Huntington Beach, Calif. — California Faucets celebrates 30 years as a manufacturer of artisan-crafted bath and kitchen fixtures. Over the course of three decades, California Faucets has helped shape the direction of the industry, offering a versatile mix of game-changing products that look and function better. At the same time, the manufacturer has remained true Read more
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Huntington Beach, Calif. — California Faucets celebrates 30 years as a manufacturer of artisan-crafted bath and kitchen fixtures. Over the course of three decades, California Faucets has helped shape the direction of the industry, offering a versatile mix of game-changing products that look and function better. At the same time, the manufacturer has remained true to its roots by focusing on old-fashioned customer service and efficient turnaround on custom orders of its premium-quality products.
California Faucets’ history of innovation has resulted in products and technologies that have shifted the industry’s approaches to both design and performance. Most notable among those is StyleDrain®, the first decorative shower drain with fast-flow efficiency. StyleDrain transformed a category that was once restricted to lackluster, industrial-like drains into a sleek focal point. The industry took notice of California Faucets’ innovations, recognizing StyleDrain and line extensions StyleDrain® Tile and CeraLine® with numerous awards, including three prestigious Best of Year (BoY) Awards from Interior Design (ID) magazine.
A fourth ID award was bestowed upon ZeroDrain®, the world’s first “pop-down” lavatory drain that turns a utilitarian product into a sleek design statement; the drain sits flush with the sink instead of awkwardly protruding. A one-finger touch opens and closes ZeroDrain, which makes installing and cleaning it fast and easy. Another breakthrough was California Faucets’ StyleTherm®, which brought advanced thermostatic technology, previously limited to the luxury market, into an affordable price point suitable for every bathroom in the home. Thanks to creative engineering and years of development, StyleTherm offers a range of features unavailable with pressure balance systems, including dialing-in to exact temperatures, no diverter valve required to toggle between shower applications, independent volume operation for each application, anti-scald protection, and a higher water flow rate.
Along with its reputation for innovation, California Faucets prides itself on its culture rooted in old-fashioned values and fine craftsmanship. With the mantra, “artisan hands, not mass produced,” the manufacturer continues to deliver custom-built, handcrafted solid-brass fixtures in 30-plus hand-produced finishes, even as it has gradually expanded in size and industry footprint.
The wide array of finishes, including 15 decorative PVD finishes with a lifetime guarantee against tarnishing, establish the brand as a world leader in PVD while playing an important role in the manufacturer’s ability to satisfy most any design vision. In essence, by offering the ability to customize any spout in any handle in any finish, California Faucets presents users with nearly limitless design freedom.
“Thanks to my father, Fred Silverstein, California Faucets was founded in 1988 with core values of delivering high-quality decorative faucets in a timely fashion supported by superior customer service. Thirty years later, these principles remain the core of our company culture,” says Jeff Silverstein, President & CEO. “Of course, while the DNA of our company hasn’t changed, we’ve evolved immensely in terms of innovation, technology, and design,” he says, noting that three family members are by his side in their dedication to ensuring the handmade faucet company his father built continues to evolve and thrive. In order of seniority, they include Jeff’s cousin Noah Taft, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales; his sisters, Tina Silverstein, who handles the company’s digital marketing and Sue Cuthbert, who recently joined as the new product launch coordinator. “Overall, we’ve created a formula that has gratifyingly resulted in stellar growth and an ability to continue delivering our luxury designer fittings on a grander scale. I’m proud that we’ve accomplished this growth and continue to be a leader in innovation all while sticking true to the roots my father established three decades ago.”
Fred Silverstein’s cultural vision also is reflected in the company’s devotion to its Huntington Beach home base, where it employs 180 people and has earned the coveted, “Made in California” designation. “We’re extremely proud to do all of our own design, engineering, finishing, and assembly right here in Huntington Beach,” says Noah Taft, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “In fact, California Faucets employs more American labor per faucet sold than almost any other faucet manufacturer, a detail that is just as important to the company’s legacy as our reputation for innovation and craftsmanship.”
To see more innovations and artisanship from California Faucets’ storied history, visit www.californiafaucets.com.
After months of use, varied from thawing frozen AC coils to straightening PEX-a kinks on radiant tubing installs I think its time to set the record straight on cordless heat guns. Of, the only cordless heat gun, Milwaukee’s M18 #2688-20. Its legit. First let me say its not a complete replacement for a corded, multiple Read more
After months of use, varied from thawing frozen AC coils to straightening PEX-a kinks on radiant tubing installs I think its time to set the record straight on cordless heat guns. Of, the only cordless heat gun, Milwaukee’s M18 #2688-20.
Its legit.
First let me say its not a complete replacement for a corded, multiple temperature heat gun. The M18 is a single temp (listed at 875F on acmetoosl.com) but that is enough for typical tasks like heat shrink for wiring, simple thawing of small diameter piping and even PEX repair.
The 2688 Heat Gun has a well designed hook for carrying or storage. The hook fits well onto a belt or pants pocket but wont hang on a ladder rung or anything larger than about an inch in thickness.
Looking to buy?
Available accessories kit (49-80-0300) includes four different heat gun nozzles for a variety of specialty tasks. Each nozzle is fully compatible with any of Milwaukee’s heat guns. The deflector nozzle directs hot air to specific points, which is most useful when you want to strip a window of sealants without cracking the glass under heat. Air reduction nozzles further refine the blast of hot air to a small, circular point for spot melting. A hook nozzle moves the air flow in a circular pattern, which seals shrink wrap around cables or other similarly-shaped pieces instantly. The air spreader nozzle increases the width of the air blast and is useful for a variety of heat gun applications, including drying paint, putty, concrete filler and other construction materials.
The 2688 is not a full power heat gun and likely never will be, battery tech has come a long way but there are certain limits that we may always be up against with tools like this. Its a very useful tool and has earned a spot in my daily PACKOUT case for sure.
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John Guest has continued to be a manufacturer of choice for the most innovative and high-quality plumbing materials on the market. JG ProLock and JG Speedfit feature the most advanced plumbing technology currently available, allowing them to be both efficient and easy to install. It is precisely these qualities that first piqued the interest of Read more
JG ProLock
John Guest has continued to be a manufacturer of choice for the most innovative and high-quality plumbing materials on the market. JG ProLock and JG Speedfit feature the most advanced plumbing technology currently available, allowing them to be both efficient and easy to install.
It is precisely these qualities that first piqued the interest of Trilogy Plumbing. Trilogy Plumbing Inc., headquartered in Anaheim, Calif., is among the preeminent plumbing contractors in the region. They specialize in the installation of first-class plumbing systems for new commercial and residential properties.
JG ProLock
Like John Guest, Trilogy possesses an unwavering commitment to the delivery of only the highest-quality services and results for their customers. In adhering to this goal, they work closely with constructors to assure that their systems will meet their desired standards.
Having familiarized himself with the benefits of John Guest’s JG Prolock and JG Speedfit, Trilogy Plumbing Vice President Rich Langenwalter recognized that John Guest products would be a perfect fit for his company and would uphold their commitment to providing excellent services for their clients. Langenwalter was particularly enamored with the fact that neither JG ProLock nor JG Speed fit require any tools to make lead-proof connections, drastically decreasing the installation times for plumbing systems. These benefits led Mr. Langenwalter to use John Guest fittings in the construction of Trilogy Plumbing’s first multi-million-dollar custom home.
Impressed with ability of the JG ProLock to facilitate a swift and premium installation process on the home, Mr. Langenwalter said, “This is a high-end fitting which I want to use for our high-end custom homes.” The project manager and technicians both spoke highly of John Guest’s products and credited them with making the installation process easier and more efficient. The quality of John Guest fittings was verified through the installation process, after which over 200 ProLock couplers, elbows, tees, reducing tees, reducers, and brass fittings all passed inspection immediately following construction. Langenwalter has since requested the incorporation of John Guest fittings in future Trilogy Plumbing projects.
ProLock End Cap
Trilogy’s projects range from a 200-fitting custom house to a 35-fitting one-bedroom apartment. Their experience with John Guest products has led them to conclude that no matter what the size of the project, John Guest fittings are the premier product for the execution of a swift, high-quality installation. John Guest is pleased that Trilogy Plumbing had such an enjoyable and satisfactory experience with JG ProLock and Speedfit, and looks forward to providing the necessary fittings for future Trilogy projects.
Ontario, Calif. —The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) is seeking applicants to serve as technical experts on Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard (WE•Stand) task groups. The WE•Stand Technical Committee is seeking special subject experts to join the following task groups: 1. Alternate Water Sources — The scope of this task group is Read more
Ontario, Calif. —The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
(IAPMO) is seeking applicants to serve as technical experts on Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard
(WE•Stand) task groups.
The WE•Stand Technical Committee is seeking special subject experts to join the following task groups:
1. Alternate Water Sources — The scope of this task group is to research technologies and develop
provisions for on-site treatment for storm water and blackwater catchment systems for non-potable
and potable reuse, and the appropriate disinfection and testing requirements for these systems
according to the end use. Additionally, definitions for different types of alternate water sources need
to be distinguished for better understanding across the industry.
2. Water Efficiency and Conservation — The scope of this task group is to investigate the waterefficiency
performance for the following:
• Different kinds of water heaters and water heating control strategies
• Pool covers that allow the collection of rainwater to be used as makeup water. The task group
will also research the efficiency performance of sand filters versus cartridge filters.
• Landscape plant material that reduces water usage. The task group will also review landscape
provisions in WE•Stand for updates.
• Using the performance path in RESNET HERS H20 and WER Index to compare with the
prescriptive path in WE•Stand.
3. Premise Water Supply System Design — The scope of this task group is to investigate premise
plumbing water supply system design provisions that would result in improved water quality and
water- and/or energy-efficiency performance. Strategies to investigate include minimizing pipe sizes
and lengths, strategically locating fixtures and appliances near each other and to the water heater,
piping strategies to prevent or minimize stagnation, velocity minimums and maximums for water
quality control, and technologies for leak detection devices.
4. Commercial Food Services — The scope of this task group is to research new water conservation
technologies for the commercial food service industry, including water treatment systems (POU
reverse osmosis, water softeners, etc.), dipper well alternatives, frozen carbonated beverage
machines, compressed air boosted pre-rinse spray valves, and biological and composting technologies
for FOG food waste management. The task group will explore better solutions for exempting the
requirement of tempering water for combination ovens, commercial food steamers, commercial
dishwashers, and ware washers while also considering the impact of hot water on grease interceptor
performance.
5. Non-traditional Toilets — The scope of this task group is to develop an informative appendix for
the Composting Toilet Inspection Checklist, and to investigate non-traditional toilets in the pending
ISO/FDIS 30500 Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems for possible inclusion in WE•Stand.
The objective of each task group is to develop recommendations for the WE•Stand Technical Committee for
consideration. Those interested in participating on the WE•Stand Task Groups may apply at
http://www.iapmo.org/WEStand/Pages/TechnicalCommittee.aspx.
A few months ago I started using the Milwaukee 8-gallon dust extractor. I’ve put it thru the ringer cleaning out old dirty oil boiler fire boxes, job site messes, used it around the shop and at home. This thing is a beast! Take a look at the video, I can say with honesty that as Read more
Milwaukee 8960-20
A few months ago I started using the Milwaukee 8-gallon dust extractor. I’ve put it thru the ringer cleaning out old dirty oil boiler fire boxes, job site messes, used it around the shop and at home. This thing is a beast!
Take a look at the video, I can say with honesty that as bad as that filter looks that thing just kept sucking.
There are a lot of well thought out features on this dust extractor, the first would be the low-profile design. Coupled with the perfect casters and large rear wheels the low center of gravity keeps it from tipping like other extractors I’ve owned or used. The longer than wide tub makes this deign possible. Its tool activation setting works without delay and keeps the vac running to clear the hose and filter once you’ve turned whatever you’ve got attached off. It also has a standard continuous run mode.
It comes with a 13 ft long anti-static hose and can be ran with or without fleece or plastic bags. From the start I have not used bags; I wanted to see how it performed and how long the filter life fared out without the bags. Using a bag will keep things cleaner overall though.
The extractor’s dual filtration system includes a HEPA filter, which captures 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 microns for best in class filtration and safety and provides users with an OSHA-compliant solution for the regulation on crystalline silica dust (29 cfr 1926.1153).
This is not a typical vac and its priced to reflect the technology built in to it. Do not make the mistake of comparing this to a typical ” shop vac “, the two are not the same nor are they designed for the same use and regulations.
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