Tuesday 25 November 2014

Building a Bespoke Log Store

I had a phone call the other day from a customer who loved our 4ft High Wootton log store but had the small issue that where they wanted to locate it was only 3ft wide. Assuring the customer that this was not an issue, given a little time and a cup of tea, the workshop could easily alter the log store to this bespoke size for her garden.

This isn't the first time that Dorset Log Stores have altered a log store to suit a customers wishes, who needed it to fit into a particularly small space, or had dreamt of something larger than our normal sizes. Everything that Dorset Log Stores produces, be it log store, garden store or wheelie bin and recycling store, are all made right here by our own local craftsmen. Due to this, creating bespoke log stores is a simple process, as we can start from the very first cut in the very first board, to make sure that it is completely correct to the customers desires. 

In this weeks Dorset Log Stores Blog, I thought that I would share some photos of the bespoke log stores that we have done over the last month, from the tall and thin, to wide and high.


This is a 3ft wide Okeford Log Store with a timber roof, scaled down in size from the standard 4ft option to fit into a particularly tight space. While being 3ft wide, it is still just other 6ft in height and will hold plenty of logs for those cold winter nights. 


Shown above is a 6ft wide Melbury Log Store. While not a custom size, a central partition was requested creating two 3ft sections with a shelf on one side for kindling. What I particularly like about this one, is the two arches, giving the front of the log store a graceful curve.


In this photo is a custom sized 9ft wide Okeford Log Store with a tiled roof. The central partition allows the splitting of seasoned and new logs so your fire burns dry logs for maximum warmth. The lovely arch frames of the roof bar and the slate effect tiled roof, will really make this log store a central feature in the garden. 

At Dorset Log Stores everything is built by our own talented workshop team (roughly 50 metres from where I'm sitting right now actually) so if your looking for a log store that is that little bit bigger, that little bit smaller or just thinner to fit in the perfect spot in your garden leave a comment below or give us a call on 01300 345916.


Thanks for Reading
James 





Thursday 6 November 2014

What Do Recycling Symbols Mean?

In the seminal work Understanding Comic Books (Yes I'm a big nerd but stick with me, I'm going somewhere with this) the author puts all art and pictures on a scale, from the greatest work of art, The Mona Lisa at one end to the symbol for ladies toilets at the other end.

The Mona Lisa's smile captivates at one end of the scale, but who is she? Why is she smiling? Beautiful though she is there is something she cannot do, and that is provide you with any information at all. The little matchstick figure of a lady on the toilet door, plain as she is, does exactly that.

Unfortunately in our modern world of recycling there are plenty of symbols, for this that and the other, that are not always completely clear as to what they mean. So this week's blog is all about what all those different symbols on the side of packaging actually mean?

Recycling Symbols


The Mobius Loop is probably the most famous recycling symbol, gracing everything from bins to drinks bottles. As a symbol it indicates that the object is capable of being recycled, not that it has been. Occasionally it can be seen with a %, usually done to indicate how much of the packaging uses an already recycled material.


Symbols Tidying Up

The Tidyman is put on packaging that should be disposed of in a bin, This isn't particularly related to recycling but rather as part of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign serves as a reminder not to litter.

Recycling


The Green Dot does not mean that the packaging is recyclable, has been recycled or will be recycled in the future. The Green Dot is actually a symbol used to indicate that the producer has joined the Green Dot Scheme, a European scheme where businesses make financial contributions towards recycling.

Plastics


Plastics identifies the type of plastic resin used to make the item by the number contained within the mobius loop. Plastic is beginning to be recyclable more and more, with most homes now able to put more plastic packaging into their recycling bin.

Recyclable Glass


Glass that can be disposed in bottle banks or personal household recycling bins. Make sure you wash out the inside first mind.

Recycling cans

Aluminium that can be recycled, at a local recycling point or in a household recycling bin.

Recycling Collections

The Paper symbol is only awarded by the National Association of Paper Merchants to paper or board that has a minimum of 50%, 75% or is 100% genuine waste paper or board fibre.

Well Managed Forests by the FSC


The Wood symbol is awarded by the Forestry Stewardship Council, identifying products which contain woods from well managed forests certified as being in agreement with the rules of the FSC.

Wheelie Bin and Recycling Signs
Angelic Hen Bin Signs

These days most of us have several bins for all the different items we need to recycle and I'm sure like me you've spent 10 minutes digging through the paper bin for that glass jar you think you accidentally put in there. What we need are some bright coloured labels to help us out. From Angelic Hen come these wonderful fun bin labels, that can stuck right onto all the different bins and boxes to show exactly what can go where inside your wheelie bin or recycling store. Perfect.

Timber Wheelie Bin Stores
Wheelie Bin Stores
If you have any questions about our wheelie bin and recycling stores, ideal for hiding away all those ugly bins, why not leave a comment or call us at Dorset Log Stores on 01300 345916.


Thanks for Reading
James