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4br OCTOBER SPECIAL 50% OFF RENT/ Quaint 4 bed 3 bath house for rent in Atlanta, Georgia For Sale
Date/Time:13 Nov, 06:54 a.m. EST
Type: Roommates, For Sale - Private.
$xxxx per month - 4 Bed / 2 Bath
xxxx Akins Ridge Ln, Powder Springs, GA, xxxx7
Contact: spiritrents
(404) 465-xxxx
Cozy 4 bedroom 2 bathromm house for rent/OCTOBER SPECIAL 50% OFF RENT
Price $xxxx This is a lovely split level house is located in powder springs and is very cozy. (Mother-in-law suite) Freshly painted, carpeted staircases, large eat in kitchen, Spacious livingroom with fire place, nice diningroom which leads out to back deck and spacious fenced in yard. 2 car garage, washer/dryer connections Schools Powder Springs Elementary Austell Intermediate School Clarksdale Elementary
Rent: $xxxx per month
Property type: Single-Family Home
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Size: xxxx sqft
(See below for additional photos)
Equal Housing Opportunity - Trulia Rentals
Posted: Oct 11, xxxx, 6:44 AM PDT
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text:
This invention related to a high carbon and high molybdenum/tungsten martenisitic type iron base alloy with excellent hot hardness and wear resistance for making valve seat insert. The alloy comprises of 2.05-3.60 wt % carbon, 0.1-3.0 wt % silicon, 0-2.0 wt % manganese, 3.0-10.0 wt % chromium, 11.0-25.0 wt % molybdenum and tungsten, 0.1-6.5 wt % nickel, 0-8.0 wt % vanadium, 0-6.0 wt % niobium, 0-8.0 wt % cobalt, and the balance being iron with impurities.
1. A martensitic wear resistant iron base alloy with excellent hot hardness and wear resistance comprising:
a) about 2.05 to about 3.60 wt % carbon;
b) about 3.0 to about 10.0 wt % chromium;
c) about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % silicon;
d) about 0 to about 8.0 wt % cobalt;
e) about 11.0 to about 25.0 wt % of molybdenum;
f) about 0.1 to about 6.5 wt % nickel;
g) about 0.0 to about 8.0 wt % vanadium;
h) about 0.0 to about 6.0 wt % niobium;
i) about 0 to about 2.0 wt % manganese;
j) less than 0.5 wt % aluminum; and
k) the balance being iron and impurities,
l) wherein i) the alloy has been tempered from an as-cast condition so that substantially all residual austenite is changed to martensite, ii) the alloy contains alloy carbides embedded in a matrix of tempered martensite, the alloy carbides consisting essentially of carbides formed during solidification from casting a melt of the alloy composition, and; iii) the alloy is capable of having, after being heat treated at a temperature of 1200� F. for one hour and then liquid nitrogen chilled, a hot hardness ratio, defined as hot hardness at 800� F. divided by room temperature hardness, of at least 0.8219.
2. An internal combustion engine component comprising the alloy of
3. The alloy composition of
4. The alloy composition of
5. The alloy composition of
6. The alloy composition of
7. The alloy composition of
8. The alloy composition of
9. The alloy composition of
10. The alloy composition of
11. The alloy composition of
12. The alloy composition of
13. A martensitic wear resistant iron base alloy with excellent hot hardness and wear resistance comprising:
a) about 2.05 to about 3.60 wt % carbon;
b) about 3.0 to about 12.0 wt % chromium;
c) about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % silicon;
d) about 0.0 to about 8.0 wt % cobalt;
e) about 11.0 to about 25.0 wt % of molybdenum and tungsten, with the molybdenum content of the alloy being at least 11.0 wt %;
f) about 0.1 to about 6.5 wt % nickel;
g) about 0.0 to about 8.0 wt % vanadium;
h) about 0.0 to about 6.0 wt % niobium;
i) about 0 to about 2.0 wt % manganese;
j) less than 0.5 wt % aluminum; and
k) the balance being iron and impurities,
l) wherein i) the alloy has been tempered from an as-cast condition so that substantially all residual austenite is changed to martensite ii) the alloy contains alloy carbides embedded in a matrix of tempered martensite, the alloy carbides consisting essentially of carbides formed during solidification from casting a melt of the alloy composition, and; iii) the alloy is capable of having, after being heat treated at a temperature of 1200� F. for one hour and then liquid nitrogen chilled, a hot hardness ratio, defined as hot hardness at 800� F. divided by room temperature hardness, of at least 0.8219.
14. An internal combustion engine component comprising the alloy of
15. The alloy composition of
16. The alloy composition of
17. The alloy composition of
18. The alloy composition of
19. The alloy composition of
20. The alloy composition of
21. The alloy composition of
22. The alloy composition of
23. The alloy composition of
24. The alloy composition of
25. The alloy composition of
26. The alloy composition of
27. A method of making a cast product of a martensitic wear resistant iron base alloy with excellent hot hardness and wear resistance comprising:
a) making an alloy melt comprising
i) about 2.05 to about 3.60 wt % carbon;
ii) about 3.0 to about 10.0 wt % chromium;
iii) about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % silicon;
iv) about 0 to about 8.0 wt % cobalt;
v) about 11 .0 to about 25.0 wt % of molybdenum;
vi) about 0.1 to about 6.5 wt % nickel;
vii) about 0.0 to about 8.0 wt % vanadium;
viii) about 0.0 to about 6.0 wt % niobium;
ix) about 0 to about 2.0 wt % manganese;
x) less than 0.5 wt % aluminum; and
xi) the balance being iron and impurities;
b) casting the alloy melt into a mold and allowing the alloy to solidify under conditions that form alloy carbides and a solid solution strengthened matrix of martensite and residual austenite in the solidified alloy, wherein the alloy is capable of having, after being heat treated at a temperature of 1200� F. for one hour and then liquid nitrogen chilled, a hot hardness ratio, defined as hot hardness at 800� F. divided by room temperature hardness, of at least 0.8219; and
c) tempering the solidified alloy under conditions such that substantially all residual austenite is changed to martensite, and the tempered product contains alloy carbides embedded in a matrix of tempered martensite.
28. The method of
29. The method of
30. The alloy of
31. The alloy of
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application No. 60/586,494, filed Jul. 8, 2004
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a cast wear resistant martensitic type iron base alloy containing high carbon, high molybdenum and/or tungsten and other alloy elements like vanadium and niobium, to improve hot hardness and wear resistance for making internal combustion engine valve seat inserts (VSI), where carbon is in the range of 2.05-3.60 wt. % and molybdenum plus tungsten is in the range of 11.0-25.0 wt %. The inventive alloy is especially useful to make exhaust VSls used in heavy duty internal combustion engines where the working conditions are severe enough to demand for VSI alloys with excellent wear resistance. On the other hand, this alloy also relates to high carbon and high alloy type steels and cast irons. In a further aspect, this invention relates to components made from such alloys, either cast or hardfaced. Alternatively, components made of such alloys may be made by conventional powder metallurgy methods either by cold pressing and sintering or by hot pressing at elevated pressures for wear resistant applications.
2. Prior Art
High temperature wear resistance is the most important property for exhaust VSI alloys used in internal combustion engines, where the average exhaust VSI seat surface working temperature is 550-950� F. Hot hardness or high temperature hardness is one of the key factors affecting wear resistance of exhaust VSI materials. Iron, nickel and cobalt base alloys are the most common alloy families used for making exhaust VSIs in diesel or dry fuel internal combustion engines. High carbon and high chromium type nickel base alloys were developed in 1970s as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,999 to replace Stellite type cobalt base alloy as exhaust VSI materials, and these nickel base alloys are still in use in less demanding engine applications. Because of their relatively lower cost, iron base alloys, like M2 tool steel, are also found their applications as VSI materials in many diesel engines where the working conditions are within the performance range of these iron base alloys. In the early 1990s, a high speed type iron base alloy was developed and the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,449, to fill the gap between nickel base alloys and cobalt base alloys as exhaust VSI material. It was the first VSI alloy utilizing alloy element niobium with higher amount of molybdenum, tungsten and chromium, etc. to improve wear and oxidation resistance. Because of its high performance-to-cost ratio, this alloy has been widely used as an exhaust VSI material in diesel engine industry. Wear resistant alloy carbides with tempered martensitic matrix and adequate oxidation resistance are the essential factors for good wear resistance of the iron base alloy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,449 discloses an alloy in which carbon is 1.6-2.0%, chromium 6.0-9.0%, the total of molybdenum plus tungsten is 11.0-14.0%, vanadium 1.0-8.0%, niobium 0.5-5.0%, cobalt 2.0-12.0%, and iron being balance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,905 discloses an iron base alloy as diesel engine VSI material. This alloy contains carbon 1.2-1.8%, boron 0.005-0.5%, vanadium 0.7-1.5%, chromium 7-11%, niobium 1-3.5%, molybdenum 6-11%, and the balance including iron and incidental impurities.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,338 discloses another iron base alloy for diesel engine VSI applications. The alloy composes of carbon 1.1-1.4%, chromium 11-14.5%, molybdenum 4.75-6.25%, tungsten 3.5-4.5%, cobalt 0-3%, niobium 1.5-2.5%, anadium 1-1.75%, copper 0-2.5%, silicon 0-1%, nickel 0-0.8%, iron being the balance with impurities.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,816 discloses an austenitic type iron base alloy with good corrosion resistance. The chemical composition of the alloy is 0.7-2.4% carbon, 1.5-4.0% silicon, 3.0-9.0% chromium, less than 6.0% manganese, 5.0-20.0% molybdenum and tungsten, the total of vanadium and niobium 0-4.0%, titanium 0-1.5%, aluminum 0.01-0.5%, nickel 12.0-25.0%, copper 0-3.0%, and at least 45.0% iron.
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/074,068 discloses another type of wear resistant alloy containing residual austenite as VSI material. This alloy contains 2.0-4.0% carbon, 3.0-9.0% chromium, 0.0-4.0% manganese, 5.0-15.0% molybdenum, 0.0-6.0% tungsten, 0.0-6.0% vanadium, 0.0-4.0 niobium, 7.0-15.0% nickel, 0.0-6.0% cobalt, and the balance being iron with impurities.
However, the VSI material disclosed in these patents do not exhibit a sufficiently high wear resistance required for many new internal combustion engines which have higher power output and combustion pressure and produce less emission. Also, the hot hardness and wear resistance of the VSI material disclosed in these patents is not high enough for these new engines. Although cobalt base alloys like Stellite� 3 or Tribaloy� T-400 offer adequate hot hardness and wear resistance as VSI materials in certain demanding applications, the high cost of cobalt element limits these cobalt base alloys to be widely accepted in the engine industry. On the other hand, as the alloy content in iron base alloys reaches a fairly high level, like in U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,449, manufacturing cost becomes a significant factor to determine if the iron base alloys will be competitive in performance to cost ratio compared to cobalt base alloys. The casting VSI manufacturing cost is affected by casting scrap rate, alloy heat treatment cost, machining ability, and inspection of these casting wear resistant alloys etc. For a given casting technique, the casting scrap rate and heat treatment response are directly affected by alloy chemical compositions. Though VSI machining ability is also affected by the alloy chemical composition it is difficult to achieve good wear resistance and good machining ability at the same time in this group of alloy.
It is an object of this invention to develop an iron base alloy with an acceptable casting scrap rate and good heat treatment characteristics.
Another object is an iron base alloy with excellent wear resistance and good hot hardness for VSI application.
The new iron base alloy contains a large amount of refractory alloy elements, like molybdenum and tungsten, to provide better hot hardness and therefore better high temperature wear resistance. The hot hardness of the inventive alloy is significantly higher than current martensitic type iron base VSI alloys due to its large amount of alloy carbides embedded in a tempered martensitic matrix. The solid solution strengthened matrix is one of the most important factors contributing to the excellent hot hardness of the inventive alloy. The existence of a large amount of alloy carbides in the solid solution strengthened matrix increases the hardness of the inventive alloys at high temperature while the alloyed matrix also provides better resistance against softening at high temperatures. A better hot hardness is a necessary condition to achieve excellent wear resistance as common VSI wear mechanisms involve plastic deformation and indentation processes. On the other hand, this high alloy iron base alloy also has an acceptable casting scrap rate and good heat treatment characteristics so that it is possible to achieve a lower manufacturing cost.
The present invention is an alloy with the following composition:
Additionally, a small amount of strong carbide forming elements like titanium, zirconium, hafnium, and tantalum may be added to the inventive alloys, and each one of them is limited to less than 1.0 wt %. Aluminum may be used as degassing element when melting this alloy. The amount of aluminum in the inventive alloy is less than 0.5 wt %. Whether in raw materials or added as alloy elements, boron, lead, tin, and bismuth should be limited to 0.5 wt % in order to ensure mechanical and other useful properties of the inventive alloys. Phosphors and sulfur are harmful to casting properties of the inventive alloys. These two elements should be limited to less than 0.2 wt %. Other trace amount of elements may exist in the inventive alloys as impurities from raw materials.
In another aspect of the invention, metal components are either made of the alloy, such as by casting or powder metallurgy method by forming from a powder and sintering. Furthermore, the alloy is used to hardface the components as the protective coating.
The microstructure of most traditional VSI iron base alloys, like high speed steels and high chromium type alloys, consists of hard alloy carbides and tempered martensite matrix to achieve good wear resistance. The tempered martensite is also strengthened by solution atoms like chromium, tungsten, molybdenum and chromium, etc. The design principle of high speed steels has been proved to be effective to obtain high wear resistance in different cutting tools where high room temperature hardness and hot hardness are essential to retain a sharp edge during cutting operation. The high hardness is obtained through quenching and later secondary hardening at tempering process in the alloys. However, carbon content in these standard high speed steels are general less than 2.0% and these steels also do not contain any nickel as nickel intends to increase and stabilize residual austenite that will decrease maximum hardness attainable through heat treatment.
Since wear of exhaust VSI material in diesel engines is the result of relative mechanical motion between valve seating surface and insert seating surface, which is characterized as high frequent normal contacting plus small amplitude sliding from valve head deflection under high contact pressure with the influence of high temperature and combustion deposits. Oxidation, plastic deformation and metal to metal wear resistance under boundary lubrication condition are important material parameters affecting the service life of VSI. VSI materials with good hot hardness are a basic requirement in order to utilize the above material properties for high temperature and more severe conditions. Traditionally, a certain amount of cobalt was added to increase hot hardness of high speed steels, and the amount of cobalt contained in these steels is normally around 5.0% but can be up to 15.0% in special cases. Through extensive experimental studies, we found that increasing carbon and refractory alloy elements further improves hot hardness in the inventive alloys. Addition of a small amount of nickel is beneficial to hot hardness of the inventive alloys. Nickel also improves oxidation resistance of the matrix. However, nickel stabilizes residual austenite in as cast state, and the negative effect on heat treatment is offset by using a certain amount of other alloy elements in the inventive alloys. It is found that addition of niobium also has a positive effect on the hot hardness of the inventive alloys. Chromium is another element contributing to good hot hardness and also improves casting scrap rate of the inventive alloys.
Using a large volume fraction of alloy carbide is also beneficial to the wear resistance of the inventive alloys. Besides forming wear resistant refractory carbides and strengthening matrix, a higher concentration of molybdenum and/or tungsten helps to form an oxide film with reduced frictional coefficient in VSI operated at high temperature, which is beneficial to the wear resistance of the inventive alloys.
Listed in table 1 below are sample alloys with the nominal compositions indicated. The sample alloys were cast and machined for heat treatment response, scrap rate tendency, wear and hot hardness tests.
Sample alloys 1-7 are comparative example alloys in which their chemical compositions are out of the claimed ranges.
A pin-on-disk wear tester was used to measure the sliding wear resistance of the alloy samples. Sliding wear is an important consideration in the wear mechanism of VSIs due to relative sliding motion that occurs between the valves and VSIs in internal combustion engines. The pin specimen was 6.35 mm in diameter and approximately 24.5 mm long and was made of Eatonite 6, a common valve alloy used for diesel engines. The disks were made of insert alloys with dimensions of 50.8 mm in diameter and 12.5 mm thickness. The testing temperature was 800� F. (427� C.), as the exhaust VSIs normally work at this temperature. The tests were performed with reference to ASTM G99-90. The disk samples were rotated at a velocity of 0.13 m/s for a total sliding distance of 255 m. The weight loss was measured on both the pin and the disk samples after each test using a balance with 0.1 mg precision. The high temperature pin-on-disk wear test results of some sample alloys are listed in table 2. Alloys with less weight loss have better wear resistance than alloys with higher weight loss. The weight loss of each inventive alloy in table 2 is less than comparative sample alloy No. 5. Sample alloys with higher carbon content exhibit less weight loss in pin-on-disk wear testing.
A pulse wear tester was used to measure wear resistance under high frequent contact conditions similar to experienced by VSI in internal combustion engines. The principle of the pulse wear tester is described in a technical paper from Society of Automotive Engineers (1999-01-1319). A shaft with an upper pin specimen, made of valve or valve hardfacing alloy, moves up and down to generate contact motion driven by a camshaft while other motor drives insert shaft to generate sliding motion between valve and insert pin specimens. The pulse wear tests were carried out at 3000 psi contact pressure and 1000 contacts per minute in 427� C. temperatures conditions. Specimen length change is used to measure wear loss. Four Vickers indentation marks spaced at 90 degree are made for wear measurement. The diagonal length of each indentation mark is measured before and after wear test. Eatonite 6 was used as the pin alloy because it is a common valve facing alloy. Eatonite 6 is an austenitic iron base alloy developed by Eaton Corporation. The results from pulse wear tester indicate that the total wear loss from inventive sample alloy No 16 is much less than comparative sample alloy No. 6.
A 60 pound induction furnace is used to melt different sample alloys, and about 200 pieces of ring shaped castings are made in shell sand molds. These castings were heat treated and then machined. The dimensions of the scrap test casting are 44 mm in outer diameter, 31 mm in inner diameter, and 7 mm in thickness. Any gas hole, slag hole, and slag inclusion are defined as casting defect. The scrap rate is equal to the percentage of scrap pieces divided by the total pieces of samples examined. Scrap rate of a sample alloy may not be exactly the same as its production scrap rate because of variation of melting and other casting process parameters and the different inspection quality standards. However, it provides an indication of influence of different alloy elements on the scrap rate. As shown in table 4, the casting scrap rates of these sample alloys are in a fairly reasonably range for high alloy castings.
Heat treatment is an essential process in the production of VSI using the inventive alloys. It is inevitable to have a certain amount of residual austenite in high speed steel type VSI in as-cast state as some alloy elements promote formation of residual austenite and also increase the stability of the residual austenite. The residual austenite must be removed to ensure VSI dimensional stability because any dimensional changes in VSI will cause distortion or fall-out problems. The residual austenite can transform into martensite under repeated heating and cooling cycles in engine operational condition, and carbides will precipitate from the newly formed martensite under high temperature. These two processes can lead to a significant dimensional change of VSI. Hence all residual austenite in VSI made from the inventive alloys must be changed during heat treatment processes in order to ensure high dimensional stability of VSI made from the inventive alloys. Because of higher alloy element content, like carbon, molybdenum, tungsten, and nickel, used to improve hot hardness and wear resistance in the present invention, these alloy elements can greatly increase residual austenite stability, and a more stable residual austenite increases heat treatment difficulties or even makes it impossible to transform the highly stabilized residual austenite in normal tempering process. Thus, it is important to evaluate if these example alloys are practical for normal heat treatment process like tempering.
A simple and effective magnetic balance testing method is used to evaluate heat treatment response of the inventive alloys by examining the stability of residual austenite in sample alloys. The higher the magnetic attractive force values after heat treatment the better the heat treatment response of a sample alloy. A ring-shaped sample is placed on a balance with precision to 0.01 gram and then an iron-neodymium-boron permanent magnet with dimensions of 3 mm diameter and 4 mm thickness is placed above the ring sample. The spacing between the magnet and the sample is 1.27 mm. The weight of each testing sample is recorded with or without the magnetic. The difference in weight with and without the magnet is the magnetic attraction force. Since residual austenite is ferr-magnetic and martensite is ferro-magnetic, the more residual austenite in a sample alloy, the less the magnetic attraction force. As shown in table 5, the magnetic force of fully heat treated M2 tool with 100% martensite matrix is about 160 gram while the magnetic force of an austenitic alloy with 100% austenite matrix is about 0.3 gram. To the first approximation, the content of martensite in a sample alloy can be estimated as being roughly proportional to the magnetic attraction force.
Table 5 lists results of magnetic test of some example alloys. All sample alloys tested are heat treated at 1200� F. for one hour and then air cool, a common condition used as first tempering treatment. The dimensions of the magnetic test ring specimen are 45 mm outer diameter, 32 mm inner diameter and 5 mm thickness. Magnetic attraction force is measured in as-cast state and after heat treatment.
Increasing nickel content can increase residual austenite stability as nickel content changes from 0.5 to 6.0 wt % in sample alloys No. 19 to 24, however, when nickel content is 6.0 wt % in example alloy 24 it is difficult to remove all residual austenite in tempering process because there is still a fair amount of residual austenite left after one hour at 1200� F. (649� C.) tempering treatment. Therefore, the upper limit of nickel content is set at 6.5 wt %. Beyond this limit it is difficult to remove all residual austenite in VSI in as-cast state through heat treatment. Carbon is another element with a strong effect on the stability of residual austenite. Residual austenite stability remains little changed with carbon content when carbon content changes from 2.05 to 2.30 wt %. Residual austenite becomes fairly stable when carbon content is in 2.60-3.40 wt %. Carbon is preferred to be less than 2.40 wt %. However, for hot hardness and wear resistance the upper limit of carbon is set at 3.60 wt %. Increasing niobium can decrease residual austenite stability as niobium increases from 0.5 to 4.0 wt %. The upper limit of niobium is set at 6.0 wt %. Chromium is another alloy element exhibiting strong influence on the stability of residual austenite found in the inventive alloys. Too much chromium makes residual austenite difficult to transform into martensite in the inventive alloys. The upper limit for chromium is 10.0 wt %. Contrary to the effect of cobalt in high speed steels, cobalt can stabilize the residual austenite in the inventive alloys.
Hot hardness of each sample alloy was measured in a Vickers type high temperature hardness tester at specific temperature. Ring specimens with 45 mm outer diameter, 32 mm inner diameter and 5 mm thickness were used as hot hardness specimens. All specimens were ground using 180, 400, and 600 SiC sand papers, then polished with 6 micro diamond paste and 0.02 micro alumina slurry, respectively. The specimen and the indenter were kept at 800� F. (427� C.) for 30 minutes under argon atmosphere to ensure uniform temperature in both the specimen and indenter. The Vickers indenter is made of sapphire with a 136� face angle. According to ASTM Standard Test Method E92082, 10 to 15 indentations were made along each ring specimen surface. The two indentation diagonals of each indentation were measured using a filar scale under a light microscope, and the values converted to Vickers hardness number using ASTM E140-78 Standard Hardness Conversion Table for Metals. All hot hardness samples are heat treated at 1200� F. for one hour and then liquid nitrogen chilled to remove any residual austenite. The hot hardness ratio is defined as hot hardness at 800� F. divided by room temperature hardness of the same sample alloy in order to compare hot hardness of sample alloys with different room temperature hardness. The hot hardness ratios of comparative sample alloy Nos. 3, 5, and 6 are between 0.7466 and 0.8209 while the ratios of most sample alloys of the invention are higher than those from comparative alloys. Sample alloy No. 10 with 6.0 wt % vanadium has a high value of the hot hardness ratio, indicating higher vanadium is beneficial to the hot hardness ratio, therefore, the upper limit of vanadium is set at 8.0 wt %. In sample alloy Nos. 11, 15, and 16, increasing niobium significantly increases hot hardness of sample alloys. Sample alloy No. 16 with 4.0 wt % niobium gives the highest hot hardness ratio among all sample alloys. Nickel shows its positive contribution to the hot hardness ratio as indicated in sample alloy Nos. 11, 15, and 16. In sample alloys Nos. 40 and 42, addition of cobalt to the inventive alloys also increases the hot hardness ratios of these sample alloys. Therefore, the upper limit of cobalt is set at 8.0 wt % in the inventive alloys.
It should be appreciated that the alloys of the present invention are capable of being incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, only a few of which have been illustrated and described. The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. It should be appreciated that the addition of some other ingredients, process steps, materials or components not specifically included will have an adverse impact on the present invention. The best mode of the invention may, therefore, exclude ingredients, process steps, materials or components other than those listed above for inclusion or use in the invention. However, the described embodiments are considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
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|Jul 20, 2004, 09:05 PM
Joined Oct 2003
2,421 Posts
|Jul 20, 2004, 09:16 PM
Joined Oct 2003
2,421 Posts
more pics (hellcat)
|Jul 21, 2004, 02:24 PM
Joined Oct 2003
2,421 Posts
Thanks, I did the best I could with the crappy camera I have. Let me know if there are any more pics needed or?
As you can see Matt, the micro gear is a dream and not reallity yet and both planes have seen better days. Both planes had MANY good flights and the Hellcat was a good flyer for more than 6 months before it got this way and needed a rebuild. The Warhawk went in because of RF noise, anntinna doesn't like carbon fiber rod very much.
|Jul 21, 2004, 05:10 PM
Matt Cotten,
On the P-40, did you replace all the 1/16th in. stringers with carbon fiber rods?
Does this lighten the structure at all?
|Jul 21, 2004, 06:37 PM
Joined Oct 2003
2,421 Posts
|Apr 24, 2005, 11:56 AM
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Joined Nov 2003
500 Posts
Finally got around to finishing my Guillows Hellcat. Homemade CDrom motor pulling 5amps, 340 Kokams, CC 10 controller, GWS pico receiver, 2 blue arrow servos 4.3gm. Total AUW is 3.7oz. Next build will be lighter. Can't wait to maiden her, just need to wait for a nice calm day. Going to paint her later, since I would like to see how she flies before going through the effort. Doculam covering is a great material to work with, going to use this method when I can.
|Apr 24, 2005, 02:10 PM
What is the area of your wing? Because if that is a 16" wing, the weight is a bit much. If your model is the 16" WS version, then you definately want to be under 3 oz AUW. My AUW was around 3.2 or so if I remember correctly and it was like a rocket.
|Apr 24, 2005, 04:25 PM
Phoenix, AZ
Joined Jul 2001
832 Posts
I have a couple of these now, including a Stang at 64g...and a Hellcat that is gonna be right at 2oz assuming I can stop adding 'features'.
they fly great up to about 4oz, obviously a 'bit' faster at the higher weights.
I want a 900Mhz system for my next one, if they can really do 1000' range...
It might be possible to get under an ounce with that system.
|Apr 25, 2005, 07:46 AM
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Joined Nov 2003
500 Posts
Hi Matt,
Oops, just edited my previous post. AUW is 3.7oz. which is a known flying wieght. I haven't calculated the wing area, but as you can see I did extend the area out by adding aileron controls to what was the existing frame. I know it's going to be a heavy plane, but it's built very sturdy and with the CDrom motor, it will have plenty of thrust. I was trying for 3.5oz but did not want to remove the covers for the servos. I suspect it will be a handful to fly, but the ailerons have a built in washout. If I can keep it in the air long enough to trim without crashing it then it should be a fun little rocket.
|Apr 25, 2005, 08:12 AM
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Joined Nov 2003
500 Posts
Hi Watersharer,
How did you get a hellcat with an AUW of 2oz? My next build, I will CNC all new parts for a lighter setup if this hellcat shows promise. Already trying to find a lighter motor design.
|Apr 25, 2005, 02:38 PM
Phoenix, AZ
Joined Jul 2001
832 Posts
replaced all formers with 1mm depron, using Cirrus MJ gear, 2s2p 145mAH batteries...it all adds up... I have photos, but my camera software is acting up. Once I get them online I will start a thread, since I think a few of the things I did are worth posting. It think I might have mentioned the build earlier in this thread or maybe another Guillows thread...
Probably the single biggest improvement was the 1mm depron...all of the formers in depron weighed less than 4 formers from 1 side of the keel in balsa...Guillows uses some heavy wood.
I also deleted a few stringers, and replaced the rest with stringers I cut from 6lb balsa.
All pretty easy stuff...
|Apr 25, 2005, 03:11 PM
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Joined Nov 2003
500 Posts
That might not work for me if I stick with doculam covering. Did you cover yours with tissue?
|Apr 25, 2005, 04:17 PM
Phoenix, AZ
Joined Jul 2001
832 Posts
i dont think there was too much loss of structural strength...I havent covered yet, but will likely use pre-doped tissue...I havent used doculam so I cant speak to its suitability.
With the weight savings, 2mm depron could be used without penalty, as I have read that there is not much difference in the two. And you might pick up even more strength...another idea would be to use balsa in the forward fuse and depron in the boom where less strength is required.
I have a Mustang using MJ gear and the EDP50xc...it weighs just over 2oz and flies like a dream, nice speed range and slows great for landings...it has tissue covering. I like working with the tissue, but films are nice as well.
With the new 900mhz and similar systems, it may be possible to build one light enough to drop to a single cell system, like this..
I think a 37g AUW and 1:1 power-to-weight might be possible with a Guillows kit. We'll see who does it first.
|Apr 25, 2005, 07:37 PM
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Joined Nov 2003
500 Posts
That system is nice, I'll have to look into it when they get the servos. The reason depron won't work with doculam is because of the high heat needed to shrink the covering material. Doculam paints well and looks great when painted. It is also amazingly tough and gives the plane structural strength, it would be hard for me to give up these qualities. Instead, I would rather look for lighter equipment and mill out my own formers. First, I need to see if this hellcat is as fun to fly as my larger planes. Just waiting for a calm day. Don't worry, I like flying fast
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Here's my opinion:
Game=Neverwinter Nights or Vampire The Masquerade
Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, if you watched the series you'll know why. Comanding big robots, conflict with bad guys you can clearly identify. So much honor and so much character in that universe.
KenX you want to live in the Resident Evil world? how come?
Here's my opinion:
Game=Neverwinter Nights or Vampire The Masquerade
Hello to every one in animeOnline I'm new to this forum.
While looking through the site i came across this thread and decided to post my 1st reply. For an anime world for me it would have to be ghost in the shell, you just can't beat those stealth suits and jumping in the back of one of those little Tachikoma mech's from S.A.C man their nippy, I mean imagine being a bad boy ghost hacker exposing all the shit that's going on in the world.
Game would.... let me see..... With all the crazy technology of S.A.C I'd have to take a step back and say the world of Prince of Persia, back flipping somersaulting around the place and to live in a sultan's palace, taking a lazy stroll through the court yards that would be a bit special


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Gettysburg is a truly diverse place to visit. On one hand you have a living breathing history lesson like nothing you ever learned in school. Plus great places to eat, wonderful taverns to "wet your whistle" and even ghostly encounters.
One place to have a true piece of history for your very own is the Inn at Lincoln Square.
My husband and I stayed in the MARY JULIET DANNER SUITE March 19 -21, 2014. I won't tell all because that would spoil some of the surprises you will not find included in the brochure.
A home away from home, this beautifully furnished first floor apartment is cleaner than my own home. It's in the middle of everything. I sat one afternoon and just looked out the window at the changing scene in front of me.
The innkeeper, Jeannine, likes what she does and it is reflected in every nuance of the property. She will be there for you if you need her.
I don't always care for B&Bs. But this one made me fall in love.
Now... just make sure you don't book my suite on the days when I want to come back.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Stunning brick Civil War property uniquely situated on the Historic Lincoln Square. One of the most beautifully decorated interiors in Gettysburg. ... more less
- Also Known As:
- Inn At Lincoln Square Hotel Gettysburg


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Michael Douglas In Pain But Fighting On
Picture: Michael Douglas 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' star walking his daughter to school New York City, USA - 04.10.10
Michael Douglas, the Hollywood legend who was recently diagnosed with throat cancer, is in pain but continues to fight, according to his film director friend Oliver Stone. The three-time Oscar winning filmmaker told the UK's Sun newspaper that Douglas has impressed him with his spirit and determination, saying, "He is fighting hard. It is recoverable, but you never know".
Stone recently directed 66-year-old Douglas in his new movie 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps', a sequel to the 1987 classic that spawned the actor's famous portrayal of investor 'Gordon Gekko'. He praised his lead actor's decision to attend the recent New York premiere of the movie despite his course of chemotherapy, saying, "It was courageous, but at the same time I think it lifted his spirits. I don't think it is easy, he can't go out, people see him. It is also very painful and uncertain".
Douglas was eventually told by doctors in August that he had cancer after weeks of complaining about neck and ear pains, and 64-year-old Stone criticised the delay in diagnosis, telling the Sun, "That's what sucks. Nobody knew a damn thing until August." 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' which also stars Shia LaBeouf, topped the US box-office in its opening weekend, taking more than $35 million.


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2 Quart Glass Mixing Bowl: This medium-sized measuring bowl is the perfect size for those everyday projects. It works well for mixing and pouring when making soap, lotion and bath bombs. We love how you can see what is happening under the surface, allowing you to clearly see if your recipe is fully mixed together. On the outside of the bowl, raised markings that can't wear off allow for accurate measuring of ingredients.
The convenient handle makes holding onto the bowl easy when mixing your creations and the large pour spout is perfect for neatly pouring your soap batter into a mold.
Capacity: 8 cups (64 oz)
Dimensions: 10" (H) X 6" (Width- spout to handle)
"Thank you for your prompt response. Bramble Berry has the best customer service of any company I know of. Pass the word!" -Rene
Kevin of Devinely Designed creates beautiful soap and shares his creations via his YouTube channel, Devinely Designed. With over 100 videos, Kevin has made a name for himself in the community for providing creative and educational soap making videos. From a Dandelion Zebra Swirl Tutorial to his first experience making liquid soap, Kevin's videos are fun and […]
The post Interview with Kevin of Devinely Designed appeared first on Soap Queen.


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Matthieu Aikins is a journalist whose writing on Afghanistan has appeared in Harper's, the Guardian, the Walrus, and other publications. He splits his time between Kabul and New York.Continue reading this entry »
janus metz
What Critics Are Saying About 'Armadillo' – Watch It Tonight!
The critics are buzzing about Armadillo, the Danish war documentary that sparked controversy about the war in Afghanistan in its home country.Continue reading this entry »
Next on POV: 'Armadillo'
POV's 24th season on PBS continues Tuesday, August 30, 2011, with the U.S. broadcast premiere of the Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prix winner Armadillo, one of the most dramatic and candid accounts of combat to come out of Afghanistan.Continue reading this entry »


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6 Bedrooms Villa Best Ocean View In Playa Ocotal
From $194 / night
Hide Property Details
Description from the owner
- 6 bedrooms
- 7 bathrooms
- Sleeps 15
- House
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 7
Sleeps: 15
Type: House6 Bedrooms Villa Best Ocean View In Playa Ocotal
Description from the owner
This custom designed air-conditioned six bedroom seven bathroom 6500 total square foot Luxury Villa is only offered to One Group at a Time for their exclusive and private use; specifically decorated with exotic tropical themes to create memories & experiences as unique as you are.
Premium Quality Beds, Private Bathroom, Seating Areas, Panoramic Scenic Views from Private Balconies or Walk Out Access to the Pool, Blow-dryer, Alarm Clock, Bathrobes, Daily Housekeeping Service, A Safe for Your Passports and Valuables.
Enjoy the Convenience of Poolside Service at the Swim-Up Bar.
Luxury Reigns in the comfort of our fiber optically lit, embellished ...Read more
About the owner
About the owner
Eric Duranton
Eric Duranton
Response rate 15%
Response time Within 4 days
Calendar updated 3 months ago
Overall rating4.3 / 5.0 based on 7 reviews and 10 properties
6 Bedrooms Villa Best Ocean View In Playa Ocotal
Playa Ocotal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Additional Location Information
Playa Ocotal is a wonderfully peaceful place to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing in the sun. Scenic hills and cliffs hem in the beach, and the Catalina Islands sit just offshore. The quaint village of Playa Ocotal is located a few minutes south of the popular beach town of Playas del Coco, where visitors can find numerous restaurants and nightlife options
More About This Location
Beach or lakeside relaxation, Waterfront
Getting There
Nearest airport: Daniel Oduber Intl Airport(LIR), 20 miles
Car is essential
Also Consider
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Hotel Taipa Square
Conveniently connected to the airport in Taipa, Hotel Taipa Square is close to Mandarin's House, Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre, and University of Macau. Additional attractions near this hotel include Macau Tower and Macau Olympic Complex.
Hotel Features.
Hotel Taipa Square has a fitness center and a seasonal outdoor pool. Complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access is available in public areas. The hotel offers a bar/lounge. The staff can provide concierge services, tour/ticket assistance, and wedding services. Additional amenities include a casino, gift shops/newsstands, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby.
The 356 air-conditioned guestrooms at Hotel Taipa Square include slippers and irons/ironing boards. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access. All accommodations provide desks and phones. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.
Hotel location is not bad as there are taxis immediately available. Rooms are big and…
Was expecting the basic service due to the hotel rate but we are very surprised by the…
Enter dates to check prices
Hotel Info: 866-539-8117from $86
- Standard Twin Bed Room
- Deluxe Twin Bed Room
Recommended hotels
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 356 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 21 floors
- Check-in time 2 PM-midnight
- Check-out time is noon
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 18
Travelling with others
- Children (12 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
- Babysitting/childcare
- Pets not allowed
Extra people
- Roll-away beds available, charges may apply*
- Free wired Internet access in public areas
- Free WiFi and wired Internet access in rooms
- Free ferry terminal shuttle
In the hotel
- Breakfast (surcharge)
- Bar/lounge
- 24-hour room service
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Fitness facilities
- Casino
- Number of meeting rooms - 2
- Meeting rooms
- Conference space size (feet) - 700
- Conference space size (meters) - 65
- 24-hour front desk
- Concierge services
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Luggage storage
- Wedding services
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Year Built 2005
- Elevator/lift
- ATM/banking
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Television in lobby
In the room
- Air conditioning
- Slippers
- Iron/ironing board
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Premium bedding
- Private bathroom
- Shower/tub combination
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer (on request)
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Phone
Special features
DiningCassia Court - Onsite restaurant.
Barros - This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Hotel Taipa Square's small print
Also known as
- Taipa Square Hotel
- Taipa Square Macau
- Hotel Taipa Square Macau
- Hotel Taipa Square
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed.
Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
Children under 12 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool or fitness facility without adult supervision.
Parking height restrictions apply.
Mandatory fees
Deposit: MOP 300 per stay
Optional extras
Rollaway beds are available for MOP 300 per night
Breakfast is offered for an extra charge of MOP 60 per person (approximately)
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.


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Beautiful plants at super store cheap.
I've been looking around again at my local Wal-Marts. In the back behind the Christmas stuff they put all their house plants. All are reduced down for clearance. Some beautiful Sansevieria Trifasciata types unmarked. They look like medium growing types with wide black leaves. Some pots have them with gold edges. A 6 inch pot busting at the seams for $2.50. I almost bought some. I just don't have room. What is upsetting for me is nobody seems to care about these plants in this area. I'm all along here. Sad but true.
I just have to build myself a green house.
Hi Stush. Most big box stores, including HD, usually ignore plants.
I find this happens more with tropicals and succulents, than spring, garden plants.
My closest Walmart used to have plants galore until they remodled. The last time we visited, the only plants displayed were decorated, Norfolk Island Pines. No Christmas/Thanksgiving Cactus or Poinsettias. Nothing!!!
But, you're soooo right. Before remodeling, Walmart had two aisles filled w/plants, sat w/o water or care. So many were dead, yet the prices stayed the same.
Then again, if you got there when plants were first delivered the selection was great and plants, healthy.
Stush, there's ALWAYS room, lol. Sans don't take much space. Most can sit on a windowsill for years w/o repotting. They're slow-growers,. and do best when a little root-bound.
Go back and get a one, or two or three. lol. Toni
There doesn't seem to be a uniform policy regarding WM's garden section, the same store can be totally different from year to year, and stores near each other don't always have sales or clearance at the same time. I don't think any of them have a clue how much more they could sell if they made better/more timely/property maintained use of the space. However, since they can't even keep the grocery shelves stocked, or pay more than 2 cashiers at a time, it's not surprising.
Hey Stush,
That's just how it is, I'm sorry to say, but that's what I've observed too. I use a local HD which mistreats some of their stuff, their staff has confessed to me that they're instructed to water TWICE A DAY, no wonder things are often dripping wet!
I've found it's helpful to learn which days your local shop gets deliveries, then get there same day, or next morning, before they've had a chance to mistreat the plants too much.
I find all kinds of things, from time to time. It's partly that the store doesn't really know/appreciate what they've got, nor does most of the public. Sometimes I find less common Hoyas, once in a while a nice Sans. (mostly S. moonshine). I can't save them all, so I settle for just a few every once in a while.
Sanseverias don't need very much water. We had two big old ones next to our fireplace that got no real light. They were quite happy there. All the box stores and even the local feed store is poor about their watering habits. I feel so sorry for the plants. I think the plants are there on consignment from the huge nurseries down south.


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Latest Asteroid Stories
Craters and mysterious bright spots are beginning to pop out in the latest images of Ceres from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. These images, taken Feb. 12 at a distance of 52,000 miles (83,000 kilometers) from the dwarf planet, pose intriguing questions for the science team to explore as the spacecraft nears its destination.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has returned the sharpest images ever seen of the dwarf planet Ceres.
NASA's Dawn spacecraft is nearing Ceres, and new images show a puzzling white spot on its surface.
Vesta, the propoplanet visited by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from 2011 through 2013, may have once been home to short-lived flows of water-mobilized material – a discovery which could have tremendous implications for the field of planetary science, according to the US space agency.
New images of Ceres captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft during its approach to the dwarf planet are the best yet obtained by the spacecraft, and appear to show evidence of craters as well as a mysterious white spot first discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2003.
On January 26, 2015, the 0.6 mile-wide asteroid 2004 BL86 will pass within 745,000 miles of Earth. So...there's not much to worry about. Just get your telescopes ready.
Rather than being planetary building blocks, asteroids and meteorites may actually be the byproducts of planetary collisions occurring billions of years ago, according to researchers from MIT and Purdue University.
After a journey that lasted more than seven years, NASA's Dawn spacecraft has entered its approach phase around Ceres as it prepares to become the first spacecraft ever to visit the Texas-sized dwarf planet.
Every three years, a huge, mountain-sized asteroid crosses orbit with Earth. According to Russian astrophysicist Vladimir Lipunov, this asteroid could hit Earth with an explosion 1,000 times greater than the surprise 2013 impact over Chelyabinsk.
The Dawn spacecraft has delivered a glimpse of Ceres, the largest body in the main asteroid belt, in a new image taken 740,000 miles (1.2 million kilometers) from the dwarf planet. This is Dawn's best image yet of Ceres as the spacecraft makes its way toward this unexplored world.
Latest Asteroid Reference Libraries
Johann Daniel Titius was born on January 2, 1729 in Konitz, Royal Prussia. He was a professor at Wittenberg. He is most famous for the Titius-Bode law, which helped him find the existence of a minor planet at 2.8 AU from the sun in 1766. The planet was later named Ceres. Titius died in Wittenberg on December 11, 1796. To his honor, the Titius asteroid in 1998 and the Titius lunar crater are named after him.
Lagrangian Point -- In Lagrangian mechanics, a Lagrangian point (or L-point) is one of five positions in space where the gravitational fields of two bodies of substantial but differing mass combine to form a point at which a third body of negligible mass would be stationary relative to the two bodies. Bodies at the L-point will not move relative to the parent bodies if they are not perturbed by other gravitational forces. They are sometimes also referred to as libration points. The...
Planet -- A planet is a body of considerable mass that orbits a star and that doesn't produce energy through nuclear fusion. Until recently, only nine were known (all of them in our own Solar system). As of the end of 2002 over 100 are known, with all of the new discoveries being extrasolar planets. Astronomers often call asteroids minor planets, and call the larger planetary bodies (those which are commonly called planets) major planets. Planets within the solar system can be...
Asteroid -- An asteroid, also called a minor planet or planetoid, is a member of a group of small, planet-like bodies that are part of our solar system. They are believed to be remnants of the interstellar clouds, nebula, that were not incorporated into planets during the formation of the solar system. The largest asteroid in the inner solar system is Ceres with a diameter of 1003 km. It also was the first to be discovered, by Giuseppe Piazzi on January 1, 1801. Nowadays, over 9000...
The Solar System refers to the area in space that is dominated by our own Sun. It is comprised of the Sun and its associated astronomical objects that are held in its gravitational orbit. The Solar System was formed as a result of the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The mass of this system is located almost entirely in the Sun. Apart from the Sun, a high percentage of the remainder of the system's mass is located in the eight solitary planets that...
- The governor of a province or people.


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BBC Radio 4 Extra Programmes A to Z - S
Fresh and exciting sketch comedy, including some of the best up-and-coming talent around.
Sampledelica! The History of the Mellotron
An early sampler, this 1960s musical invention's fans include Paul McCartney.
Sarah Millican's Support Group
Comedy by Sarah Millican, who plays Sarah, life counsellor and modern-day agony aunt
Self Storage
When his marriage breaks up, Dave finds himself living in a storage unit.
Shakespeare's Restless World
Neil MacGregor uncovers the stories twenty objects tell us about Shakespeare's world.
Shelagh Stephenson - The Memory of Water
Ahead of their mother's funeral, three sisters tackle unresolved childhood conflicts.
Simon Guerrier - Graceless
Abby and Zara were created by pan-dimensional beings to help save space and time
The Sit Crom
Historical sitcom by Sue Limb, set in the times of Oliver Cromwell
Snapshots in the Dark
Colin Ford tells the stories behind five groundbreaking photographs
So Wrong It's Right
Charlie Brooker hosts the comedy panel show that celebrates glorious failure.
Sport and the British
Clare Balding charts how sport has shaped the British and how Britain has shaped sport
Spread a Little Happiness
Comedy by John Godber and Jane Thornton, set in a Yorkshire sandwich bar
Steve May - Last Man Out
After a jazz gig, the drummer and bar manager pick over the ruins of their lives.
Stilgoe's Around
Songs, laughter and sketches with Richard Stilgoe and guests
Strangers on Trains
Comedies by Nat Segnit and Stewart Wright. Nat talks to people sitting alone on trains


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as many of you know we spent a good 6 months looking for a sofa last year. the combination of our tiny doorway and narrow (v-shaped) hallway meant that practically everything we looked at was too big to get through. now that we've settled on one (room and board's andre), i thought it would be fun to compile a guide to sofas made up of models i tested during our search. i've included groupings according to style (mid-century, classic, sleeper, etc.), designer (mitchell gold + bob williams are a favorie) as well as price (there is a roundup of sofas under $1000, too) so hopefully there will be something in there for everyone. this isn't a definitive look at the entire market but rather groupings that i've personally found to be great models depending on price and style. hope you enjoy!
[image above: Ochre's Velvet Snooze Sofa]
[image above: When I started searching, I wanted something classic—a modern design that would never go out of style. I settled on five top designs. Isamu Noguchi's Free Form Sofa (Center: $9,145 at DWR.com), with its undulating curves and soft upholstery satisfied the need for comfort and style. Sadly, the price was out of my range. Moving on to Eames, I liked the Case Study Day Bed (bottom middle, $1,850 at UnicaHome.com), Sofa Compact (top right: $3,145 at HighBrowFurniture.com) and the recently reissued Eames Sofa (bottom left: $6,998 at DWR.com). Only the Mogensen 2-seat sofa (bottom right) met the comfort test for movie-watching sessions, but its price ($19,205 at MossOnline.com) was a no-go. The Nelson Marshmallow sofa, top left, at Design Within Reach, on the other hand, wasn't nap-ready as I had expected but, if you need something for party seating, this mid-century piece is perfect ($2,825 at DWR.com).]
[image above: Reeling from the price tags on the classics, I checked out budget options, confining myself to $1,000 or less. I found a few in Ikea's collection more-than-suitable and completely liveable. Soft, white upholstery and fluffy cushions on the Ekeskog (top right, $799) make it the perfect starter sofa (though the stumpy wooden legs left something to be desired). The Kramfors (middle right, $1,158) came in a variety of colors, and though the fabric could have been a bit softer, I was won over by its clean lines. At Target, the Studio Couch (bottom right, starts at $299 at Target.com) and the Copenhagen Sofa (Bottom right: $629.99 at Target.com) were my favorites, though not as comfortable as I'd like. Despite the lack of cushioning, they'd be right for a dorm room or a child's rooms. Last but not least, I checked out Crate & Barrel's "$999 and Less" section. The Prado Sofa (top right, $999) and Troy armless loveseat (Middle left: $949) were great options that didn't sacrifice comfort for price. Their multiple fabric options were a big bonus.]
[image above: House & Garden's Designer's Best website was (it's no longer online) a great source for sofa resources. The magazine polled 20,000 designers and architects on their go-to brands, and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams were a big favorite for sofas. Their collection runs the gamut from traditional to modern, always with sophisticated flair. I'd be hard pressed to find a bad couch in their collection. If you don't have a lot of time to shop and have $2,000 to $4,000 to spend, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is a great one-stop. Shown (Clockwise from the top left: Baxter, Chester, Jackie, Nelson, Stephon and Coleman)]
[image above: Mid-century style sofas are still one of the most requested looks, and since it's a style I also favor, I collected a few options. Room and Board's Jasper Sofa (top left, $1,349-$1,399) is easily my favorite sofa on the market: comfortable, stylish, with multiple upholstery options. The Lenox Sofa (top middle, $849-$899) is an affordable mid-century look from Room and Board. Crate and Barrel's Rochelle Sofa (top right) has the adorable tapered legs that so many of us desire at a reasonable $1,499. The Bantam Sofa from DWR ($1,600), with its cute tapered legs and well-tailored tufted back, was a close runner-up. But my first choice was Crate and Barrel's beautiful Petrie. We measured, double checked, and ordered, only to find that our white Petrie would fit through our tiny door. Four flights of stairs and one removed-door later, the couch was sent back to Crate and Barrel without a home. If your door can handle this couch I highly recommend it.]
[image above: Though I didn't need a sleeper, they are indispensible for those without a guest room. The models above all provide either a fold out bed or convert easily to a cushioned surface for overnight guests. Clockwise from top left: Winston (starting at $2,099 at RoomandBoard.com), Twilight Sleep Sofa ($1,500 at DWR.com), York Slipcovered ($1,899 at RoomandBoard.com)]
[image above: Sometimes a traditional sofa just won't do, in which case I suggest a bold punch of color. These options from Anthropologie combine beautiful forms with bright upholstery options. The models above are lovely, but remember: you can always use a local upholsterer to re-do your own sofa in a bold fabric of your choice. Above, clockwise from top right: Ditte sofa ($3,998), Jayne Sofa ($3,498), and Piedmont Settle ($2,998)]
[image above: Jonathan Adler's line of upholstered furniture has clean lines and a classic look. Try adding your own custom upholstery look for a personalized touch. Shown (clockwise from top left): Bergman Sofa ($3,200), Woodhouse Sofa ($3,250), Lampert Sofa ($2,695) and the Butterfield Sofa ($3,200).]
[image above: After the heartbreak of the Petrie, I would have been happy with any of the one above: (clockwise from top left) Ditte sofa in Bottna ($3,498 at Anthropologie.com), Petrie in Cocoa ($1,499 at Crate and Barrel), Milo Sofa ($3,498 at Anthropologie.com), Snap Apt. Sofa by Todd Oldham for La-Z-Boy, Jasper Slipcovered ($1,399) and Andre in Navy ($1,499), both at RoomandBoard.com]
[image above: After the endless search, I finally settled on Room and Board's Andre ($1,499). The tufted back, a reasonable price and perfect dimensions sealed the deal. Perfect? Almost: I've decided to have it upholstered in Hable Construction's "Bead" fabric to jazz things up.]
urban outfitters also has some really lovely mid-century sofas at very reasonable prices. though i've never seen one in person, not sure about the quality.
Thanks Grace! I have been in denial that we need a new sofa, mostly because I just didn't know where to start looking. This was a big help and I agree, that Petrie sofa from Crate and Barrel is gorgeous. I'm curious, what color were you going to go with?
thanks! glad you like it :)
we were going to- like crazy people- go with the white option. i don't like brown so that left us with white (we didn't want to wait for custom upholstery).
in the end the time wouldn't have mattered but it wouldn't fit through our door so we were destined to go with something else. i still wish we had the petrie but the andre is doing quite nicely for now.
Can I ask how you're liking a two-cushion sofa? Do more than two people ever sit on it? I'm another admirer of the Petrie, but I'm worried that I'll have a big couch that only two people can/will sit on, since no one will want to sit in the "crack." Thanks! -Alicia
unfortunately our home didn't allow us to get a three seater sofa but we've found that you can easily seat three people on the sofa. however, it's a pretty close fit so it would need to be people you're comfortable with ;)
both sofas (andre and petrie) come in three seater versions that, if you can fit them in your home, are lovely. we just couldn't manage it with our hallway height.
Hah! We went through so many of the same sofas, as I recently bought one myself : the Jasper, in a leather it didn't come stocked in, for a comfy but more bachelor pad feel. My order didn't turn out quite like I wanted it to, but Room & Board's customer service is pretty good, so they took back the custom order and are sending me a new one. In fact, their fit call service is especially useful, as they sent over their shippers to measure my apartment doors, hallways and elevators to tell me what size sofa I could purchase from R&B. Like you, size constrictions stopped me from buying sofas I really loved too (like MG&BW's Chester, or the Goetz sofa which wasn't one of your choices)and it helped narrow down the selection because of what was possible for my space. Good sofa review though – I know most of them well.
Ah, if only that Borge Mogensen one was larger and,…well, cheaper…!
Thank you! We're looking for a new sofa right now and the more help the merrier!
Just curious–how wide was your actual door frame? I've been couch shopping for a while and am worried about one fitting through my doorway. Do you have any tips for measuring? I actually read somewhere, maybe your blog, that Room and Board will even do a fit consultation for you for $30. I wonder if other stores will do the same.
Love the Andre!
I ordered the urban outfitters sofa sight-unseen and it is being delivered today (!). I'll update on the comfort, etc. But for $480 its already a steal.
our doorway is 29 inches wide, but the tough part was that we're only like 35 or 40 inches from our neighbor's door so it's touch to tip the sofa to lift it and get it in. that's what happened with the petrie- it was too long. we needed a sofa that was both short and narrow (the andre worked well bc the legs came off)
I think I'm in love with the first sofa pictured. Thanks for a great guide!
Traci, I've seen the Urban Outfitters sofas in person, and honestly, the quality of the construction, fabrics and finishes is really disappointing. I suppose that given the prices that's to be expected, but I in my opinion, the look of the pieces is just too poor at any price. They do look nice in photos, though!
- – –
My mother has the R&B Jasper, and it's unbelievably comfy. I'm not a fan of the microsuede it's stocked in, but I'm considering getting one for my house with a slipcover made in their Danish linen fabric in white. It's a longer wait for the custom R&B fabrics, but they really do have a LOT of options. The jury is still out on long-term durability, but considering I'll be replacing a 5-year-old IKEA sofa (which would probably still be in good shape if we hadn't subjected it to 5 moves in that time period!), I'm not too worried about it being an improvement. :)
Hi, I checked out your guide, but I noticed that the brand/details of the sofa I liked were not mentioned. May I ask what is the brand of the sofa shown on the fifth slide on the bottom left? Thanks.
opera glass
so sorry! i must have missed one when i uploaded everything. looking for it now…will update it asap.
it's the 'movie sofa' from cb2- so sorry!
Hey Grace: You might want to run through your text again and do some editing to make sure it matches up with the images. I was confused by several mislabelings. On the 3rd slide, for example, you say 'top right' twice and 'bottom right' twice ("At Target, the Studio Couch (bottom right, starts at $299 at Target.com) and the Copenhagen Sofa (Bottom right: $629.99 at Target.com)") On the 9th slide, you say 'clockwise from top left' but you actually start top right. Otherwise, great couch guide!
oh no! sorry about that- it was edited but i guess those slipped by.
anna, that's disappointing to hear. i guess you do get what you pay for…
The Petrie comes in a 3-cushion version?? I'm ordering that sofa in Sept during their custom upholstery sale, but I didn't know it came in a larger size. Are you sure?? I asked them when I looked at it originally and they told me it only came in the 86″ version.
my apologies, i meant 3-seater, not three-cushioned. it only has two cushions but easily (really easily) seats three people.
So we stopped by Design Within Reach and Crate and Barrel last night to sit on some couches. Without spotting the names at first, I totally fell in love with the Petrie and Rochelle! I think we're going to get the Petrie. I can't decide if I want the dark brown or dark blue. Both will allow me to change my mind on decor colors.. but hmm. We have a lighter brown couch right now. Maybe it's time for blue?
This is a great list! We also looked at the Petrie sofa in white and were almost there, until we saw it in person and the cushions really sagged and didn't take wear too well- argh! We ended up going with the Bantam from DWR- perfect for apartment living and super reasonable for a well-made piece (although, we are wishing for a little more baby-friendly sofa now, oh well!!!)
Hey — I live in a vintage condo with tiny stairwells and doorjams… We bought the 89 inch long Hepburn sofa from Room and Board a couple of years ago. Room and Board (in Chicago/Oak Brook) works with a company that will remove the back of the sofa and reassemble it in your living room for $200. Comsidering there is a 10% restocking fee if it won't fit (that would have been $150 for our $1500 sofa), it is totally worth it. We were a little dubious about the whole thing, but it turned out great. Can't even tell that they touched it.
This is a GREAT, SO useful article! The identifications are a bit maddening though as I've fallen in love with one of the sleepers and it does not seem to be identified at all. In Slide 6, what is the beige soft-looking one in the top right corner? Help!
so sorry, going in to troubleshoot all the slideshows tomorrow!
just saw that hive carries the eames two-seat lounger for $700 less than design within reach.
oh yeah.
I'm looking at the CB2 movie sofa you pictured. (For style – not for cost). Have you sat in it? Is it comfortable?
Hmmm. Where can I find that great sofa in the main picture — its black, with the high back…
Hi, Can you post the guide to sofas somewhere else since H&G isn't available any longer? Thanks and Happy New Year!
Hello. I was wondering whether the sofa guide will become available in full soon. I am struggling with a decision and could use some guidance. Many thanks!
This is a place that has modern sofas that are nice and most important affordable. They are located in Miami. Alot of styles and colors to choose from Loft Sofa Miami
Actually, Macy's carries a really nice, reasonably priced, mid-century style sofa.
I just ordered the Corona sofa from Macy's. It's a steal at $629.10 – through 4/1/08 only. then it's around $700 after that. I sat on it in person and it's well made. The whole collection is nice, and the pear and cafe noir colors are great. I recommend this line for incredibly reasonably-priced mid-century modern furniture. The other cool thing is that you can get a protection plan for cheap where they will come clean or fix your furniture for you for 7 years. That's key with kids around.
Great guide! Does anyone know how the fabric treatment on Petrie actually holds up? It's my favorite but I worry that the white stock fabric would get dirty easily, but the sale staff swears the fabric treatment works really well and handles stains better than other sofas in a dark fabric. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this – after much agonizing, I went with the Room and Board Loring 89 inch couch in view ebony (black microvelvet) – hard choice between the Andre and the Loring, but I had already bought an Adesso chair in black microvelvet from amazon.com (for an absolute bargain – $450 reduced to $140 on the day I bought it), so wanted to roughly match. Plus the Loring was $600 cheaper… I found the R&B selection really extensive, although their website is not so user friendly, ie you can't search by price or size etc. I'm slightly concerned about the sofa fitting through my door/up the stairs, and about whether my apartment will look like a vampires lair (too much black velvet?? hopefully some funky bright cushions will help) – but thanks again for the guide, it was super useful.
This is so helpful! We were considering Jasper or Petrie. I love Hable Construction Fabrics. I know Pottery Barn Kids offer their fabrics for custom upholstered. Did you have R & B custom upholstered the HB beads fabric on your beautifully chosen Andre? I couldn't see HB swatch online on R&B website. How did you go about doing so? Much thanks!
This list is wonderful, I am obsessed with the Petrie, but can not justify spending that much money at this time. What is the soft to the right of the petrie?
the urban outfitters couches are cheap for a reason – very poor quality foam that starts to make bum-shaped potholes in the couch ten minutes into your first sit… we got one for our kid's room – it's fine for storytime, but wouldn't survive in the living room. it's a shame, they are a nice design and super-cheap. ya gets what ya pay for, i guess.
In the sixth group down, what is the white sleeper sofa on the top right? It looks like only the three on the left are identified? I didn't see them in the comments, sorry.
Hi there. Just wondering, is Room and Board upholstering the Andre for you in the "Bead" fabric from Hable Construction–or are you doing it on your own?
it was about 2 years ago that we had this done (it's since been sadly destroyed by our cats), but we had an upholsterer do it. but i think you can have room and board do it if you send them the fabric.
sorry to hear about the cats! hope you've been happy with the andre, otherwise. just fyi, called room and board to ask about having one of their sofa frames upholstered in a fabric they don't stock. no cigar. you'd have to buy a sofa in one of their fabrics, and then they could deliver it to your upholsterer if you wanted to make a change. but there's no way to just purchase the frame.
I am in need of a sofa and I have a baby on the way in just 9 weeks! I have up to $1500 to spend, but I wonder if spending that much is a waste, with the damage my son might cause.
I am almost settled on the IKEA Karlstad. Not my favorte, but reaosnably midcentury looking with easily changed covers. But, I can't seem to be at ease with having something this cheap next to my nice Herman Miller/Knoll stuff. Plus, the ones in the store look like they didn't spend any time trying to get the covers really straight. DOes anyone have one? Do they wear ok, and do the covers stay cleanly lined up?
I really want the Jasper, and can afford it. Do they offer stain resistant fabrics? I think the seat and back cushions can be flipped… is this true?
What would you do in my situation? Get a cheapo to be replaced, or get the Jasper, scotchguard it, order with a decent stain resistant fabric (if they have it).
BTW – We don't want microsuede. Is there an upcharge for other fabrics?
We've been looking for a sofa and Crate and Barrel's Petrie and Room and Board's Andre have emerged as top contenders. We liked the look of the Petrie with it's grid of seat-back tufted buttons (versus Andre's single row of buttons) and the Petrie's tapered legs. However, upon seeing both in person, I got the impression that the Andre's stock fabric (a tan-ish weave) was far superior to the Petrie's solid seemingly cheaper fabric and more likely to hold up to wear-and-tear. Can anyone out there verify this? While the Petrie looks better in pictures, I'm likely to go with the Andre based on how I think it'll hold up. Also, the Petrie's seat-back cushions come off and seem more likely to sag with time.
Also, check out Younger furniture – they have several midcentury styles. You can look for retailers near you.
How do you like your Andre? I live in St. Louis, and am thinking of ordering one without sitting on it–it's honestly my favorite out of several weeks of searching. How has it held up for you?
i love it- it's been pretty sturdy and a nice combo of cute and comfy. :)
Wow this is awesome! Exactly the ones I have been going through. I am agonizing over the Petrie, Bantam, and Andre. I am worried about the Petrie sagging and the Bantam bunching from the bench seat (seen it in some pictures) so I am also leaning towards the Andre. Help! Any comments would be appreciated! Thanks!
This is awesome! I have been agonizing over couches (it's my 1st house) and have narrowed it down to the Petrie, Bantam, and Andre. I think I am leaning towards the Andre because like others mentioned the Petrie seems to sag a bit and I have seen pictures where the bench on the Bantam starts to bunch from the wear. If anyone can share experiences/opinions that'd be great. Thanks!
grace-do you know if the legs are removable on the petri sofa? we too have a very small place and i want to check if its possible to fit it. thank you
Hi, I recently ran across your wonderful sofa guide. We have been researching sofas for several months now and have finally agreed on the Andre sofa @ Room & Board. I called them yesterday for advice on picking a good fabric because we have kids and pets. The sale person I spoke with said he didn't recommend the Andre' for main family room use. He said it's low back makes it a "not very comfortable couch to sit in for long periods. I appreciate his insight and honesty but am not deeply disappointed as it has taken us a very long time to agree on this couch. We do not live any where close to a Room and Board store so we would be unable to make our own assessment of this. You wrote in your blog that you purchased this sofa, would you say it is comfortable and would be a good couch for every day use for a family of 5? I would really appreciate your honest opinion. Thank you!
hi lori
i think it's perfectly comfortable to sit in for a long time! i can take a nap on it, so it's great for me. it's not a super cushy jump on sort of sofa, but it's pretty great. i don't think your family would have any problem with it. but do keep in mind it's on the firm side. for a cute designy sofa it's the most comfy we've ever had.
So funny, we've been looking at both the R&B Andre' and the C&B Petrie. We are almost tempted to "splurge" for leather because we have a baby on the way and pets. Wondering if this is worth the splurge? If we do decide to splurge it's between the Wells (R&B) or the Steele (C&B). Any insight or advice would be wonderful!
hi lindsey
i'm afraid i don't know much about the wells or steele, but i love our andre.
we own the Petrie – have had it for 1 year. After a couple of months the seat cushions started sagging. You can now feel the frame everytime you sit in it. Lucky for us (not) it is our only sofa. Its pretty sucky. It looks great – truly – but it sucks for comfort. We are basically only watching tv in bed now. I am so upset and am working with C&B now, although they dont appear very helpful in remedying the situation. The Petrie sofa is of questionable quality!
I am considering the purchase of the Jackson sofa from R&B which no-one here has mentioned yet. Has anyone sat in it and if so – also any thoughts on the quality of the stocked fabric?Lucky for me the charcoal grey is the stock choice – which looks perfect for my house. Any other sofa suggestions that look similar to the Jackson but are a tad less expensive would be welcome!
I am also in the market for a new sofa and I am trying to decide between the Andre and the Jasper. My concern with the Andre is the structured low back. Do you have issues with this at all? This would be the sofa that is used to lounge and watch TV, so comfort is important. Is yours still holding up? Also has anyone purchased the Jasper? Do the cushions hold-up well, and is the sofa comfortable? I unfortunately do not live where I am able to test either out, and ruled out the Petrie for all the reasons proviously mentioned as well. Thank you for your help!!
we still have and love our andre. the low back was a must for us bc of our door size.
I've been researching all these models, too, but wondered if anyone has experience with the R&B Hutton, in velvet. I think (?) my cat would be less interested in destroying that fabric. I also wanted to recommend a sofa not pictured or mentioned: the Paramount, by Blu Dot. We have it downstairs, or I'd get another for upstairs. It's unbelievably comfy, considering how nice it looks (I find usually those don't go together), though it's not deep unless you take off the back cushions, which is easy to do, and makes it a guest bed as the seating part is a single cushion.
I am hoping someone can give me the name and retail store where I can find the gray sleeper sofa on the top right (in the sleeper sofa section). Only the three on the left are mentioned.
I am thinking about getting the Andre sofa at Room and Board but the inside seat dimension is 22″, which is narrower than I am used to. I normally sit with my legs curled up on the sofa. Has anyone found the 22″ seat too narrow for comfort?
Anyone know what the top right sofa is in the Sleeper Sofa section above? It isn't credited, but I want it!!
I know this is an old post but I just wanted to chime in about the Petrie. I have had one for a little over 3 years and it looks pretty bad now. The seat cushions have completely flattened. I tried to get C&B to do something about it, but they said that was normal and even said that three years was about what they would expect before seeing a lot of flattening. I am so disappointed.
Are the cushions zipped? Maybe you can insert some foam, to help with the flattening problem.
I wished I would have read this blog before buying the Petrie sofa….A brand new sofa looking two years old after a week is not acceptable ….
What/where is the top right sleeper sofa from? I saw two other people have asked about it but no answers. I love it and wish I could find it!!
Ditto on the top right sleeper. I got it second hand about 2 years ago and all the tags are removed I would love to know where it is from?
[…] on the couch that's coveted by design addicts and recommended by top design blogs such as Design Sponge and Apartment Therapy. Happy anniversary to me! I mean […]
I haven't seen any traditional sofas like taylor king ,century ,sherrill
what do you think of these manufacturer's?
I am super late seeing this but am in the market for a couch now! I have a small budget and a small apartment but picky taste! I am choosing between a Jasper couch in grey that I found on craigslist, under a year old, in good shape, at about 74″ long and the Karlstad new from Ikea, each for about $600. The Karlstad is about 6″ longer but same depth, 36″. My apartment is pretty small but I want a cozy/comfy couch. my instinct is that lightly used Room and Board is better than new Ikea for comfort and durability. Thoughts?? Also how short is too short?? thanks!


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Tip No. 1: Don't be gay. If you are, stop. We're not saying Tom was gay, but Nicole had to deal with a lot for a decade there and, well, she needs a man now. In other words, don't pull a Kenny Chesney, who we're not saying is gay, either because that would be libelous but Renée Zellweger certainly felt that their relationship was a little fraudulent.
Tip No. 2: Don't hang out with porn stars. To be fair, Pamela Anderson should have expected as much when she married Kid Rock.
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Tip No. 4: Do drugs as a couple. It works for Shooter Jennings and Drea de Matteo. Then again, you've been sober for seven months now. Maybe this one isn't such a good idea after all.
Tip No. 5: Don't be weird. Julia Roberts ran into this problem when she married Lyle Lovett in 1993 and, for two years, she had to endure the press, her family and friends, and people on the street saying she obviously didn't marry her man for his looks. You probably don't have to worry about this, though, because you make Tom look like a hobbit by comparison.
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Dog owner questions tainted treats
Emma was a healthy, vibrant Golden retriever who would run five miles to her master's three.
Back and forth, bounding up and down. They'd return home and she still wanted to play ball.
On Oct. 3, she, "sister dog" Molly and their master headed outside to the woodpile.
The retrievers were playing, the frisky 6-year-old Emma and seven-month-old Molly.
Gary Kriesel looked up when he watched Emma spasmodically flip in the air and fall to the ground.
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"An Abundant Life" In Loving Memory, Ruth Brown Perry (Ditty) died peacefully at her home Tuesday March 24th, 2015.She was born November 28, 1918 in Denver, Colorado to David Robinson Crocker Brown and Ruth McNutt Brown. Ruth spent her childhood summ …Read More »
Born in Aspen, CO to Harold (Red) Rowland and Peggy Rowland. Served 2 years in the Army from 1971-1973, part of the time in Vietnam. Worked for Smead Manufacturing right out of college (Western State in Gunnison), retiring in 2001. As a testament to …Read More »
Patricia Jean (Lumsden) Kelly passed away peacefully on March 19, 2015. Pat was born in 1925, the daughter of Josephine (Biglow) and John Lumsden. She grew up riding horseback and enjoying the beauty of the Fryingpan River valley. During her many yea …Read More »
Mary would say "greet the morning air with a song," so sing one for her. Her life was complete with a loving family and a community of friends touched by her striking blue eyes that reflected presence, truth, love, and peace. She was truly a righteou …Read More »
Robert Douglas (Doug) Neely passed away Dec. 5, 2014 in California. He was born April 4, 1945 in Pomona. He is survived by his brother, Richard Neely, and sister, Mary Harris.Doug arrived in Aspen in 1972 and was very active in the community. He was …Read More »
Evelyn was born on her family's farm in Dyer, Tennessee. After High School she moved to Chicago, Il where she worked at Eversharp Corporation.She met Eugene Hemming while working at Eversharp and they were married on September 6, 1947.Evelyn moved to …Read More »
Betty Jean Buckley passed peacefully in Ogden Utah on January 22, 2015. Betty was born on October 24, 1923 in Salt Lake City Utah. Raised by her parents Harry and Marietta Buckley in Lone Tree Wyoming. Graduated from Ogden High School.In 1943 started …Read More »
June 7, 1933 - February 23, 2015 and June 9, 1937 - February 25, 2015Paul Stuart Beck, born June 7,1933 in Aspen, CO and Glennis George Beck, born June 9, 1937 in Wichita KS both passed away peacefully at their home surrounded by friends and family o …Read More »
Robert Holmes, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 10, 2015 at his home in Rifle, CO surrounded by his loving family.He was born, March 15, 1928 in Wayne, NJ to the late Robert Sr. and Winifred (Whittaker) Holmes. He attended Pompton Lakes High Sch …Read More »


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Honoring the fallen
Art students from the Area Learning Center stand Tuesday -- the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2011, terrorist attacks -- with the abstract piece "Black Tuesday," which approximately 50 ALC students created during the 2011-2012 school year to commemorate the attacks.
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The Lodi Unified School District Board of Education is seeking applications from community members to fill four vacancies on the District's Measure "L" Citizens' Oversight Committee. All members must reside within the boundaries of the the Lodi Unified School District AND its Special Facilities District #1 (Bear Creek and McNair High School attendance areas).
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To start off, the International Marble and Granite Fair taking place here has been a tremendous success. Although the show had drawn some international interest during its first 15 years, when it took place in the stoneworking center of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espirito Santo, Brazil, it is now centered in the major city of Vitoria. This move has made the show an international draw, and it is particularly attractive to the American market. Everywhere I turned at the show, I heard my native language being spoken by U.S. importers, who are here purchasing containers of granite slabs that have become staples of the kitchen countertop trade - Verde Butterfly, Ubatuba, Giallo Ornamental and so many others. Some of the Americans here are old friends, and others are names I have heard about for years and finally had the pleasure of meeting for the first time. And there are also many other North American importers and distributors (and fabricators) who I had not been familiar with, but who came to Brazil to do some serious business.
Why are so many people making the trip from North America to Brazil? As one friend told me at the exhibition hall, "If you are in New York, you are 10 hours from an entire supermarket of stone.†And a walk down the show floor proves this to be correct. Not only are we finding the traditional Brazilian materials, but we are also seeing new exotic stones, with colors and patterning unlike any materials in the market today.
In many ways, my experiences at this fair remind me of my first trip to the Verona Fair in Italy 10 years ago. There is an energy and an excitement here that helps to fuel business. Brazilians are passionate and energetic people, and this also translates to their stoneworking. The surrounding Vitoria region houses a broad range of stoneworking firms, and I was able to take advantage of this by visiting a few of these companies. The work they are doing is impressive. Although Brazilian firms have been using advanced European machinery for over a decade, they seem to be taking it to the next level now. I saw one firm that is producing finished "blanks,†for granite kitchen countertops. These pieces have completely finished edges - including laminated edges - and they are aimed specifically at the U.S. marketplace. Another firm has developed a state-of-the-art plant for polishing and resining granite slabs. This company, a major block trader based in Italy, has been one of the pioneers for European expansion into Brazil, and they also plan to export the bulk of their slab production to America.
So even while we are at a time when many industry members feel there are too many trade shows, the opportunities present in Brazil appear to be too good to pass up. As a result, the stone fair in Vitoria will become a regular addition to the calendar of many American stone suppliers.