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