Counter Top Display Units - What You Need To Know!

Counter top display units are a quick and effective way to display and promote point of sale (POS) products and to encourage impulse purchases by customers.

These kinds of display units are made from a variety of materials such as printed, corrugated board, acrylic, sheet metal, steel wire, vacuum formed plastic and of course wood.

Polmac, Custom-Made, Alderwood, Counter Top Display Unit

The material used is often determined by the length of time the display unit is used. Printed, corrugated board is suitable for short-term promotions because of its relatively low cost and durability. However, acrylic, metal and wood materials are better for longer term promotions because of their greater durability.

Getting products to catch the customer's eye has a huge impact on sales, so choosing the right style and finish is essential. This is particularly true in today's busy world, where customers are often forced to make quick purchasing decisions.

There are a number of factors that have to be considered when choosing the type of counter top display unit to use, in order to maximize sales. These include:

1/ Ensuring visually appealing displays because prospective customers are influenced by presentation.
2/ Ensuring counter top display units are suitable for the type of products that are being displayed.
3/ Ensuring the size and capacity of counter top display units are compatible with the products and the space available for the display.
4/ Investing in premium quality, display units, so you get full, long term value from them. This makes good, economic sense because it's your investment after all!

Polmac (UK) Ltd specialises in supplying custom made, wood counter top display units. They're beautifully made, versatile and terrific value which means they help boost sales!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Sustainable Forest Management - A Vital Function Of Life On Earth!

Many people take forests for granted but have you ever asked yourself what life would be like without them? The fact is that life as we know it today, whether we live in a metropolis like London, or in the Amazon rainforest, would be impossible without forests.

So, why is that? Well, forests absorb and store carbon dioxide and so help to keep it out of the atmosphere. It is thought that, carbon dioxide and other 'Greenhouse Gases' in the upper atmosphere, trap heat from the sun, causing excessive warming of the earth's surface and destructive climate change.

 A Healthy Forest Provides A Diverse Habitat For Plants & Animals

Forests also play a vital part in the transfer of water from the Earth to the atmosphere, which is known as the 'water cycle'. Trees suck up water from the ground and release it into the atmosphere as water vapour, which then falls as rain.

The trees in forests has many uses including fuel and lumber and can be turned into wood products such as wooden boxes. They also provide shelter and protection against harsh weather, prevent soil erosion and provide diverse habitats for many plants and animals. 

Sustainable forest management preserves forest resources to meet the needs of future generations. Therefore, in sustainable forest management there is always a balance between the demands of the forest's natural resources and the vitality of the forest.

Planting a new sapling for every tree that is felled is the simplest way a forest can be sustained. Proper forest management however, takes into account a variety of diverse factors.

Selective logging, where only certain trees are felled, thus preserving the balance of the forest, is another sustainable forest management method. However, selective logging is time consuming and more expensive than clearing trees but it does preserve the forest's assets more effectively.

Selective Logging

Another example of sustainable forest management is allowing young trees time to mature. Young trees may have an intrinsic value, but this will inevitably increase as the tree matures.

Tree planting can increase the size of the forest and provide protected habitats for a wide variety of plant and animal species. 

It can be seen that forests provide a vital function in helping life on earth survive and prosper. It is therefore imperative that they are protected through sustainable forest management methods.

Polmac (UK) Ltd obtains wood and wood based products, used to manufacture it's customized, wood presentation boxes, display boxes and gift boxes from managed and sustainable forests, in order to  protect the environment for future generations.

http://www.polmacuk.com

The Mighty Oak - The Essence Of England!

Oak is the common name for many acorn producing trees and the species is divided into two basic varieties - red and white oak. Throughout the world there are more than 600 varieties and they grow in the Northern Hemisphere in China, Japan, Europe and North America, except in Alaska.

Mature English Oak Tree

Historically, oaks have been revered by many civilizations, including the ancient Greeks and Romans. In Britain oak has a long association and is buried deep in the national psyche.

The Druids for instance thought that oak had medicinal and mystical properties and for centuries, an oak sprig was inscribed on English coins. It is thought that King Arthur's famous round table was made from a slice of one ancient oak tree. Oak was also used to build the ships that defeated the Spanish Armada and the French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Oak trees have an average age of between 200 and 400 years. However, there are oaks that are more than 800 years old and these were often used for important meetings and ceremonies. They were also used as property boundary markers because the wood is so tough, it endures for generations.

Oak Presentation Box With Metal Clasp

There are many famous old Oak trees in England, including the major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Oak has many uses and today it is best known in the furniture and building industries. 

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses oak to manufacture customized, wood presentation boxes, where specified. Oak is a very hard, dense and tough material and therefore specialist woodworking skills are needed to ensure the highest quality oak wood boxes are produced, every time. 

Oak also has a warm and rich colour, with a striking grain character, which means that the extra effort needed to produce the finest oak wooden boxes is well worth it.

http://www.polmacuk.com

Electro-Plating Ironmongery For Wood Display Boxes - How The Magic Works!

In fairy tales, wizards use alchemy to turn ordinary objects into gold and silver. Alchemy is of course a fantasy but using specialized, modern day, electro-plating techniques is perhaps the next best thing. 

By coating a base metal with a more appealing (and expensive) metal we can quickly and easily transform the appearance of the base metal into something special and magical. 

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses ironmongery (caches, hinges, stays etc), with a brass, or nickel plated finish on our customized, wooden display boxes. This enhances the appearance of the ironmongery and wood boxes, by providing a highly polished finish that looks much like gold and silver.

Brass or nickel plated finishes are also long-lasting, economical and provide excellent rust and wear resistance. Other more specialized, metal plated finishes, such as bronze and copper can also be provided if specified, although these tend to be more expensive.

Polmac Electro-Plated Ironmongery

Metal finishes by their nature have a tendency to oxidize and will tarnish over time but using a proprietary metal cleaner when required, will soon bring back that original shine and sparkle.

In electroplating, two 'electrodes' are placed in a special solution called an 'electrolyte'. The electrodes are then connected in a circuit to a power supply, such as a battery and an electric current is passed through the electrolyte.

When the electricity is switched on, it flows through the circuit and some of the metal atoms are released through the electrolyte. These are then deposited as a thin layer onto one of the electrodes, which then becomes 'electroplated'.

The longer this electro-plating process continues, the more metal is deposited on the electrode. Adhering to strict quality standards ensures that the right thickness of metal is deposited on the ironmongery, every time.

http://www.polmacuk.com

 

Coins, Collectibles & Wooden Display Boxes

Coin collecting is described as collecting coins or other forms of legal tender. However, coin collecting is different from 'numismatics' which is concerned with the study of currency, which can include paper currency.

Coin collecting and numismatics are similar but there are differences. A person interested in numismatics for instance, may or may not collect coins and vice versa.

Since the time coins were first minted, people have collected coins, mainly for their bullion value and there are many examples of ancient coin hoards being discovered by people with metal detectors, buried in ceramic jars or wooden chests.

However, collecting coins for their artistic or commemorative value was something that developed much later.

Commemorative medallions, presented as awards for sporting, academic and other achievements are also a feature of collecting today.

For example, after the recent One Day International (ODI) cricket series between England and New Zealand (which incidentally England won), all the players and officials were presented with commemorative medallions.

Wood Single-Tier Coin Box

Collectors are always interested in limited edition coins, coins minted with flaws and especially coins that have aesthetic qualities, or some sort of historical significance, because they are the most valuable.

In ancient Rome and Mesopotamia, evidence has emerged suggesting that coins were collected and systematically catalogued by their national treasuries.

Individual citizens who could afford to do so probably also collected old and exotic coins, as a sort of portable art, to impress their friends and acquaintances.

It is thought that in the first century AD, the Roman emperor Augustus liked to give his friends and officials old and exotic coins, during special events.

Coins that have a value, whether intrinsic or actual are often kept in special boxes for cataloguing, accessibility and protection purposes. Commemorative medallions as awards, often come in individually designed boxes.

Wood Display Box With Single Medallion & Ribbon

Polmac (UK) Ltd are specialist suppliers of customized, single and multi-tier, wooden coin boxes and wood boxes for other collectibles and memorabilia, including military collectibles and gifts. They're beautifully made, versatile and terrific value, making them ideal for the purpose!

http://www.polmacuk.com 

Beech: Beautiful, Hard Wearing & Robust!

The common Beech with it's typically broad, dome-shaped canopy, is a large, deciduous tree which grows throughout western and central Europe and can grow to heights of between 25 - 30m.

The Common Beech

The Beech tree can grow for up to 400 years and is often found on drier, free-draining soils, such as chalk and limestone.

Beech is popular because it is a hard wearing, dense wood with a warm colour and good grain character. It has many uses including cooking utensils, flooring, furniture, tool handles, sports equipment and wooden display boxes.

Beech is traditionally used to smoke herring because the wood burns well and provides an enticing aromatic infusion. In some European countries, the edible nuts, or 'masts', were once used as a feed for pigs and are still sometimes used to make a coffee substitute, after roasting.

Polmac Beech Cheese Safe For: Harrods Ltd

The bark contains an aromatic substance that can improve the taste of beer and the leaves are used in the manufacture of gin, adding colour and sweetness.

The leaves and bark also contain pigments that are used to dye fabrics. Fresh beech leaves can even be eaten as a salad and some countries use them to stuff pillows, if down is unavailable.

In Celtic mythology, the Beech was believed to have certain medicinal properties. Beech leaves for example, were used to relieve swellings and other ailments.

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses Beech to manufacture customised wooden boxes, where a more robust and hard wearing material is required. Our customised boxes are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value and are designed to boost bottom-line sales!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Chocolate Boxes & The Science Of Dating!

According to new research in America, showing up on a first date with a box of chocolates may not be as 'cringe worthy' as it first appears.

American scientists have found that consuming something sweet like chocolate, can increase levels of attraction and sub-consciously, may also encourage feelings of 'desire'.

So, offering a box of chocolates on a first date may be an excellent strategy for someone, if he wishes to charm his date.

It seems that the same brain processes that underpin the taste for sweet things also underpin feelings of love, which may explain why we often crave both.

This means that a simple box of chocolates could bring a chap 'sweet success'. The tricky part though, is persuading the lady to get stuck in immediately, without making it obvious what you're up to.

The Spaniards learned about chocolate from the Aztecs and brought it to Europe. It was introduced into England in about 1657.

Not long afterwards, individual chocolates were being made and sold in boxes, with pictures on the front to make the entire presentation more appealing.

Ever since, chocolate box designs have included everything from 18th century classical elegance, to the latest modern art.

Today, there is a vast range of chocolate box designs, catering for the finest Belgian chocolates to the more economical varieties.

Most chocolate boxes are now made from cardboard and modern synthetic materials. However, when something special and unique is called for, they are also made from sheet metal and wood.

Polmac (UK) Ltd specialises in supplying customized, wood presentation boxes, including chocolate boxes, where specified.

Polmac Colour Stained Chocolate Boxes For: Lindt

Polmac wooden boxes are supplied with beautiful, food compatible, colour, or natural wood stains and stunning, internal fabric linings. They can also be overprinted with a logo, or text, if a more personalised, branded finish is required.

All Polmac wood chocolate boxes are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value and are designed to transform your products into exquisite gift sets that your customers will find irresistible.

http://www.polmacuk.com

Aromatherapy Practitioner Cases: A Practical Solution To Home Visits!

If you're trying to find a good aromatherapy practitioner, probably the best way is through referrals from your healthcare provider, family, colleagues, and/or friends.

However, when choosing a practitioner, it's important to consider their education, training, experience and their philosophy of care. Ultimately, you'll need to choose someone you can trust, feel safe with and who feels 'right' for you.

Polmac (UK) Ltd 2-Tier Aromatherapy Practitioner Cases

Many aromatherapy practitioners will operate from a clinic, a doctor's surgery and even their place of work. They may also work from home and provide home visits.

If they provide home visits, they will certainly bring their aromatherapy materials with them and will usually have a dedicated, aromatherapy carrying case. These are sometimes called aromatherapy practitioner cases.

The contents of a practitioner case will of course vary from practitioner to practitioner but will always include the two main aromatherapy ingredients - essential oils and carrier oils.

Essential oils are obtained from plants and are used for such things as reducing stress, increasing focus, soothing muscles, purifying the body, supporting the immune system and providing emotional balance.

Essential oils are applied to the skin in what aromatherapists call a 'carrier oil. This comes from the seeds, kernels or nuts, that comprise the fatty part of the plant.

Essential oils can cause severe irritation or reactions, if applied directly to the skin undiluted. Carrier oils are therefore used to dilute the essential oil before being applied. The carrier oil used will depend on the therapeutic benefits being sought.

Essential oils typically come in 5ml and 10ml bottles, although other sizes are available. Carrier oil bottles are usually much bigger and start at 50ml and 100ml.

Aside from essential oils and carrier oils, practitioner cases will include other accessories such as pipettes, massagers and mixing bowls, depending upon the individual practitioner concerned.

Aromatherapy practitioners will also provide information leaflets as well as cd's explaining the characteristics of essential oils and the procedures used.

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies single and 2-tier, customized, wood, aromatherapy practitioner cases to many established aromatherapy suppliers. They're beautifully made, versatile and terrific value, which means they are designed to suit every practitioners' needs.

http://www.polmacuk.com

Afternoon Tea: Back In Vogue & In A Big Way!

In the 1650s when tea was introduced to England, the Duchess of Bedford invited her friends to afternoon 'tea time'. This was a new concept, as only breakfast and dinner had been served previously and the idea caught on quickly.

Afternoon Tea Service

At first, 'tea time' was enjoyed only by the wealthy who served tea in fine porcelain china but as tea became cheaper 'tea time' was adopted by all levels of society.

From these early beginnings, tea rapidly became the unofficial national drink of England and was gradually adopted by many of the countries that became part of the British Empire.

In most households today, you'll find at least one packet of tea languishing in a kitchen cupboard. And in most hotels, it is now standard practice to provide a selection of fine teas, including herbal teas in bedrooms, displayed in specially designed tea boxes and/ or tea trays.

Polmac Tea Boxes For: Taylors Of Harrogate

However, it's also great news that afternoon tea is now back in fashion after years of onslaught by coffee and particularly by the dreaded high street, coffee shops.

In fact, afternoon tea is now so popular that many major hotels have seen an astonishing increase in the number of bookings.

Tourists and shoppers from out of town, are now having afternoon tea as part of their whole day experience. Many business people are also booking afternoon tea with their meetings, as a more relaxed alternative to a lengthy, heavy breakfast or dinner.

In the last five to six years drinking tea has become increasingly popular and more and more hotels are taking afternoon tea very seriously indeed, as it's becoming a big earner for them.

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies customized, wood tea boxes and tea trays to hotels and tea rooms. They're beautifully made, versatile and terrific value which means they provide the perfect presentation medium for fine quality teas, in hotels and tea rooms!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Beads - Made With A Song And A Prayer!

Beads are small pieces of material such as glass, plastic, wood, pearl and stone that are typically rounded and pierced for threading, or stringing to form a necklace, or rosary.

The word 'bead' is thought to come from the Anglo-Saxon word 'bidden' (to pray) and bede (prayer). Beads are found in sizes ranging from 1mm to over 1cm in diameter.

Pierced Beads

Beadwork is the art of making objects using beads. Beads can be woven together and strung onto a thread, or flexible wire and stuck onto a surface such as fabric or clay.

Beads have been used for decoration since ancient times. A pair of beads made from sea snail shells about 100,000 years ago, are thought to be the earliest known examples of jewellery.

Beads were worn for decoration and to bring the wearer wisdom and luck. However, beads have also been used as a currency in exchange for other goods.

Polmac Wood Bead Trays

Glass was discovered about 3,400 years ago and became an important material in bead making, particularly in the Roman Empire and in early Mediterranean, Egyptian, and Venetian cultures.
Today beads play an important role in modern fashion and there are now many companies supplying beads.

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies customized, wood bead trays that are used for display purposes. They are typically compartmented using a grid and can be supplied with metal label holders to distinguish the type and style of beads being displayed.

Polmac bead trays are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value, which means they are ideal for displaying beads!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Clear Lacquers: Enhance The Natural Beauty Of Wood Presentation Boxes!

Lacquers are clear or coloured finishes for wood that dry by a process of evaporation, or curing producing a hard, durable finish. Lacquer finishes can be matt, eggshell (semi-matt), gloss, or high gloss and can be applied directly to the finished, natural wood, over a wood stain, or even over a water-based paint finish.

Lacquer Spraying A Wooden Box

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses clear lacquer finishes because they dry quickly, are durable and enhance the natural beauty, depth and richness of the wood. They also protect the wood from unsightly finger marks. 

The term lacquer is derived from a Sanskrit word lākshā which means 'wax'. In ancient India, people used the reddish, resinous secretions from the 'Lac' insect as a wood finish.
 

There are many different kinds of lacquer, with different performance characteristics.

Polmac (UK) Ltd however, uses water-based, clear lacquers because they are durable, have good abrasion resistance, low odour and exclude many of the flammable and corrosive ingredients of other lacquers.

Drying Rack

Water-based lacquers are usually made with either an acrylic resin or an acrylic urethane mixture. The addition of urethane makes the resin tougher and more scratch resistant. When applied, each new coat partially dissolves the previous coat and chemically bonds with it. This characteristic makes these finishes easy to maintain.

Polmac lacquers are applied to our wood presentation boxes in the Spraying Room, using special spraying equipment, although they are sometimes brush applied. Protective breathing suits have to be worn by operatives when spraying, because of the solvents present in the lacquer.

After the application of each coat, the wooden boxes are put on special, metal drying racks with spaces between, ready for the next coat. The drying racks allow plenty of air to circulate around the wooden boxes, so they dry as quickly as possible.

Because water-based lacquers are quick to dry, several coats can be applied in one day, making them very economical to use.

Lacquer finishes can be easily cleaned using just soap and water and due to their stability, they are also useful for colour matching purposes later, if required.

http://www.polmacuk.com

Concealed Hinges: Elegance & Functionality Combined!

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies a large number of customized, wood presentation boxes with hinged lids that are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value.

We use many types of hinges ... large, small, plain and decorative, made from different materials and finishes.

Polmac Ironmongery Showing Round, Concealed Metal Hinges

However, the most popular hinges are made from pressed, sheet steel with a brass, or nickel plated finish, as they are elegant, durable and economical.

Hinges with a special black, or bronze finish, as well as solid, polished brass hinges are also used where specified, although they are more expensive.

Brass and nickel plating on metal hinges is used primarily as a decorative finish but does also provide excellent wear and corrosion resistance.

Hinges must always perform one important function: To secure the lid to the base of the box and allow it to be opened and closed smoothly along a hinged axis, in perfect alignment

No matter what type of hinges are used, they must also enhance the visual appearance of the finished wood boxes. We therefore use special 'concealed' metal hinges as standard, unless otherwise specified.

These hinges are supplied round, hexagonal, or rectilinear in shape and are fixed at the back of the wooden boxes, where only the narrow knuckles are visible, on the outside and the inside, providing a visually appealing, 'clean' look. 

The two flanges of the concealed hinges can be a smooth finish, or have raised 'prongs' in the surface, to increase resistance to extraction.

The fixing process is as follows ...

Firstly, two thin slots are cut into the ends of the base and side panels at their intersection, ready for the hinges to be inserted.

Secondly, the ends of the side panels are cut full length at 45 degrees to each other, creating an overall 90 degree joint. This is a special 'stop feature' which restrains the lid at the vertical position when opened and prevents damage to the hinges.

The hinges are then inserted into the slots and the fixing positions pre-drilled. Special serrated, 'disappearing' pins are then inserted and carefully hammered home.

For small, wooden boxes 6 - 8 mm serrated pins are very effective and these are hammered at a slight angle, to provide a secure and permanent fixing.

The pin holes are then filled with wooden plugs and sanded off, for a smooth, even finish.

http://www.polmacuk.com

Corrugated Metal Strip Inlay Decorations!

Many Polmac, custom made, wooden boxes are decorated using traditional methods, to create visually stunning, decorative designs and effects.

Corrugated, metal strip inlay is a special technique for decorated wooden boxes, that uses flexible, thin gauge, corrugated, or plain brass or nickel plated metal strips, as lines to create patterns, shapes, decorative motifs and borders. 

 

This type of decoration is often used in combination with other techniques, such as pyrography and hand carving, to create original, decorative effects!. 

 

Cutting Grooves Around the Pattern / Design 

The technique comprises three stages…

1/ Creating a design, or pattern on the wooden box.
2/ Using a special tool to cut thin slots around the design.
3/ Applying the corrugated strips.

Once the design or pattern is agreed, it is carefully transferred onto the lid and / or the sides of the wood boxes. This is often done by hand using pre-printed patterns on special see-through paper, similar to tracing paper.

 

Inserting Corrugated Metal Strips Into Pre-Formed Grooves

A pin is then used to apply tiny pin pricks through the paper, to ‘trace’ out the design. However, if the design is simple, or a particular one-off, artistic effect is required, the design can also be drawn using the sharp point of a pencil  

Thin grooves are then carefully cut into the wood around the design, to the depth of the corrugated metal strip using a special, hand held tool, which looks like a cross between a hand carving tool and a chisel.

 

These tools have a range of special cutting edges that can create different shaped lines, such as  curves, circles, straight lines etc.

 

Removing Excess Metal Strip

The metal strips are then tapped into the grooves, flush with the surface of the wood. This process requires the crafts person to wear a metal 'sewing' thimble at the end of their finger, to prevent being cut by the thin gauge, corrugated metal strips.

 

Any excess strip is cut off and the raised edges ‘sanded’ off, on a special sanding machine, to provide a flush, even finish on the wood surface.

 

Polmac Wooden Boxes With Metal Strip Inlay Design

Once the metal inlay process is complete the design can be decorated with multi-coloured, or natural wood stains and/ or block colours, to provide that all important finishing touch!  

http://www.polmacuk.com

Fly Fishing: A Game Of Deception!

Artificial 'flies' are used by anglers when fly fishing, to catch fish. Flies are also described as 'tackle' which means 'apparatus for fishing' and this term has been around since 1398 AD.

Fly fishermen use hand tied flies which they keep in special fly boxes for protection, as they are fragile and can be expensive to replace. 

The flies resemble actual flies or 'lures' and are designed to entice the fish to bite on the fly. This is why there are multi-coloured flies, of various shapes, sizes and designs.

Fly Fishing

Once the fly or 'lure' is attached to the special weighted line, it is cast into the water using a fly rod and reel. This requires special skills and techniques that are different from other forms of casting.

Fly fishing can take place in fresh or salt water. You do however, need to decide what type of fly fishing you wish to do and then learn about the flies that can help you catch your fish.

If you just play it by ear, you could be fishing for a very long time before you catch anything.

In Britain, where there is less variation in water temperature, fly fishing is differentiated as 'game fishing' for trout and salmon and 'coarse fishing' for other species.

Fly fishing in different habitats means that the fly hooks used will vary, depending on the kind of fish you wish to catch.

Freshwater fly fishing doesn't have to be complicated though, so if you're a beginner there's no need to buy an over sized fly box and stuff it full of flies.

Polmac (UK) Ltd Single & 2-Tier Fly Boxes

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies custom made, wood fly boxes, finished with a special water-proof, clear lacquer finish and supplied with internal, rigid foam inserts to protect even the most delicate of flies.

They're beautifully made, versatile and terrific value and are supplied as single and 2-tier fly boxes, to provide maximum flexibility for every angler!

Polmac fly boxes can also be overprinted with special text or logos, if a more personalized, branded finish is required.

http://www.polmacuk.com 

Wood Glue - Jointing Can Be A Sticky Business!

Using glue is perhaps the most common task in wood box making, apart from cutting and shaping the wood itself.

However, there's often a better understanding of how to cut and shape wood, than there is in the gluing process, which requires great skill and a precise knowledge of the properties of glue.

When viewed under the microscope, wood is a solid mass of fibres, running roughly parallel in one direction and when gluing wood, we can use this fact to our advantage.

Wood joints are always stronger when the wood fibres on two pieces of wood being joined together, run in the same direction.

Applying Wood Glue To Finger Joints

When two pieces of wood are joined together correctly, the wood adhesives that are available today can create a bond that is often stronger than the wood itself.

The fibrous nature of wood allows modern adhesives to provide a very strong bond, right inside the wood itself and not just on the surface.

This fact is important, as it determines how wood bonding techniques are used and applied during the manufacturing of our custom made, wooden boxes.

Generally, the longer the glue sets (ie. remains in a liquid state) the deeper it will penetrate into the wood and the stronger the wood joint will be, potentially.

There are certainly other factors that determine how deep the glue will penetrate the wood. For example, softwoods are more porous than hardwoods and therefore the liquid glue will penetrate a lot deeper than hardwoods.

However, even with hardwoods, there is usually sufficient penetration to form a very strong bond.

In the past, the glue setting time determined the ultimate strength of the joint. A longer setting period meant that the joint was stronger.

However, because of advances in glue manufacturing and improvements in the quality of glues, the relationship between setting time and joint strength is less important today.

Blackpool Rock Has Nothing On Us!

If you’ve even been to the seaside and bought a stick of rock, you may have seen a ring of letters at the end, spelling out the name of the resort...

And have you ever wondered how they get the ring of letters to run the whole length of the rock, so no matter where you break the rock, the lettering is always there and the words are always legible?

Blackpool Lettering Rock

It takes a great deal of skill to form the lettering, as each letter has to be constructed individually and drawn into long lengths. The letters are then put together in a warm, pliable sugar mass, to form the words of the resort and the long rounded shape of the rock.

We're often asked a similar question about the mitred joints we use to construct our custom made, wooden boxes.

Mitred Side Panels Being Assembled

All our mitred joints have a small wooden ‘tongue’ inserted lengthways (just like the lettering in Blackpool rock) and at 90 degrees to the mitre. The question we’re often asked is...'How do you do that?'

The wooden tongue is designed to strengthen the joint and the whole process, like the application of lettering in rock, takes a lot of effort and skill!

Mitred Side Panels Being Carefully Tapped Together

First, the four side panels are mitred at 45 degrees at each end, to form the four corners of the wood boxes. Small, narrow grooves are then machined along the full length of each of the mitred ends. The grooves are cut to the full thickness and half the width of the ‘tongues’

A length of ‘tongue’ is then glued and tapped into one groove at each corner. This is repeated on the three remaining corners and any excess ‘tongue’ removed and sanded off flush.

Wooden Box Carcass In Press

The four mitred panels are then all glued and carefully tapped together, using a small hammer, taking care that the loose ends of the ‘tongues’ are inserted into the corresponding open grooves.

The whole box assembly is then placed in a special steel press for 24 hours. Once the glue has dried the mitred box 'carcass' is removed, perfectly square and ready for the application of the lid and base.

 

A fellow took my photograph, it cost one and three.
I said when it was done, 'Is that supposed to be me?'
'You've properly mucked it up - the only thing I can see
Is my little stick of Blackpool Rock.'

With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock: George Formby

http://www.polmacuk.com 

Tea Bags: An Elegant & Convenient Way To Drink Tea!

Tea bags are small, porous sealed bags containing tea leaves and are used for brewing tea. Herbs and spices are used for brewing herbal teas, which are sometimes called "tisane".

Tea bags are usually made from filter paper, silk or food|paper and even food compatible plastic. The tea bag is steeped in the water and acts as the tea infuser and this makes it easy and quick to dispose of the tea leaves.

Speciality Teas

Some tea bags have a string attached, with a paper label on top that is used to remove the bag. The label is also a way of advertising the brand and/or variety of the tea being used.

Tea bags are often individually wrapped in small, sealed paper envelopes. This keeps the tea fresh and provides another means of advertising the suppliers brand name. Speciality teas are often packed this way, to differentiate them from other competitive brands!

The term tea bag is sometimes used to describe the paper or foil packaging for loose tea leaves. This is normal in countries where using loose tea leaves is common.

Taylors Of Harrogate Compartmented Tea Box

Tea has been used as a refreshing beverage since about 2000 BC. Indeed, the tea ritual - brewing, serving, and the drinking of tea - persists in many countries around the world, to this day!

It is thought that the tea trade started in China. However, both China and India insist that it was they who discovered the health and dietary properties of tea leaves.

Tea bags are composed of processed tea leaves and filter-paper bags. The buds and tea leaves at the top of the plant are hand-picked. The tea leaves are then prepared by a number of processes including withering, rolling, drying, cutting, and blending, ready for packing.

Taylors Of Harrogate Tea Box With Speciality Teas

Where speciality teas are provided in hotel bedrooms and reception areas, they are often displayed in compartmented and branded tea boxes with hinged lids. This makes it easier for guests to choose the tea they want and the lids keep the dust out!

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies, custom made, wood presentation boxes, including tea boxes. They are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value, which means they are ideal for displaying speciality teas and are an elegant and effective promotional tool for the supplier and the hotel!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Herbs & Spices: Essential Ingredients We Can't Do Without!

If you look around your kitchen, you'll probably find some herbs and spices stored on a shelf, or in a cupboard. Celebrity chefs are constantly telling us what herbs and spice to use, because they are essential ingredients in modern day cooking!  

Herbs & Spices

The word herb usually describes the green, leafy part of a plant, either fresh or dried. A spice however, is the product of another part of the plant, usually dried, which includes the seeds, berries, bark and fruits.

Many spices have properties that are often described as 'anti-microbial'. This is probably why spices are commonly used in warmer climates, where there are more infectious diseases.

Spices have other uses such as in medicine, religious ritual, cosmetics, perfume, as a meat preservative, or even as a vegetable. For example, garlic roots are often eaten as a vegetable, because of their anti-biotic properties.

Polmac Round, Herb & Spice Boxes, With Lift-Off Lids

Herbs and spices have been used by humans for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians even used herbs and spices to preserve their mummies.

Herbs and spices grew in the Garden of Eden, according to the Bible and  were therefore highly prized!

The Chinese and Koreans traded spices around 500BC. Shortly after that, the Spice Route was extended from Asia to Europe and eventually to the American Continent.

The Romans introduced herbs and spices into Britain but it was not until the Crusades that Europe entered the spice trade.

In the 1600s, the Dutch East India Company traded herbs and spices and became one of the most powerful trading companies in history.

Many of the original herbs and spices traded in the Middle Ages, like black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg and are still used today. Since then, dozens of new herbs and spices have been discovered, each with their own distinct flavour and character.

Polmac (UK) supplies custom made, wooden boxes, in a variety of styles and finishes, including caddy style herb and spice boxes with hinged lids and small, round boxes, with lift-off lids.

Polmac herb and spice boxes are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value, which means they provide excellent storage and will grace any kitchen table, or shelf.

To find out more, please visit our website at...http://www.polmacuk.com

Flagons: Traditional Drinking Vessels With Elegance & Style!

A flagon is a traditional vessel with a narrow spout, made from leather, metal or ceramic earthenware, used for holding and drinking water, ale, wine and other liquids.

The word flagon is thought to come from from the Middle French word 'flascon', or 'flacon' for bottle.

Before the Roman conquest, pottery was produced in Britain locally, changing little over the centuries and vessels were made by hand, using locally sourced materials.

The first Roman pottery was imported from Europe by a few wealthy individuals. However, the arrival of the Romans in Britain in AD 43 introduced a new world of wine and food and there was now a great influx of imported styles.

Roman Earthenware Flagons

These included exotic forms made on a wheel, fine table wares and utilitarian vessels not seen before. The first Roman wares in Britain were probably made by migrant continental potters or potters brought in by the army, to supply the troops.

The style of Roman, earthenware flagon illustrated above, is typical of those made in the 1st century AD and was in use throughout the Empire with minor local variations.

Flagons are still evident today and are sometimes used as a novel and visually appealing alternative to glass bottles.

Polmac Diana Flagon Whisky Boxes

Polmac (UK) Ltd wood presentation boxes are custom made and are ideally suited to accommodate unusual shapes and sizes. This means a traditional, ceramic flagon can be transformed into an exquisite presentation pack, or a stunning gift set, that many customers find irresistible!

"Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love"

http://www.polmacuk.com

Children's Boxes - Pink For Girls v Blue For Boys!

When decorating children's boxes, there are a number of factors to think about. The first is what gender the boxes are designed for - boys or girls? Some people think this is irrelevant but boys and girls generally, have very different ideas about how their boxes should be decorated.

Polmac (UK) Ltd Custom Made, Children's Boxes

If you paint hearts and flowers on a boy's box, I'm sure they wouldn't be too pleased. Conversely, if you paint footballs, or rugby balls on a girl's box, they'd probably be disappointed!

What about colours? Is there any truth in the idea that boys prefer blue and girls prefer pink? Well, it's easy to spot the girls' section in any children's clothes shop because a lot of the clothing will inevitably be pink.

Many parents however, insist that they would prefer their daughters to wear clothes with different colours, although pink does seem to have a powerful allure for girls. But is it inevitable that girls will prefer pink and boys will prefer blue?

Painting Pre-Formed, Decorative Motifs

In the USA, most studies have found that babies and toddlers, whether male or female, are attracted to primary colours such as blue and red rather than pink, which doesn't seem to feature very high on the list at all.

Cultural norms often determine colour preferences. Where pink is considered the appropriate colour for a girl and blue for a boy, children often become accustomed to these norms, because they are surrounded by these colours, from birth.

Retailers unfortunately, tend to ram the message home and this then becomes hard-wired into peoples minds!

Applying Decorative Flower Patterns

Polmac (UK) Ltd manufactures children's boxes, in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, including pink and blue. However, as all our children's boxes are custom made, so we have no hard and fast rule about this.

All our children's boxes are made from wood and painted in a variety of child compatible, pastel shades. They are decorated with hand painted, or pre-formed, decorative motifs, including hearts, flowers, stars, footballs etc., to provide visually stunning, decorative effects that children find irresistible!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Wood Carving: A Reviving, Traditional Art Form!

Wood carving has a long and distinguished tradition, from the earliest times and has been used to produce religious figures, sculptured decorations, ornaments, mouldings and tracery.

 Wood Carving Computer Modelling Technology

Wood carving requires careful maintenance, particularly in external conditions, because it is vulnerable to decay, insect damage, and fire. For this reason it has struggled to survive as an art form but is now undergoing a renaissance.

It has a unique quality that is difficult to match in other materials. Wood is light and is ideal for carving fine detail, particularly where tracery is involved and is a lot easier to work than stone.

Wood carving reached it's zenith in Europe, in the Middle Ages, where Christian iconography was the theme of choice. In England, many complete examples of early wood carvings remain from the 16th and 17th century, where oak was the preferred wood used.

The best wood carvings start with an idea and not when the chisel is placed onto the wood.

Wood carving should start with the vital preparation stage. This is the process of gathering information, assimilating and then designing, to create a vision of what the craftsman wants the viewer to see, in their minds eye!

Many carvings are unsuccessful, due to a lack of preparation and not in the actual carving process. Those that succeed take the preparation stage seriously. For instance, there are many examples of  carvings that look primitive but have an exquisite, aesthetic quality?

The preparation stage can take longer than the carving itself and is a reflection of how important this stage is!

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses traditional hand carving and advanced computer modelling technology to create textured areas, motifs, decorations, patterns and designs on the surface of our custom made, wood presentation boxes, promotional boxes and gift boxes, where specified.

http://www.polmacuk.com

Finger Joints - Strong, Durable & Virtually Indestructible!

A finger joint, also known as a comb or box joint, is a wood joint made by cutting complementary rectangular slots in two narrow pieces of wood, which are then glued together.

If you interlock the fingers of your hands together at ninety degrees (hence the name finger joint), you’ll get the idea. 

 Finger Joint

Finger joints are stronger than mitre joints, butt joints, or even lap joints and are often used when a more ‘rustic’ quality is required!

An alternative name for a finger joint is a box-pin joint.

Finger joints are ideal for box making, as well as household furniture and kitchen cabinets and are suitable for use with natural woods such as pine and mahogany and wood based products, such as plywood and MDF.

Finger joints are really strong when used with a good quality, wood working glue such as PVA. If you lock your fingers together, try forcing them apart and you’ll find it difficult to do. The same principle applies to finger joints in wood boxes.

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses finger joints mainly for larger wooden boxes, where stronger, more durable joints are required. 

Polmac Finger Jointing

If done by hand, finger jointing is a slow, laborious process and takes a great deal of time, effort and skill. For this reason, special finger jointing machines are often used.

When cut, the ‘fingers’ should fit together like a glove, without any gaps and the glue will ensure that the joint is virtually indestructible!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Crystal And Glass : Can You Tell The Difference?

Crystal and glass has been used for centuries to make glasses to drink fine wine and champagne and other spirits. However, many people find it difficult to distinguish between them.

 Wine & Champagne Glasses

When they use the word "crystal," they are usually describing a type of glass that is made from potash, soda or oxide and other additives.

Lead crystal is durable and has many properties, that is ideal for creating decorative effects and derives from the Italian term "cristallo".

Lead crystal is the type of crystal glass that is most commonly used for wine and champagne glasses, as well as other functional and purely decorative objects, often found around the house.

There are many ways glass and crystal may be differentiated by sight alone...

One major difference is that crystal glass is generally a lot thinner and more ornate than plain glass, mainly because of the lead content.

However, whilst the presence of lead helps with the process of decoration, it also makes crystal glass more fragile and more prone to scratches.

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies custom made, wood, gift boxes that can transform a simple crystal or glass object into an exquisite presentation pack, or an irresistible gift set!

Polmac Perfume Boxes

(with crystal glass perfume bottles)

They are designed in a range of different styles and finishes, with beautiful silk, or flock fabric linings and can be overprinted with logos and text to provide that all important branded finish.

Polmac, wood presentation boxes are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value, which means they help boost company sales!

http://www.polmacuk.com

Pine - The Tree Of Life!

Pine trees are found in the Northern Hemisphere and are evergreen conifers that can grow up to 80 m  although most pines average about 15-- 45m. The Pine family is the most diverse of all the conifers species.

Pine trees grow cones that are packed with seeds, rather than flowers, or fruit and are easily recognized by this one feature. They generally have thick scaly bark and a tough, resinous wood. Some Pines today are over 4500 years old.

 Pine Tree

Pine wood is one of the most widely used softwoods, because it is relatively inexpensive, robust and readily available.

Pine wood has many uses including -- paper, furniture, roofing, flooring and window frames. It is also a very good material for making wood boxes. The resin from some pine trees is used to manufacture turpentine.

Polmac Pine Hamper Boxes For: Fortnum & Mason

[with white wicker infill panels]

One of the most well known and popular uses of Pine is of course Christmas trees. Pine cones are sometimes painted and used as decorations.

Pine wood has a warm amber colour with streaks of brown but has little grain character. For this reason, most woodworkers use knotty Pine for cabinets and furniture, to bring out that more rugged quality.

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses Pine wood where larger, more durable wooden boxes are required and these are usually fitted with heavy-duty, brass, or nickel-plated, metal ironmongery.

Pine wood can be colour stained but Polmac Pine boxes are generally supplied with a clear lacquer finishes, because of the resinous quality of the wood. They are beautifully made, versatile and terrific value!

http://www.polmacuk.com 

Keepsake Boxes - A Simple & Easy Way To Store Precious Memories!

Keepsake Boxes are essentially memory boxes. They're usually made from wood and are designed to store mementos of significant events, usually beginning with a child's birth. However, keepsake boxes can be limited to a child's early years and for adult events.

 Polmac Baby Keepsake Boxes With Crocodile & Frog Motifs

It's usual to have one keepsake box per person and to personalize it with the name, date of birth and a photo of that person

As momentos can be collected over a lifetime, keepsake boxes need to be large and robust enough to resist constant wear and tear.

They're an easy way to preserve precious memories and scores of different mementos of various shapes and sizes can be stored.

These can include a hospital wrist band and measuring tape, the babies umbilical cord (in a sealed plastic bag), baby bottles, clothing, photos, videos, birthday cards, wedding cards etc

Polmac Baby Keepsake Boxes With Ballerina & Lion Motifs

Momentos from events such as christenings, first communion, birthdays and weddings, in later years, can be added at the appropriate time.

Once you've got your momentos, it's usually a good idea to attach a note to them, particularly if it's not immediately obvious what they represent.

Polmac (UK) Ltd manufactures, custom made, wood, baby keepsake boxes and keepsake boxes used to store memories for other specific events.  

They're beautifully made, versatile and terrific value, meaning they're ideal and strong enough to  store a lifetime of precious memories.

Polmac keepsake boxes have hinged lids, secured with brass or zinc plated, metal catches and 90 degree, metal stays to keep the lids in the upright position.

For a truly stunning finish, our baby keepsake boxes are hand painted in background pastel colours and decorative motifs, such as butterflies, hearts, animals and cartoon characters, depending upon the particular theme, or effect required!

Polmac keepsakes boxes should always be kept a secret, as children will be thrilled when they are finally old enough to understand their significance.

http://www.polmacuk.com

.