Monday, January 26, 2009

Fan EngineerSupply on Facebook!

Did you know? EngineerSupply now has an official Facebook fan page. That’s right if you’re on Facebook, you can become a fan or EngineerSupply. We think it’s worth joining Facebook just to become our fan so that you can keep up with the latest EngineerSupply news, Gain access to exclusive material, and Take advantage of special offers reserved just for our Facebook fans.

Just click the link above and in the upper right hand part of the page click on the link that says "Become a Fan." Be sure to become a fan if you visit our page.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Safco Products are Great for any Office

Safco products are made with distinctive quality and are useful in any office. Safco knows that no two offices are exactly alike, and each office has specifics needs and challenges that require specific products. That is why Safco offers a wide variety of office products useful in any area of you office.

Where you need seating, blueprint storage, drafting tables, drafting stools, drafting chairs, desks or many other items Safco has products to meet your needs. Safco chairs come in many different varieties, so you’re sure to find one to meet your specific needs. Safco offers great solutions for storing large documents such as Safco files, Safco cabinets, Safco Flat Files and Safco drawing clamps.

Safco Products even has specialty equipment like Safco hand trucks and Safco drafting tables.
EngineerSupply is proud to be a full-line factory-authorized Safco dealer. When you buy from a factory-authorized dealer your merchandise is fully backed with any warranties and rebates from the manufacturer.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Dahle Paper Trimmers and Blueprint Trimmers

Dahle manufacturers a wide variety of Paper Trimmers. They make paper trimmers ideal for anything from hobbyists or large corporations. The Dahle Rotary Trimmer model 448 is a great large drawing blueprint trimmer and can be used to cut a wide variety of specialty items. The large cutting area makes this an ideal large paper trimmer and blueprint cutter. This Dahle paper trimmer has a built in clamp to hold the items in place so the paper will not shift while trimming. The large metal base is printed with a grid for accurate cuts. Dahle blue print trimmers feature a built-in safety. The blade on this rotary paper trimmer is completely enclosed for safety. The rotary safety guard covers the blade and prevents personal injury. And the blade even self-sharpens every time you cut to provide crisp clean edges.

The 448 can be used to cut all of the following items: Aluminum Foil, Thin Cardboard, Cardstock, Construction paper, Fabric, Illustration Board, Label Stock, Laminating Film, Mat Board, Paper, Photo Paper, Photographic film, Plastic Films, Specialty Papers and Vellum.

For more information on Dahle trimmer please visit our product page or watch a product demo in the EngineerSupply.com video library.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The NEW Leica DISTO D5 Laser Distance Measuring Tool


The NEW Leica DISTO D5 Laser Distance Measuring Tool has the only high resolution digital color Point-finder display in the industry. The Leica D5 large color display screen is 2.4” (320 X 240) wide. This digital viewfinder with 4X magnification makes aiming at long distances much easier. It even allows for taking measurement in bright sunlight. The Leica D5 is packed with a variety of different features. The Leica Disto D5 has the ability to do many room calculations such as minimum and maximum distance tracking, area calculation, volume calculation and simple addition and subtraction calculations. Indirect measurements can be taken in spite of obstructions through the Pythagoras function or tilt sensor. The D5 is dust and splash proof with an IP 54 rating.

The Leica Disto D5 measures in multiple units including metric, feet, inches and yards. The measuring accuracy is ±1.5mm/ 1/16”, and it has a working range of1.6” to 650ft. The Leica D5 laser distance measurer is great for many professionals including: Real Estate Agents, Appraisers, Painters, Gardening Companies, Landscapers, Carpenters, Joiners, Flooring, Construction workers, Educational Institutions, Electrical Services, Insurance companies, Architects, Telecommunications, Police, Surveyors, Facility Managers and many others.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Surveying Equipment Theft Solutions

During these hard economic times the surveying community has seen an increase in equipment theft. Stolen surveying equipment costs time, money and effort not only due to the loss of equipment but in the measures to replace it. Among the most commonly stolen tools are GPS and robotic equipment as well as total stations. We here at EngineerSupply have heard of stories of attempted surveying equipment theft. Don’t wait till after your equipment is stolen to set up security precautions. Thieves have been known to steal surveying equipment from offices, vehicles, sheds, job sites and from surveyors at gun point. Stay aware of crime trends in your area and notify your employees. Also consider enacting written security guidelines for your company before a theft occurs.

There are several precautionary steps you can take. Take pictures of your equipment and keep a list of their make, models, and serial numbers. Provide a copy of this list to your insurance company. Make sure your insurance covers all your equipment in every area of use (in the main office, company truck and on the job site). Discuss different coverage options and premiums. Label equipment with your name and contact information. Engraving and branding are the most permanent solutions. Label all the accessories (tripod, data collector, etc…) and parts (cases, batteries, etc…). This will help track down your equipment if it falls into the wrong hands.

Secure your equipment. I have heard some ingenious ways surveyors have done this. Such contraptions include locks, chains and even spiral corkscrews used to secure dog chains. Make sure that items in your truck are locked and secured to the truck. If you need to stop at a store, park where you can see the truck from the window. If this is not possible consider leaving someone with the vehicle while you run inside.

Leica Geosystems, Sokkia, Topcon and Trimble have built-in theft deterrent features on some of their equipment, ranging from unique PIN numbers to preset areas of operation. Sokkia also offers a theft database and will keep an eye out for any unusual orders for parts, accessories and manuals for items reported stolen.

If your equipment is stolen it is important to act quickly! Most thieves will not keep stolen merchandise but will want to move it quickly. Call local surveying equipment dealers, pawn shops, the manufacturer, report the theft to the police and also check with your state surveying association. Many surveying associations have systems in place to help surveyors report stolen equipment. Trace.com and pobonline.com are online sites that can be used to search and report stolen or lost items.

Keep in mind that surveying equipment theft involves two parts, those stealing the equipment and those willing to buy it. If you are thinking about purchasing used equipment, please make sure it is not stolen. Be careful when the equipment is not sold with the original accessories from the manufacturer like manuals and cases. Check the serial number on online theft databases such as trace.com and pobonline.com. Also check with your state surveying association as they might have a theft database. If you do find stolen equipment please report it to the police.

Of course, we recommend that you purchase new surveying equipment from a reputable factory authorized dealer like EngineerSupply. You're buying a piece of mind, knowing that it comes with the manufacturer’s warranty and you know that it is not stolen.

References;
http://www.trace.com
http://www.pobonline.com/Classified_Ads/Stolen_Equipment

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Schonstedt TraceMaster Pipe & Cable Locator

The Schonstedt TraceMaster Pipe & Cable Locator is a versatile locating tool that's used to locate Pipe and Cable underground utilities. EngineerSupply published a new article that explains how the TraceMaster works, how it's made, and which models it is available in. Truly a time-saving tool for the underground location of utilities.

Monday, January 05, 2009

How to Build a Fence with Ease using a Laser or Optical Instrument

One of the most challenging aspects when building a fence is to make sure it is straight when you lay it out before construction. This is important not only to insure then fence looks good but will be easier to build and more sturdy. Taking the correct first steps in building a fence can save time, money and energy. The traditional way to ensure a fence was straight was to lay the four corner posts and tie string. This works well but can be very tedious and doesnt work well on large areas you're wanting to fence in. The string must be pull taut, which can be very difficult if you are building a fence in a large area. The string will be affected by the wind which could cause your measurements to be inaccurate.

EngineerSupply offers many tools that are useful for constructing a fence. Wondering how to build a fence and what tools to use? Of course, you need a strong back and the trusty pole-hole diggers, or if you're lucky a tractor with an PTO-driven Auger Attachment. There are two different options available for layout tools, laser and optical. An optical instrument such as the David White LP6-20NXL Level is set up on a tripod and should be pointed along the length of the fence. The user can then look through the eye piece to discover the correct positioning for the fence posts and then make necessary adjustments.

Another alternative is to use a construction rotary laser to lay the fence posts. Construction lasers emit a straight beam that can be used to align the fence but will need to be used with a detector when doing exterior work. By running this detector along the length of the fence you will be able to identify straight and plumb. Make sure the rotary laser you are using has a vertical feature so you can lay the instrument on its side for a vertical plane. The AGATEC 510-GC (11-0324) is a Horizontal and Vertical Rotary Laser. The self leveling feature insures that the reference line is level and plumb. It also comes standard with rechargeable batteries. A laser line generator is generally a less expensive alternative but can only be used on smaller job sites.

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