Posts Tagged ‘wall clocks’

How to mount heavy items on plaster walls

Posted in Home on January 30th, 2011 by Jim – Comments Off

Plasterboard can be a great substrate to use on your interior walls. Although old-fashioned plaster was very difficult to work with, requiring you to work plaster putty into a lattice to a smooth finish, there are no such complications with modern plasterboard. The material is purchased in large sheets, which are simply mounted against framed walls.

The only problem with plasterboard is that it can be quite delicate. Anyone who has ever worked with the material will appreciate that does not take much effort to break off corners, or even punch holes in plaster walls. And anybody who has ever tried to hang heavy artwork or other heavy items such as wall clocks on plaster will appreciate that normal fasteners do not stick – they simply pull straight out.

Hanging heavy items on plaster walls requires special anchors, specifically designed to distribute the weight across a large surface area. Using the correct hardware, you can even hang heavy objects up to 50 kg on your normal plaster walls.

Most plaster anchors look similar to oversized wood screws, and are designed to be turned directly into the board using a screwdriver, cordless drill or cordless screwdriver. They may be plastic or metal, and usually have an interior thread that then allows a normal screw to be inserted to carry a load such as a hook or a bracket. When installing these screw anchors, mark the spot that you wish to install it on, and use a thin screwdriver or nail to punch a small hole – just enough to act as a guide. Then SLOWLY turn in the anchor, to avoid cracking the surrounding board.

For heavier loads, spread the load over two or more anchors spaced at least 2 inches apart. Using this method it is possible to hand even heavy and large objects with no danger of hooks pulling out of your plaster walls.

Buying Antique Cuckoo Clocks

Posted in Interior Design and Decorating on February 3rd, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

A fantastic way to liven up a room and bring some extra character to the design is to buy a cuckoo clock. Cuckoo clocks come in a number of different styles – some more expensive than others – but if you want an authentic clock then antique cuckoo clocks are the best option. In this article I’ll be discussing some of the methods you can use to find antique cuckoo clocks for sale as well as some things to think about.

The very first cuckoo clocks date back to the Black Forest several hundred years ago. At the time, Black Forest cuckoo clocks were only made by experts and hence they were created to a very high standard. Because of this, some of the oldest clocks still work today although they are extremely valuable.

Antique clocks and especially cuckoo clocks can command huge sums of money when they’re sold at auction. For this reason, they aren’t very everybody although there is a wide range in prices depending on the age as well as intricacy of the design. If you can’t afford an antique then you could always consider a modern cuckoo clock instead.

The great thing about buying antique German cuckoo clocks is that they will only increase in value the longer you hold onto them. However, it’s important to remember that they need to be treated with extreme care and any repairs that are required should be performed only be an expert. The last thing you want to do is damage a true antique cuckoo clock because you were trying to save money on the repair bill. Remember, cuckoo clocks can fetch thousands of dollars at an auction if they’re antique and in good condition. You should also be careful to only buy the right cuckoo clock parts for your clock should it need repairs.

Digital Wall Clocks for the Home

Posted in Home on January 5th, 2010 by admin – Comments Off

The presence of the digital clock has become commonplace in our society, though they are a relatively recent phenomenon. In fact, it wasn’t until 1972 that the very first digital watch was invented. It took another 20 years before the first electric clock made its way onto the scene, and the rest is history. For many people that lived during the 1980′s, it’s likely that there first experience using a digital clock was through the purchase of a digital watch, which was most likely a Casio. Casio was extraordinarily popular during the 70′s and 80′s and sold millions of watches during that time. Their popularly continues to this day, as Casio is still a dominate force in the digital watch market.

Digital clocks have also made their way into our homes as digital wall clocks. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for a digital wall clock to display the time in addition to the humidity, temperature and a variety of other readings. The availability of digital wall clocks is rather widespread, as they can be purchased just about anywhere including online and through your local retailer. Digital clocks are also highly affordable, with many models priced at around $20. Because digital clocks are somewhat masculine in appearance due to their hard lines and black color scheme, it’s important to display them in the proper location. The most common and accepted locations to hang these devices include the garage and patio, though it’s also not uncommon to find them in offices and study areas within the home. They are particularly useful in outdoor patio settings where they can provide temperature and humidity readouts for all to see.

Perhaps the best place to purchase a digital wall clock is through a popular and well respected online retailer such as Amazon. In fact, Amazon sells dozens of digital wall clocks and many of their listings contain unique and unbiased product reviews. The next time you’re in the market for a wall clock to grace the walls of your home, consider purchasing a digital product to give your home that modern look.