some modern, mass animal housing used to keep stock raised for food (such as chicken farms), which requires no special mechanical ventilation.

    It is reasonable to believe that one relatively small window would have adequately ventilated the Ark. Of course if there were a window along the top center section, which the Bible allows, all occupants would be even more comfortable. It is also interesting to note that the convective movement of air, driven by temperature differences between the warm-blooded animals and the cold interior surfaces, would have been significant enough to drive the flow of air. Plus, wind blowing into the window would have enhanced the ventilation further. However, if supplementary ventilation was necessary, it could have been provided by wave motion, fire thermal, or even a small number of animals harnessed to slow-moving rotary fans.

    What Did Noah and His Family Do with the Animal Waste?

    As much as 12 U.S. tons (11 m. tons) of animal waste may have been produced daily. The key to keeping the enclosures clean was to avoid the need for Noah and his family to do the work. The right systems could also prevent the need to change animal bedding. Noah could have accomplished this in several ways. One possibility would be to allow the waste to accumulate below the animals, much as we see in modern pet shops. In this regard, there could have been slatted floors, and animals could have trampled their waste into the pits below. Small animals, such as birds, could have multiple levels in their enclosures, and waste could have simply accumulated at the bottom of each.

    The danger of toxic or explosive manure gases, such as methane, would be alleviated by the constant movement of the Ark, which would have allowed manure gases to be constantly released. Secondly, methane, which is half the density of air, would quickly find its way out of a small opening such as a window. There is no reason to believe that the levels of these gases within the Ark would have approached hazardous levels.

    Alternatively, sloped floors would have allowed the waste to flow into large central gutters. Noah s family could have then dumped this overboard without an excessive expenditure of manpower.

    The problem of manure odor may, at first thought, seem insurmountable. But we must remember that, throughout most of human history, humans lived together with their farm animals. Barns, separate from human living quarters, are a relatively recent development.

    While the voyage of the Ark may not have been comfortable or easy, it was certainly doable, even under such unprecedented circumstances.













decking material bamboo