Has one fence ever caused so much concern, panic, and general confusion??
The Fence Wizard says no. Now lets clean this mess up.
Issue #1:
Does a Nation have the legal and moral authority to define its borders, language, and legal system? Yes.
Issue #2:
Should a Nation have rules concerning where, when, and to whom access is granted? Yes.
Issue #3:
Will a border fence help meet basic security improvement goals regarding sentry, licensing, and the future of any labor regulation that may occur in the United States? Yes.
Too Simple? No. This is a basic issue - its not right wing or left wing; its about common sense. all other debate regarding immigration, work visas, and citizenship should occur on their own merits. "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" as described by the President and Congress is a total failure of thought and practice. Enough said; the Fence Wizard has fence to build.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Border Fence Talk... The real issue.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Videos: Fence Plowing, Bloopers, and other Electric Moments
The Rainy Day Link List - When you have nothing better to do....
Video: Kid Crashed into Fence on SkateboardVideo: Electric Fence you guess the rest
Video: Goat that enjoys his electric fence
Video: No explanation; just take a look
Video: Pee on Electric Fence
Video: Invisible Fence.......
For everything cutting edge in the world of fence - Visit The World Famous Fence Wizard
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Fence Company Directory and Link Sheet
- A-1 Fence Company - Chainlink & wood fences, a full line gate shop, and custom built dog kennels. Serving Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- Acorn Fencing and Concrete - Chesterfield leading fencing and concrete product manufacturers.
- Agriflex Incorporated - Fencing systems for agricultural construction and other applications, including windbreak, snow fence, bird barrier and safety fences.
- Agripal - Sells zinc-plated poles for vineyards enclosures. Page includes diagrams and description of products. Located in Tavagnacco, Italy.
- Aluminum Fences Direct - Retail and Wholesale Aluminum Pre-Assembled Panels, based in North Carolina.
- Allied Tube & Conduit - Manufacturer of galvanized and commercial quality tubing. Producer of welded carbon steel tubing and pipe, electrical conduit, fire protection piping, fence framework and mechanical tubing.
- Amazing Gates of America - Manufacturer of ornamental iron gates and automatic electric gate kits for contractors and end users. Ordering available via catalog and website.
- American Netting - Polypropylene knitted netting for protection of birds and other wildlife. From hazardous materials and other adverse environmental conditions
- Archer Co. - Manufacturer of welding rods, ornamental fence iron casting, cutting wheels and non-explosive demolition agent.
- Argo Line Sales - Fabricators of hydraulic post drivers for the professional fencing contractor. Located in Montana
- Ashlee Fence - Residential and commericial sales and installation. Custom built wood fences, electric gate openers, and all types of chain link fences.
- Aztek-Fencing.com - Many fencing products to choose from. From vinyl to chain link plus installation in Colorado.
- Barlow Farms - Corral panels and gates for round pen, corraling cattle, and training horses.
- Barretts - Family owned company with 20 years of experience selling and installing all types of agricultural fence. Ontario, Canada.
- Benner's Gardens - Non-electric fence that controls deer damage,
- BF Products, Inc. - Snow fencing, netting and many other products and accessories.
- Black Cat Post Pounder - Fence post pounder driver designed for fence building contractors farmers and ranchers.
- Blitz Enterprises - Supplier of electric fence wire, insulators, fencers and supplies for animals and pets.
- Boundary Fence and Railing Systems - Manufacturer and distributor for chain link, PVC, and wire mesh fencing material and hardware.
- Brazil Forest Products - Pine sawmill in Brazil, working with own reforested timber. Producer and exporter of fencing, pallets, boards and lumber.
- Cape Wire (Pty) Ltd. - Manufacturers, distributors and exporters of wire & wire products. Rep of South Africa
- Cardinal Fencing Company - Sales and installation. Serving Milton Pennsylvania.
- Carolina Wire Products LLC, - Full line electric fencing distributor.
- Cebeco Timber Group - Lithuanian-Swedish export company, specialising in production, impregnation and export of machine rounded & peeled poles.
- Cedar Split Rail Fences - Custom built cedar split rail fences for stock, or residential fences or corrals.
- Centaur HTP Northeast - Dealer of the Centaur brand fencing. Contact information and installation tips. Serving Northeast U.S.
- Champi Fence Company - One of California's original full service fence companies, a leader since 1954 serving all of Central California (Nick Champi Enterprises Inc)
- Cocklestorm Fencing Company - Manufacturers and suppliers of fence panels. Bury, Manchester, UK.
- Comos Kokosystems - Fencing material produced from recycled synthetic tubing wrapped in cocos fibers, a waste product of coconut processing.
- Crowder Supply Co. - Supplier of air powered post drivers and post pullers. Includes selection of models and pricing.
- Customized Vinyl Sales - Fences, railing, and decks from aluminum to vinyl. Extensive help for first-time buyers.
- Derek Fox & Sons Timber - Manufacturers and suppliers of timber, fencing, railway sleepers, outdoor furniture, gates and decking. England
- Digger Driver - Fencing Equipment, Hydraulic Post Pounder, Munro's Digger Driver.
- Dry Creek Fencing - Sales and local installation, includes gates, and horse stalls.
- Dubose Panels - High tensile steel.
- Easygates Automatic - Automatic Gates, Access Systems and Home Security. UK
- Electric Deer Fences - Electric deer fences and products relating to deer control.
- Electric Fencing Direct - Full range of energisers, ultrasonic systems, netting, planning guide and helpful hints. (UK)
- Electrobraid Farm Fence - Manufacturer of permanent electric fence conductors which have no sharp ends, splinters or tangled wires.
- Equi-Tee Farm and Fence - Manufacture and distributor of high quality products to add safety and security to horse fencing.
- Farm Trak - High Impact polymer electric safety fencing systems.
- Feedlot Fencing - Sales and installation. Located in Nebraska
- Fence Master - Manufacturers of American-made electric fence chargers.
- Fence Wire Tensioning Tool - A tool designed for stretching all types of barbed, stock and fence wire.
- Fencing & Awning Inc. - Chain link, ornamental, and PVC fence products.
- Fickle Hill Deer Fence - Deer control fencing.
- First Fencing Co. - Fencing and building contractors, for the private sector as well as business customers.
- Forcefield - Electric Fencers, pet care and accessories. France
- Gallagher Australia Pty. Ltd. - Manufacturers of electric power fences.
- Gardner Fence Systems, Inc. - Supplier selling Gardner fencing since 1988.
- Gripple Limited - Tool for installation maintenance and repair of wire and barbed wire fencing.
- GWP Industries - Manufacturer and exporter of welded and woven mesh, chain link, and fence products. Tianjin, China
- Hazel Wattle Products - Old rural craft making wattle hurdles. Hurdles used to be used for folding in sheep, but now are used for garden fencing.
- Hitz Fence Supplies - Supplies, poly lumber, porch railings, and other fencing needs. Lebanon PA
- Horizont Agrartechnik - Produces electric fences, fencers, electric nettings, electrified ropes, posts, wires, tapes and insulators.
- Horseguard Fence - The original electric fencing tape. Today, at factory outlet prices* from the manufacturer to your doorstep, 10 cents per foot.
- Hutchison Western Farm and Ranch Supply - Manufacturers of farm and ranch products.
- Inland Tarp & Cover Inc. - Tarps for hay, trucks, and custom covers.
- International Pipe Group - Manufacturer and nationwide distributor of chainlink fence, ornamental fence systems, and supplies.
- Interpipe Inc. - Steel pipe distributor of new and used surplus fencing pipe. Locations in Canada and US.
- J.C. Wilhelm, Inc. - Producing lumber, fencing, stakes and mulch. Manchester, MD
- JH fencing - Local sales and installation. West Sussex, Henfield NR Brighton. UK
- K Fence, Inc. - Complete line of electric and non-electric farm fencing.
- Kencove Farm Fence, Inc. - Supplies and tools for electric fences, portable fences, plastic tensile rail fences, and non-electric high tensile wire fencing.
- Kiwi Fence - Farm fencing supplies including Max-Ten high tensile wire and all accessories for the do-it-yourself market.
- Koehn Marketing Inc. - A supplier of unique products for the livestock industry including drive through electric gates.
- Lacme - Manufacturer of Low Impedance Electric Fencers, Insulators, Wires, Ropes and Tapes.
- Larsen Ranch Supply - Continuous fence, livestock handling equipment and post pounder rentals.
- Long Fence - Manufacturers and installers of residential and commercial fence structures. All types of ornamental iron fencing, window grates, security gates, railing and wood fencing.
- M & M Timber Co Ltd - Manufacturer of round timber and market leader in the supply of landscaping timber. Europe.
- Matrix Fencing Systems Ltd. - UK-based company supplying mesh panel fencing systems and gates suited to a variety of applications.
- Max-Flex Systems - Supplier of high tensile and electric fence and high powered fence energizers.
- Meps Electric Fencing - Manufacturers and suppliers of electric fencing products. Located in South Africa.
- Merit Enterprises - Steel Pipe and Tubing. Sapulpa, Oklahoma
- Metal-Cynk - Manufacturer of fence spikes and connectors. Galvanization services. Localization: Poland.
- MG Centaur Fencing - Vinyl fencing for horse enclosures.
- Miller Fence Co. - Fence and installations. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Munro Engineers Pty Ltd - Manufacturers of hydraulic post drivers and augers for fencing, stockyards, and vineyards. Victoria, Australia.
- Noble Panels & Gates - Manufacturing safe permanent and temporary horse fencing products, round pens, stall systems and barns.
- Pasture Management Systems - Supplies and tools for electric fences.
- Perma Well Inc. - National wholesale distributor of Ultraguard vinyl fence products. Horse fencing, picket fences, vinyl railings and decking available.
- Picket Post Driver - Revolutionary air-driven Picket Post Driver now available in the UK.
- POSTSAVER USA. - Manufacturer of post boots specifically designed to prevent post decay.
- Power Wizard - Complete line of electric fence energizers and accessories.
- Powercrete Products, LLC - Source of modular, easy to install precast concrete fences for security, sound barriers, enclosures, perimeter walls, and privacy fences.
- Protector Aluminium - For fencing contractors located on the Sunshine Coast Australia
- R. Benner and Associates - Installers of black polypropylene deer control fencing. Serving properties in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic states.
- Ram Fence Inc. - A family owned fence business that sells wood, & chain-link. Located and serving Savannah, Georgia.
- RAMM Equine Solutions - Products for your horse and livestock.
- Recycled Plastic Products - Manufacturer of recycled plastic fencing. Poly-Coated Steel Frame with 100% recycled plastic pickets. Available in white, cedar and gray.
- RedBrand Fencing - Manufacturer of high strength wire mesh fencing. Includes a horse fencing guide to assist the horse owner in fence type selection and lay-out.
- Rhino Tool Company - Manufactures 6 air operated post drivers & 2 post pullers.
- RSG Associates - Manufacturer representatives for electric fence supplies and equipment.
- Rutland Electric Fencing - Manufacturers of electric fence energizers, accessories and equipment for agriculture, equestrian and security.
- Score Construction - Your experienced wildlife, farm and chainlink fence contractor throughout Western Canada.
- Select Fence Distributors - Many different products to choose from.
- Sherman Wire - Manufacturers of RedBrand wire and wire fencing products including wire mesh, hardware cloth, animal fencing, cage fencing and poultry netting.
- Silverado Fencing - A distributor of HTP fencing system products, which feature high tensile wire with a HTP polymer coating to provide safety to livestock by spreading impact loads.
- Smallburgh Crafts - Hand made timber entrances and field gates. Steel framed timber planked benches. UK.
- Southwest Fence Systems, Inc. - Developers and manufacturers of livestock, farm, ranch, and highway fence components since 1970.
- Southwest Power Fence & Livestock Equipment - Specialists in electric fence systems & solar powered automatic gate technology.
- Spiralfast Wire Products - Manufactures wire connectors for high tensile fence wire. Suitable for viticultural trellising.
- Split Cedar Products - Hand split Western Red Cedar fence rails, posts, boards, and pickets. BC Canada
- Superior Concrete Products - Precast concrete products with the beauty of Wood, Stone and Brick but with the durability of precast concrete.
- Sureguard Electric Farm Fence - Manufacturer of solar and battery powered portable electric fence energizers and hidden electronic dog & cat fencing.
- TARC - The new wire fencing stretcher.
- Tennessee Fence Works - Vinyl fencing, decks, docking, porch rails and wooden round rail fencing.
- Timber Garden Gates - Forest Products supply and gates. Supplied by gate manufacturers & sellers from Huntley, Gloucestershire and Cowbridge, Glamorgan
- Timber Line - Tyne and Wear - For Timber , Sheds , Decking ,Summerhouses and Fencing. Located in UK
- Trans Canada Wood Products Ltd. - Manufacturer of acoustic and residential fencing products, wooden bridges, and railway tie plugs.
- Tri-City Fence Company - Local sales and installation. Kingsport, TN
- Tundra Sales - Equine fencing, stalls and equipment for the home or farm. Vinyl or electric fencing and horse stalls.
- Uniwire - Manufacturer and supplier of wire fencing products, stock fencing, agricultural netting, barbed wire and staples.
- Valley Fence - Installation and sales, including, barbed and barbless wire & field fence. Serving the Spokane, WA and North Idaho area
- A Vinyl Fence & Deck Wholesaler - Factory direct vinyl fence and vinyl decking. View online many vinyl fence styles. Privacy fence, picket fence, pool fence, plus horse fence. Fast worldwide shipping, lifetime warranty, and no sales tax.
- Wallick Post and Lumber, Inc. - Wholesale supplier of fence posts and forest products for fence builders, game breeders, vineyards and residential construction companies.
- West Virginia Split Rail - Provider of split rail fencing and other wood fencing to distributors nationwide since 1929. Buckhannon, WV
- World Famous Fence Wizard - The Premier Fence Industry News and Discussion Forum
- Zareba Systems - Manufacturer of electric fence controllers to provide containment of pets and livestock.
List courtesy of DMOZ
Thursday, February 8, 2007
A new indoor fence solution from Supply Rack.
Fence Wizard,
Yes, the fencing is quite strong, durable, and helps in many ways to protect employees in the workplace. As far as OSHA regs, this is probably the most prevalent regulation...
Always available for questions...
Supply Rack Sales & Marketing
847-715-9097
847-612-3775 (cell)
www.supplyrack.com
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
New growth product that can generate sales now!
There is nothing better than a fence product that creates new profit opportunity where none existed before. If you install or sell temporary fence - read carefully: www.fencefabric.com is a new enterprise that manufactures and distributes specialty fabrics that can be installed to existing fence, new fence, or other free standing objects. Hi-visibility construction sites will tap this product first - the future growth will surely include the residential market, event fencing, and any location where printable advertising can benefit. Early projects for Fence Fabric have included: The Trump Towers in New Orleans, The Boston Redevelopment Agency, and Starwood Hotels. New Dealers are now being recruited, you may want to be the only play in your area that offers this product!
Project Coordinator Mathew Murray answered our product questions this week:
Mr. Fence Wizard,
Thank you for your interest and review of our product; here is a rundown about our products:
Fence Fabric is a unique product that was designed to transform ordinary surfaces into classic stone walls, beautiful hedges, pristine landscapes, or other high-quality designs of your choice. Our products improve the aesthetics of any surface, increase privacy and security, and also add a unique and distinguishing element to any property. The versatility of Fence Fabric in terms of size, design, and installation makes our products ideally suited to a wide range of applications, including commercial development projects, residential landscaping, sports complexes, zoos and amusement parks, public works projects, event tents, and other creative uses.
We feature five separate materials:
Supreme Mesh Vinyl- a tight weave, permeable to wind while reducing light penetrationScrim Vinyl- non-porous and perfectly suited to cover solid walls or other surfaces
Block Out (white back)- internal block-out layer completely obstructs light penetration
Block-Out (black back)- a light-blocking material engineered with a black color on the reverse side
Backlit Vinyl- creates a stunning effect with a light source placed directly behind the material.
All materials used for Fence Fabric prints have been chosen for their superior printing properties and outdoor durability. Both the materials and the inks used in printing are UV-stabilized allowing for long-term installations. Most of these materials can be printed on both sides. Prints are expanded beyond the dimensions of the project and then folded and bound at the edges to provide finished image panels at full size that are ready for mounting. We have an extensive library of stock images and are able to produce custom logos for your business, event, or product. Just let us know how we can help put a better face on your fence.
As regards installation, grommets and zip ties can be used to mount Fence Fabric with most projects. Other fastening options are possible and can be explored with your local fence installer. Our products are competitively priced amongst similar privacy screens or slats. Most projects range in the $2.00 per square foot range and up, depending on material and finishing options.
Contact Fence Fabric at:
Fence Fabric
18520 Burbank Blvd. Ste. 103
Tarzana, CA 91356
888-336-2350 (p)
818-774-1286 (f)
Fencing Calculators and Project Estimators!
The question we get most here concerns planning and material needs. Here is a collection of some helpfull fencing calculators from around the web:
Concrete calculator (tells you how many bags or yards you need):
Calculator provided by Hoover Fence - click back to the homepage for some other options
Fence Project Price estimator (Includes Labor)
Total project calculator from Master Halco
The Master Halco link will actually give you project options for several types of fence and can link you to companies that will respond for installation. These are real fence companies that are not forced to purchase material from Master Halco.
PLEASE NOTE:
Be very careful of some of the new companies that are advertising leads - service magic and others - I can not vouch for these services or how they do business.
Monday, February 5, 2007
How to find qualified contractors for your residential project.....
This may be the most important post that the Fence Wizard will author. The following advice can be used for any project but seems to be absolutely crucial for fencing.
First off: How to find companies to bid on your project?
Be careful. Using the Internet can often generate paid lead finders that have connection with companies not close to your area. Also, running a simple search on yahoolocal.com or yellowpages.com will not actually categorize the companies in order of how close they are to you. They are organized based on their account status with marketing firms.
So what should you do? First and foremost ask around and get some word of mouth advice. Check the local phone book to see who offers the service you are looking for. Narrow your search down to 3 companies - usually the closest to your location. Make certain they are licensed and insured.
Second - call them up and describe your project the best you can and make sure the company is interested in providing a bid to you.
Third - Provide all bidders with the same information - footage/ height/ specs/ etc. If you are not familiar with fence specifications then ask each bidder to clearly define the spec and quality of each major component of the fence that they are proposing to use. Read those specs carefully and make sure you understand them. For example 9 Gauge tension wire is thicker than 10 gauge.
Forth- Pick the highest value bid not just the lowest price bid. By this point you should have also learned if the contractor is responsive to your questions and concerns.
Finally - Make sure you see a display or sample of the product and see an installed example nearby to your location. Only then should you ask for a contract from the company so that you can sign and approve the price they quoted. NEVER EVER EVER pay more than 10% deposit on any project. The Best companies rarely even ask for that.
As with all advice - use common sense and if you are unsure at all - blog to the FENCE WIZARD for some advice. Good luck.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sign the Fence Wizard Guestbook and Leave us a Link to Your Website!
The Few, The Proud, The Guestbook Signers.
Click on that little pen and you will appear at the guestbook.
View my Guestbook Free Guestboo
Friday, January 5, 2007
FOUND: The motherload link for international fence product wholesale
Not sure how this website has been hiding for so long but the Fence Wizard Web Search Crew has uncovered a vast collection of International Fence Industry Links all on one convenient site:
EC21- The Golbal B2B Marketplace. The site is loaded with just about everything - so we ran a search for Fence and struck gold. Here is what we found"
These are worldwide companies manufacturing, selling, importing, and buying Fence Product on the World Market.
18 Companies involved with Vinyl Fence
29 Companies involved with Bamboo Fence
473 Companies involved with Chain Link Fence
493 Companies involved with Iron Fence
Follow your own nose from the Home Page if you want to explore importing or exporting product. We will be testing the links over then next couple of week and will add to this report soon.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
FENCE WIZARD MAD. Online fence companies that suck!
The Fence Wizard is here to lend a hand. This time we would like to lend a finger. Today's rant is directed at two online retailers of fence prodcut.
First off - Do not buy chain link products online ever. You will pay far too much and get despicably lightweight specs. If you didnt know - such is the case at home despot and lowes as well. Where should you buy? Find a local fence company that offers retail sales - they are hard to find but well worth the trouble.
Here was my test quote from fencecenter.com.
I asked for 6' high x 100' of chain link fence. The spec they provided is less than pathetic, it includes 1 5/8" 17 Gauge Line Posts - the FENCE WIZARD would not bother pooping on this. Also included 11 Gauge Aluminum ties - I have never heard of anything weaker than 9 gauge until now. Remarkable. Total cost with shipping ran $8.16 per foot. A fence with appropraite specs should run about $6.50-7.00 per foot retail. Again with "appropriate specs".
What a nightmare, but it doesnt end there by any means. I next went to efence.com and priced out a basic 6' high cedar fence. Spec included 5/8" x 6" wide Cedar Pickets and 2 rails. Wood posts included "for beauty and strength". I had the online calculator run me a price for a 100' straight run - no gates. The price----An unbelievable $2,144.00 excluding concrete. This is far above what such a fence should install for with labor. Is anybody buying this garbage for these prices??? Once again - efence.com and fencecenter.com are complete rip offs. Sadly they are likely two of many.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Top Ten Reasons To Install A Fence!
Top Ten Reasons to install a Fence.
- 1. Neighbor just installed a fence, took ownership of your pool
- 2. Someone has been sneaking in and shearing mohawks on all of your sheep
- 3. Neighborhood cat gang keeps coming through and roughing up your dog
- 4. You spotted an endangered species in the backyard, want to trap it / eat it
- 5. Because your never planning on accessing those 7 cars anyway
- 6. Local Walrus keeps using the pool univited
- 7. Someone pitched a tent in your backyard and wont pay you rent
- 8. Your yard is sloped; tired of rolling all the way down the hill after a night of drinking
- 9. Your neighbors horse keeps using your wifes feedbag
- 10. Installing deck sideways is too costly
Top Ten Reasons To Install A Fence!
Top Ten Reasons to install a Fence.
- 1. Neighbor just installed a fence, took ownership of your pool
- 2. Someone has been sneaking in and shearing mohawks on all of your sheep
- 3. Neighborhood cat gang keeps coming through and roughing up your dog
- 4. You spotted an endangered species in the backyard, want to trap it / eat it
- 5. Because your never planning on accessing those 7 cars anyway
- 6. Local Walrus keeps using the pool univited
- 7. Someone pitched a tent in your backyard and wont pay you rent
- 8. Your yard is sloped; tired of rolling all the way down the hill after a night of drinking
- 9. Your neighbors horse keeps using your wifes feedbag
- 10. Installing deck sideways is too costly
Golden State Fence hit hard for Hiring Illegals
Southern California border fence builder pays $5 million fine for hiring illegal immigrants
Saturday, December 23, 2006 by: Jerome Douglas
Printable version Key concepts: border fence, illegal immigration and immigrants. (NewsTarget) A fence-building company in Southern California has agreed to pay nearly $5 million in fines for hiring illegal immigrants.
In addition to the fines, two executives from the company may also end up serving jail time. A company called Golden State was found to have hired and retained illegal immigrants for part of a border fence building project -- and the company, when caught, agreed to cleanup its act.
When the company was investigated again in 2004 and 2005 to ensure compliance with its promise, some of the same illegal workers from an immigration check in 1999 were still working for the company. Indeed, it's now estimated that as many as one-third of the company's 750 workers may have been in the country illegally.
Golden State Fence built millions of dollars' worth of fencing around homes, offices, and military bases, and the U.S. Government is now suggesting jail time for Melvin Kay and Michael McLaughlin, the company's president and a manager, respectively, to the tune of six months.
It's a rare twist to see employers of illegal immigrants actually face jail time or even prosecution. The case against Golden State, therefore, is almost a first of its kind as pressure increases from the public to crack down on the hiring of illegal immigrants.
Immigration raids on six meat-packing plants netted almost 1,300 suspected illegal workers recently, but no charges were leveled against Swift, the company that ran the plants. Golden State Fence's attorney does admit that his client broke the law, but he states that the case proves that construction companies need a guest-worker program.
www.newstarget.com/021350.htmlwww.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6626823
www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/001974.html
Saturday, December 9, 2006
A book that can boost your profit and reduce stress.
Book Description
Turn a profit on every construction project. An exhaustive, business-boosting reference, Construction Operations Manual of Policies and Procedures, Third Edition, by Andrew Civitello, Jr., is loaded with procedures and step-by-step details for successfully managing construction operations. You get over 300 pages of methods, strategies and tactics, forms and ready-to-copy letters all layed out for you in a concise, easy-to-grasp style. This new edition, now the most timely, complete, and useful guide available for managing construction, packs over 20% more forms and templates. It also covers new developments in construction management software, as well as recent advances in claims and dispute resolution. Significant new material is devoted to the Design-Build process. You'll also explore the distinctions between each of the project delivery formats, and find enhanced coverage of safety and loss control. Included CD-ROM packs project management software tools and plenty of useful advice.
Book Info
Addresses how to ease time pressures, organizational hassles, procedural dilemmas, materials and cost wrangles, and legal and regulatory issues. Includes cost control, budgeting, and planning outlines. CD-ROM includes downloadable forms, ready-to-use letters, checklists, and sample management software.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Guest Columnist Jason Hommel describes the Zinc Price problem.
Zinc Mystery Unveiled?
By Jason Hommel
06 Dec 2006 at 06:22 PM GMT-05:00
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. (Silver Stock Report) -- I have been perplexed as to why LME zinc inventories are continuing to rapidly shrink, with the current high price for zinc having so little impact to discourage zinc depletion. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Aren't high prices supposed to slow down consumption?
As I have explained previously, zinc inventories of 85,000 tonnes will last about 85 days at current depletion rates, whereas zinc inventories need to last about 700 days, or two years until new zinc projects come on stream.
See: Zinc Prices set to continue to explode
http://silverstockreport.com/email/zinc_explode.html
Why can't the owners of zinc figure this out?
This appears to indicate that we will see an explosion of zinc prices within the next three months, in my opinion, which is needed to slow or halt inventory declines. But why are zinc prices not already higher--high enough to slow down the inventory drawdown to sustainable levels? What explains why zinc inventory drawdowns are seemingly not affected by the existing high zinc prices? How much higher do zinc prices need to go? What is going on in the zinc market?
About 60% of zinc is used is galvanized steel. Zinc is about 3% by weight of galvanized steel, on average. Since zinc is a minor ingredient in steel, the market can sustain and tolerate and absorb substantial price increases. I explained this previously, in my article where I noted that zinc was up by "60% in 60 days!"
http://www.silverstockreport.com/email/60-60.html
So, moderately higher prices will not significantly slow down demand, and are already high enough to stimulate explorers and investors--even though it takes years to set up a large scale mining operation like you see on "Modern Marvels".
But here's something else to consider.
How much zinc is traded on the spot market verses the futures markets? I don't know. Derivatives can be a big problem, and in my opinion, may be thwarting the free market process whereby higher prices are supposed to cause reduced demand.
Perhaps many end users are not paying $2/lb. for zinc at all! Perhaps many end users are still only paying about 50 cents per pound of zinc! And thus, there is still little incentive for many zinc consumers to conserve zinc usage. How is this possible? Stupid miners hedged! Apex Silver and Penoles are two miners that I know of that have hedged zinc. But how widespread was this practice, and how much damage has it caused, and will it yet cause? I don't yet know, but perhaps someone else will find out.
Apex Silver hedged, 358,150 tonnes of zinc x x 2204lbs./tonne = 789 million pounds.
See http://www.silverstockreport.com/email/Apex_swindle.html
Since Apex hedged zinc at around $.48/lb., at $2.04/lb. for zinc, that's a mark-to-market loss of $1.56/lb., or $1.2 billion dollars, since Apex still has not yet started to mine any zinc. That's a larger loss than the market cap of Apex Silver! Apex also has losses on the silver and lead. Apex also sold 1/3 of their hedging liability, and 1/3 of their project to Sumitomo. Apex has not yet covered the majority of their hedges, claiming that their future losses will be realized as they come due, since they hedged 358,150 tonnes of zinc, silver, and lead for up to 7 years.
So, Apex may be providing zinc to the market at well below free market prices, about 51,000 tonnes per year, at $.50/lb., for the next 7 years. Perhaps some fortunate end user who will have a tremendous competitive advantage since they will not only get zinc cheaply, but also hopefully won't have to stand in line to get zinc during a time of crisis! Perhaps this partly explains the upcoming disaster unfolding in the world wide zinc market. I call it a disaster because zinc prices should have risen higher, sooner, to affect all market participants equally, to help to most efficiently and appropriately ration (by price) the remaining zinc that we have left.
Instead, it seems that big companies that made stupid hedging mistakes are continuing to supply many zinc users with sub-economic, low priced zinc, which is not encouraging them to conserve. So, the drawdown of zinc inventories is continuing at an unsustainable pace, and it looks like we'll see either a terrible shortage of zinc, or an explosion of zinc prices.
The key flaw of communism is that when prices for goods are set below free market prices, shortages and misery are always the result. I just don't see how anyone can justify futures contracts as a part of the ideal free market. Futures contracts, by definition, lock you in and force you to perform, and are the exact opposite of freedom.
This analyst says: "I expect zinc to be selling over $2.50 a pound in 2007. After that, sky's the limit. With the right conditions I believe we could be looking at $5 or $6 zinc within a few short years."
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=181534
Metalline Mining (MMG on the AMEX)
http://www.metalin.com/
MMG is my number one stock position, over 10% of my portfolio. I own 400,000 shares of MMG, and 400,000 warrants at $1.25 good for 5 years. I can't sell this until the 1-year hold time expires, perhaps in late January, 2007.
MMG has about 50 million shares fully diluted, at a share price of $4, and is a market cap of nearly $200 million.
MMG has 5.8 billion pounds of zinc resources (More than Apex Silver), and is working on a feasibility study that may take another 1 - 1.5 years to finish. This zinc is all unhedged.
There is a great blog that covers MMG here:
http://www.greatinvestments.blogspot.com/
Friday, November 10, 2006
Important Xmas shopping notes..........
Get this "Picket Fence" Cardigan for just $17.00. I know every woman in my family is expecting one this year.........
Click HERE to buy it; yes this is a joke - but you really can buy it.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Can Fencing Stop Copper Wire thiefs????
Extremely high unit prices for copper and other metals have created a massive trend of theft and destruction for various industries and government agencies. Hardest hit are Agriculture and Farming where diesel and electric pumps are often not secured. Even if a chain link fence is around such a pumpstation the chain link can quickly be cut and penetrated.
What fencing options can keep out thiefs from rural sites like this???
1. Omega fence --- Comes much cheaper than Iron fence but more costly than chain link. Boats a heavy 4 or 6 gauge welded wire panels with various designs and heights. Requires a thief to have a sawzall or grinder to penetrate -you cant cut it with pliers. www. omegafence.com
2. Iron Fence
No picture needed here - think of a jail - the most expensive option on this list can be climbable if not designed properly.
3. Chain Link with Razor Ribbon and Barbed Wire. Chain Link itself will do little to keep out copper thiefs - loading up the fence with Razor Ribbon will certainly help. Razor Ribbon or Barbed Tape is dangerous and is likely to make thiefs move on to an easier target.
Sunday, October 1, 2006
New Products and review for residential fencing.
1. Oasis by Simtek Fence, formerly Mity Fence.
Designed and manufactured in Orem, UT. Simtek produces, sells, and markets the "Oasis" line of fence products. The fence quickly spread through the Colorado and Utah markets and now has dealership agreements with installation companies throughout the country. The product offers a bridge between low cost vinyl fencing and high cost block walls and masonry. This is a 100% private fence that appears to have a custom rough granite finish. Six colors are available immediately in 6' and 3' heights. Gates are made in the 6' height for 4' or 6' wide applications; the gates can be doubled to accomplish a 8' , 10' , or 12' opening.
Product features:
Graffiti resistant material
Lifetime warranty
Fast Installation
Unique and Eye Catching Custom Block Design
Galvanized Steel Enforced Panels and Posts
Good up close digital pic of product and color options: HERE
www.simtek.com, recommended dealer for do it yourselfers: www.champifence.com
Along the same lines as the Simtek fence, CaliBamboo offers a range of product that will convince the market to slow the need to harvest our forests for short lived wood fencing such as seen at home depot. CaliBamboo offers a truly Green product line of rechargeable material - and yes its real bamboo. One of the best new product websites on the net - www.calibamboo.com
For picture gallery click HERE
3. Child Guard (removable pool fence)
This design has been around for several years now and is the lowest cost option for safely securing your pool from children. Downside: NOT DOG PROOF. This is a hybrid plastic type mesh that is woven through steel poles that quickly installs into sleeves. Can be installed over pool deck or grass. This fence is believed to be compliant with pool codes throughout the country but please check with you local codes to make sure your covered -especially if you are running a daycare. Fence can be removed in short order to open up the yard for parties etc.
www.childguard.com
