Monthly Archives: January 2022

Mondays with Mike… 1-31-2022 Edition One

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Belly Up to The Bar

Who wants to belly-up to the bar….or at least the kitchen counter? To that end, isn’t this surely a nice kitchen on display here? Fantastic wood tones and great incorporation of one of my favorite hardware finishes: Oil Rubbed Bronze. That finish reminds me of colonial times….not that I’d know anything about that time period, but I will confess, I’ve been accused of sounding like I’m 100 years old with some degree of regularity…can anyone else relate? Speaking of Oil Rubbed Bronze, check out the pulls on the glass-covered cabinet to the right….it matches the stool legs to a “T”. Ditto for the round knobs on the cabinet just above it. Classy!

As I see it, this designer…or creatively talented homeowner has a real knack for “putting it all together”. As pretty as this all is, some of the details that make using it a real pleasure are hardly visible. Those things include soft-close and self-close drawer slides and hinges….and believe me, those details are nice and make a real difference! For practicality’s sake, they can help you successfully sneak a snack in the middle of the night without the loud retracting of the ‘silverware drawer’ to blow your cover — that’s never good. Semi-relatedly, all pet owners know that you’ll NEVER sneak a snack past the dog…no matter what!

Not to get off track, but I have to mention that we’ve got a great selection of kitchen sinks, faucets, and related accessories. After all, what’s a kitchen without a sink and faucet? Technically, it’d probably be considered a lunchbox/cooler combo that you can stand up and socialize in.🙃

Let me try to sum this all up before I go completely off this tangential track to nowhere…If the kitchen you own needs a thing…or ten, to get it whupped back into acceptable aesthetic shape, then WoodworkerExpress.com would be the route to go. Online or via phone, we are the advocates and support system for you and your kitchen rehabilitation. Lean on us to help you make it great!

Photo is courtesy of: www.Houzz.com

Disposable Masks – Can They Safely be Reused?

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With the new CDC guidance regarding masks, you may have upgraded from a cloth masks to an N95, or KN95 type respirator mask to gain more protection from COVID. But, these masks are more expensive than cloth and cannot be washed. For a family, this can be a significant cost concern.

So the question is, can you safely reuse a N95 or other disposable type mask? The short answer is, yes! CDC and multiple experts say that after storing your mask in a paper bag for a couple of days that it is safe to re-wear it. Coronavirus has an expected survival time of 72 hours so waiting a number of days should be enough time for the virus to be inactive. Try only touching the elastic straps and always wash your hands after.

Remember, you should not try to wash or disinfect your disposable masks with water, bleach, alcohol or other chemicals. These processes reduce the integrity of your mask and therefore affect the filtration process. Same with UV Light or heat. These also degrade the integrity of your mask.

Eventually, you will have to throw your disposable mask away. But when? While there is no hard rule, if the elastic no longer creates a tight fit, it may be time to toss. Also, if you haver been in a high virus exposure situation, it also may be a good idea to toss.

Woodworker Express carries a large selection of PPE products for your home or business including KN95 Masks and a highly effective hand Sanitizer called Lemyn that is 99.9999% effective against many illness-causing germs.

The Lemyn Hand Sanitizer Family

Come On-Let’s Swidget!

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Smart technology is all around us. Innovations are coming fast and furious. So how can you make your home a smart home with just a simple change? Swidget-that’s how!

The Swidget line of products allows you to upgrade your space by simply swapping out an existing switch or outlet with a technology ready Swidget device. Adding Wi-Fi enabled inserts allows you to control functions such as lights, program schedules, automations and more. Or pair it with Amazon Alexa or Google Home to enable voice commands.

Woodworker Express carries several different product applications. You can purchase the Swidget outlet without any insert and simply plug in the insert of your choice, or purchase the outlet with the Wi-Fi insert already included.

  • Swidget Outlet with No Insert
  • Swidget Outlet with Wi-Fi Insert

You can also choose from a Standard On/Off Switch (with or without insert), as well as a Dimmer Switch (with or without insert).

There are 4 standard inserts to choose from. Wi-Fi Control, Wi-Fi Control + USB Charging, Wi-Fi Control +Night Light, and Wi-Fi Control + Motion sensor.

  • Insert with Night Light

The Swidget App, available in the Apple App Store and Google play allows you to control your device while monitoring power consumption in real time.

  • Power On/Off your outlet or switch
  • Program schedules, create scenes and set automations
  • Monitor your energy consumption and set automatic notifications including when the power consumption is too high
  • Connect Inserts to trigger one another for a complete smart home system

You can also control your Swidget Wi-Fi connected inserts using Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT enabled devices.

All in all, the Swidget System allows you to easily upgrade your home to use Smart Technology in an uncomplicated way.

Check out these and many other innovative Tresco Lighting products at Woodworker Express.