Plywood Faces Competition

Plywood faces stiff competition from reconstituted wood products, especially waferboard and oriented strandboard, plastic panels and gypsum board between now and 199-5.

A study by The Freedonia Group, Inc. says that while competing products offer price/performance advantages over plywood in certain applications, plywood's ease of installation, appearance, strength and moisture re- sistance will promote some incremental demand increases.

Softwood plywood, which has a broader range of applications, has better prospects than hardwood plywood, which competes with vinyl wall coverings in the interior paneling market.

Coming out of the recession, building construction will increase demand for building boards 2.8% per year through 1995 to 72 billion square feet, the study claims. U.S. manufacturer shipments will increase 3% per year paced by an export demand across virtually all product lines. Products such as waferboard, oriented strandboard and medium density fiberboard will offset weakness in hardwood, plywood, hardboard and insulation board. Gypsum board's demand is expected to be healthy, but competition will keep the price down.

Dollar sales of building boards will increase at 4.7% per year to over $12 billion in 1995. This, according to the report, will reflect intense price competition among building board producers and with competitive products such as vinyl wall coverings and foamed plastic construction products.

New Telephone Fraud Scam

Companies with Direct Inward System Access (DISA) on their switchboards are in danger of being victimized by telephone hackers who make unauthorized long distance calls charged to the company.

Companies can be unaware thatthey have DISA, which allows a person at an off site telephone to dial an outside line through the switchboard. However, they are responsible for paying for the illegal calls, according to the courts.

The North American Wholesale Lumber Association is warning its members to check with their PBX system vendor and long distance company to be sure that proper security measures are in place. Those who must have DISA are advised to change the password frequently.

High Tech Thieves Attack

Thieves who smash front doors with rocks or concrete blocks have hit several home centers.

After gaining entry, they broke into display cases and stole expensive video game cartridges or electronic equipment.

Lowe's, South Boston, Va., lost seven camcorders valued at $5,704, according to the Halifax County sheriff. Lowe's, Southern Pines, N.C., had 103 games valued at $3,228, stolen from a Nintendo display case, a police department spokesman said.

Alaska Yellow Cedar Supply

Alaska yellow cedar, with an estimated four billion cubic feet gtowing in mature forest stands along the coastline of British Columbia. is tagged as having ongoing availability.

Containing a preservative oil which makes it highly resistant to decay, the wood is rated fairly hard and stiff with a toughness and shock resistance not usually found in softwoods of its density. Readily workable, it does not splinter and glues well. Clark Robertson, Delta Cedar Products Ltd., Surrey, B.C., calls it "one ofthe most versatile species of wood obtainable in North America. "

The wood is gaining popularity for applications such as boats, marina and patio decking, stadiumseats, playground equipment, greenhouses and conservatories, framing, mouldings, flume stock, interior and exterior paneling and siding, furniture, cabinets and musical instruments.

Demand is growing for glulams laminated with Alaska yellow cedar for use in high moisture dreas such as swimming pool enclosures or roofs over water teservoirs. Credited with a strength only slightly less than Douglas fir or southern pine, these have been used mostly in the west. However, demand in the national market is growing steadily.

"Cedar glulams have the advantages of attractive appearance when left exposed and their natural water resistant properties make it unnecessary to specify chemically treated beams and timbers," said Tom Williamson, American Institute of Timber Construction.

Builders' Gonservation House

A resource conservation house is being built by the Research Center, a National Association of Home Builders subsidiary.

Products and systems that conserve natural resources including gray water recycling, water conserying fixtures, energy efficient design, enhanced durability, reduced maintenance and a kitchen with integrated recycling facilities will be used.

Abitibi Price, Armstrong World Industries, Highland American, LiteForm and Owens Coming Fiberglas are among companies participating. The Upper Madboro, Md., house isexpected to be completed in May.

futanl

Employes

Thc

TIME SAVER

SAVER

MONEY MAKER

"BAND.ADE''

Indlan Country, Inc., Alt?ort Boad Depooft, NY 13754 6O7-467-3tOf

Home Genter

Fourteen leaders from the home center industry buying/selling spectrum will participate in a discussion of buyer/ seller relationships at the opening general session of the 1992 National Home Center Show and Conference, March 8, McCormick Place East, Chicago.

Titled "Partnership Wars!" in reference to the mix of budding partnerships and alliances in a traditionally adversarial setting, the 8 a.m. interactive discussion will be moderated by Harvard Law School professor Arthur Miller.

Panelists are: retailers Carl Dill, president, Dill's Building Centers, Peekskill, N.Y.; Bruce Weitz, president, Grossman's Inc., Braintree, Ma.; Jim Inglis, The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga.; Dwain Newman, president, National Home Center, Inc., Springdale, Ar., and Alec Beck, president, Stripling

Show Panelists

Blake Lumber Co., Austin, Tx.

Manufacturing panelists: John Punzenberger, national sales mgr., Rain Master, Bemis Mfg. Co., Sheboygan Falls, Wl.; GeorgeMacConnell,sr. v.p., Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga.; Ken Gates, v.p. sales & marketing, Lawrence Brothers, Inc., Sterling, Il.; Frank Feraco, pres. and c.o.o., Sterling Plumbing Group, Schaumburg, Il., and Sam A. Wing Jr., chairman and pres., Wing Industries, Dallas, Tx.

Distributors: Ronald A. Pink, pres., Distribution America, Des Plaines, Il., and Paul Hylbert, president and c.e.o., PrimeSource, Inc., Irvine, Ca.

Manufacturers' representatives: Connie Salios, pres., Kalty Salios Sales, Signal Hill, Ca., and Greg Houx, v.p. sales, United Samsco Associates, Garland, Tx.

Bureau Concedes To Politics

Faced with 20 or more roof covering bills including a ban on wood roofing and even fire retardant treated shakes and shingles, the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau says it will support reasonable California legislation regulating roof coverings.

Although reports following the October Berkeley/Oakland Hills fire in Northem Califomiablamed wood roofs, some professionals disagree. Ron Walker and Dave Tyree, National Forest Products Association, Cedar Shake

& Shingle Bureau safety consultants and National Institute of Standards & Technology and Steel Roofing Manufacturers Association representatives concluded it was not a wood roof fire and that the roof covering was insignificant to the survival of buildings. They described the fire as a wildland/ wildfi re/firestornVfire-tornado. Reaching 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the heat of the fire was said to be equal to the atom bomb that fell on Hiroshima. Japan, in World War II.

Sale Band Guttcr

Safety cutters from Elmo reduce the danger of injury due to the sudden snap or whiplash of the sharp ends of cut bands.

The cutters are equipped with shock

And Selected Soles Aids

Instant Workstand

Stable, self-leveling, adjustable brackets from Tridex connect three legs to produce level work surfaces even on uneven ground.

Unlike sawhorse brackets, they provide substantial flexibility in sizing for

Back To Back

A new back-supporting work belt from Champion Ergonomics features a patented color indicator to provide a quick, easy method of determining if the belt is being worn properly.

Designed to help prevent lower back injuries, the belt offers quality control numbering (each belt is individually numbered so each employee uses only his assigned belt), one year limited warranty, rugged design, light weight and elastic binding to conform to body movements and eliminate ride up.

use on a variety of different projects.

After the size of the work surface desired is determined,2x4's are cut to size and assembled with the brackets.

Gustom Organization

A modular divider for space organization in the cargo areas of pickup trucks and vans has been introduced bv Martec Plastics.

absorbers that firmly grip both ends of the cut band while automatically absorbing tensile energy from the bands. Handles are engineered for ease of handling and lower cutting effort in any position, without needing a horizontal resting surface while cutting. Made from steel forgings, the cutting edges are hardened and tempered for toughness and durability.

One model cuts through l-114" x .035 bands. A second, for longer reach or greater leverage, cuts through I - l/4" x .050 bands used in the lumber and metal industries.

No-Slip Striking

Plumb's rough faced hammer with non-slip design makes nailing easier and prevents slipping or bending even

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For more information on New Products write Euilding Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660. Please mention issue date and page number so we can process your request fasterl Many thanks!

Made of durable, weather resistant, lightweight polymers, Martector keeps cargo safe and secure, installs quickly and easily, comes custom sized for any size truck or van, and is modular, so dividers and partitions can be added or rearranged.

when the nail is not hit correctly.

Available are solid steel, fiberglass and lacquer-finished handle prernium hammers. The steel claw or ripping hammers come in 16,20 and 24-oz. models. Fiberglass handles are offered in 13, 16 or 2o-oz. versions with claw heads, 16 and 22-oz. with rip and bell rough face, and a 22-o2., 15" model with rip head and bell rough face. The clear lacquer-finish handle hammers are available in l6 and 20-oz. claw with octagonal rough face and a 16-oz. rip hammer with a bell rough face.

Bench Press

An 8" benchtop drill press featuring a powerful 1/4 hp induction motor and state-of-the-art value-added engineering has been introduced by Skil Corp.

also displays cumulative usage at the press of a button.

Water usage can be analyzed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, up to 9,999 gallons. Activated as soon as water begins to flow, the device never has to be turned on or off.

Nail Pullers

Forged of high carbon steel, uniquely shaped nail pullers from Vaughan make it easy to extract deeply embedded nails.

Quarry-Look Wall Panels

Operating at five different speeds to meet most drilling needs, the tool has a handy storage area that holds 20 drill bits, adjustable locking depth stop and scale with improved user visibility, conveniently located chuck key holder, T-slots and recessed locations in the cast iron base for easy clamping and fastening, and l12" capacity chuckwith 2" spindle travel.

Its rugged 6-L12" x 6-112" cast iron table tilts up to 45 degrees for angle drilling. The drill press has T" chuckto-table and 10" chuck-to-base capacities.

Flow Chart

The WaterTracker personal water meter from Muir Products attaches to showerheads, faucets and hose bibs to give current and cumulative usage readmgs'

The specially hardened and tempered claws are ground flat to slip under a rail head with minimal damagetothe wood surface. The rocker head provides excellent leverage with the body contoured for safety and comfort.

Finished in a rust resistant. blue finish with polished claws, Bear Claw Pullers come in five sizes.

Slab ln A Box

The Nu-Pride cement finishing kit from Marshalltown Trowel Co. provides in one box nearly everything needed to prepare and finish a concrete slab.

Included are 14" x 4" concrete trowel, concrete edget, concrete groover, 5 -l 12" pointing trowel, 14" wood float, tips and techniques booklet, instructions and checklist of other tools and materials needed to complete the project.

Simulating the lookof quarried rock, the Quany Collection of vinyl-covered Durasan gypsum wall panels is now available from Gold Bond.

Offered are four stone-look colors: mica, limestone, claystone and blue qv rtz.

Panelsreportedly arehighly durable, with exceptional face and abrasion resistance. Ifan entire panel is destroyed for any reason, it can be replaced with matching stone pattern.

Available in ll2" regular and ll2" ot 5/8" Fire-Shield gypsum wallboard, each noncombustible panel measures 4'wide with standard height options of 8', 9'or l0'. Custom heights from 8'to 14'and widths of 24" or 30" can be special ordered.

Retooled with Fiberglass

Fiberglass handleslighter than steel, stronger than wood and impervious to weather changesare now available from Ames on an expanded selection of Stinger scoops, rakes, hoes, forks, cultivators and edgers.

Constructed of durable, water resistant materials, the device measures in l/lfth gallon increments so usage can be tracked while the water is running. It

Featured are human engineered "D" grips for greater comfort and strength, large steel collars that add strength to handle/socket connections, and extra long handles for greater leverage and easler use.

The line also includes new Stinger poly rakes made with TPO for superior break resistance at lower temperatures.

Self-Tllng Tle-Down

E-Z-Ty universal tie-down systems from Shell Mold & Engineering eliminates knots and bungee cords.

Its design makes it easy to cinch down and securc a rope without losing tension. Made of tough, lightweight composite materials, it wont scratch finishes, conode or rust.

The product comes in two sizes: 3ll2" in length to handle any cordage fi'om l/8" to 3/16" in diameter and 5-

Razor Sharp Sales

Blades and tools from American Line can now be merchandised in eyecatching display buckets with stand-up headers to attract impulse sales.

l/4" long to handle cordage from 3/16" to 3/8" in diameter,

The ReelThlng

An all new Hose King low profile Sidemount all-poly hose reel with convenient molded-in hose guide for

One display comes filled with 100 five-pack single edge blades. A second holds 100 multi-puryose mini-scrapers.

Net Wrap

Goodwrappers stretch netting, a completely self-contained disposable handwrapper, ready to use right out of the box, is now available from J.C. Pany & Sons Co.

The mesh allows loads to breathe, eliminating condensation build-up which could waterlog and damage outer packaging of products.

Unique hand brakes dissipate the friction heat that develops when the

Free Reader Service

For more information on New Products write Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660. Please mention issue date and page number so we can process your request faster! Many thanks!

easy l80o use and 4-ft. leader hose with solid brass coupling is new from Ames Lawn & Garden Tools.

The reel holds up to 100 ft. of 5/8in. hose or 150 ft. of U2-in. hose and featurcs a stlong, durable basket; rugged, non-rusting all-poly construction, and injection molded flo-through water system with double "O" ring protection against leakage.

Multi-Location Management

Version 5.00 of Versyss' Materials Management System, Distributed Data Processing, has been introduced to meet the needs of medium to large multi-location operations.

DDP facilitates transfer of information between systems at multiple locations to maintain like data bases while the systems are running independently.

It works by "trapping" all sales and inventory changes that occur on a system during a day's processing. Changes are then transferred to a master location, consolidated and communicated to other sites.

It will support up to 99 locations.

FAX: 503-684-7906

1 -800-LJB-LMBR (552-5627)

In Oregon 503-620-5847 8858 S.W. Center Ct., Tigard, 0R97223

P.0. Box 23955, Tigard, 0regon 97223

Specializing in Western Softwood Boards & Clears

For all of your finish lumber, from one-half of a truckload to a trainload, just dial...

1-800-LJB-LMBR FAX (s03) 684-7e06

Broker: Louie Buschbacher, Jock Voelzke, Jr., Ken Zyvoloski

Office Manager: Carla Renick with water.

It comes in pints, quarts and gallons in three sheens: clear gloss, clear semigloss and clear satin.

Whirligig Kits

Old fashioned whirligigs to decorate home or garden !u€ now available from Cherry Tree Toys.

Drywall Pouches

A new line of drywall pouches made from soft, durable and resilient [)upont Cordura nylon has been introduced by Coldblatt Tool Co.

Pouches feature a large belt loop and two nylon-stitched pockets for tools, nails or drywall screws. All stitching is rivet reinforced.

Interior Wood Topcoat

Polycrylic hotective Finish, a clear, water-based topcoat for any interior wood surface, is new fi'om Minwax.

The non-yellowing, low odor finish resists scratching and is easily cleaned

Kits come in 36 different designs and three different skill levels. The easiest is precut and predrilled, requiring only sandpaper and glue for assembly.

Also offered are frnished whirligigs and individual parts ofbrass and wood for those wishing to create their own design.

Make your ad work harder-use reprints of your ad or articles from Building Products Digest as part of your company's marketing program.

The low cost promotion pieces can be used as direct mail sales tools, trade show handouts, leave behind pieces, product announcements, for staff education, etc.

Call for quotes: (7141852-1990. Buildino -Produc:ts

Compost Qulckener

Nature's Best Compost Acti-Vator, an all natural, organic product specifically designed to speed up the chemical and bacterial action needed to decompose vegetable and animal matter, is new from Koos, Inc.

The product is added to bins, bags or piles of leaves, grass and shrub clippings, kitchen scraps, wood shavings, sawdust or other materials to induce faster composting action, providing fresh humus, which can be added to yard soil as a rich, natural fertilizer.