Buying Quality Furniture
Jan 29 2017 Home Improvement furniture woodThis article is going to discuss some of the most important factors that should be considered when purchasing new furniture. An elegant furniture is crucial in adding value to your home.
Wood furniture
Composition
Most people have a notion that softwood is soft while hardwoods are hard in nature. However, this is not true. Hardwood is the indigenous or deciduous trees whereas the softwoods are the coniferous trees. In fact, there are some hardwoods which are softer than the softwoods. The surface of the wood which is exposed should be scratch resistant. You can test this by drawing a line using your fingernails across the wood surface.
Scratch –resistant wood are considered to be of high quality and are durable. Any sturdy plywood or solid wood is highly resistant to scratching. The best plywood should have nine layers. Besides, you should ensure that the wood chosen does not have knots since knots are susceptible to cracking. Woods which are ‘’knottier’’ are less desirable. Pressed wood, fibreboard and particle board should also be avoided. Veneer-This is a premium wood used for covering the low-quality wood. This piece of wood is very effective, and it can also be used in making high–quality furniture.
Construction
The quality of the furniture is highly dependent on the construction of joints. Anything which is held together by use of nails or staples is shoddy construction. Dovetail or mortise-and-tenon is the best joints in construction. Dowel joints too are effective just like the screws. All the corners should have a reinforced block which is attached at an appropriate angle.
Upholstered furniture
Composition
You should unzip the seat covers of the removable cushions. This will enable you in checking inside the chair of the sofa. Both the sofas and the chairs contain a block of foam which is wrapped with cotton, or Dacron. A protective cover should cover this block of foam. Foam-only cushions are considered to be less comfortable and less durable. The density of the foam’s seat should have a rating or at least 1.8 pounds.
Construction
The different items can be tested by sitting on them in various spots. Establish whether you sink or tip, the removable cushions should be lifted and pressed down. This will enable you to feel the spacing and the resistance of the cushions to pressure. The back and the arms should be squeezed. You should ensure that the frame is not felt through the padding.
What You Need To Know About Lithium-ion Batteries
Jan 25 2017 Technology batteries electronics lithium-ion batteriesLithium-ion batteries have gained a lot of popularity in the electronic industry. The can be used in different types of electronics. You can find them in the following items phones, MP3 players, laptops and in PDAs. This shows that they have a wide application in the consumer electronics. They are batteries with a high power density and a long service life. Also, these batteries are environmentally friendly. These batteries have a wide range of advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of lithium-ion batteries
Low maintenance
The performances of these batteries do not require maintenance. They can operate at the optimum level without any maintenance. There are some types of batteries such as nickel-based units which cannot operate without being regularly discharged.
High energy density
Lithium –ion batteries are featured with a high power density. The high density of power gives them a high power rating irrespective of their small size. These batteries have a compact size which makes them very popular in the mobile and electronics industry.
Quick charging
Lithium –ion batteries can be charged quickly. It takes less time to e charged fully as compared to the other types of batteries. This is the main reason why these batteries are used in tablets and phones which require being regularly charged.
Light and portable
These batteries are relatively light in weight. This makes them an ideal choice for most of the mobile applications. Apart from the small items such as phone, these batteries are also popular in golf carts, and in the electric cars. They also have a wide application in other industries such as in the medical and aerospace industries.
Low self-discharge
The discharge rate of the lithium battery is lower as compared to the other batteries. The other batteries lose a significant amount of charge once they get disconnected from the source of power. For example, Nickel-cadmium battery is known for losing its charge when it is left unused.
The cons of lithium-ion batteries
Transportation
The lithium-ion battery cannot be transported easily since it has some restrictions in place. It is not possible to carry these batteries in high volume especially by air. However, you can fly with some devices having these batteries as part of your luggage.
Expensive
The process involved in making these batteries is quite expensive and long. The average cost of making the lithium-ion battery is forty percent higher when compared with the nickel cadmium one.
Circuit protection
The life span of this battery can be shortened if it is regularly overcharged. However, most of the lithium ion batteries have an-inbuilt protection for maintaining the voltage and current to ensure that they are kept within the safe limits.